Page 18 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

I tried to step around him but his hand shot out, wrapping around my arm. His grip was firm, but not painful. It put us overly close to each other. He leaned in, his breath coasting over the shell of my ear. “They came for you, witch. Not me. Ask me how I know that.”

I swallowed. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? Because I kept one alive. He said some interesting things before I ended him.”

Ended him?! My pulse sped up.

I pushed down the nervous lump rising in my throat and said, “I’m sure he was just⁠—”

“Those wolf mercenaries wanted you alive. To be delivered—unharmed—to their client.”

Everything in me went cold.

“Ah. I see this means something to you.”

Ambrose’s words from earlier in the week came back. If you don’t come home, I’ll have no choice but to bring you home.

Bile climbed my throat.

“Did…” I licked my lips, trying to find my voice. “Did he—the wolf, I mean—say who hired him?”

“No. Apparently their client didn’t provide a name.”

I lifted my chin, finally meeting his eyes. If he expected me to flinch away from the damage on his face, he was mistaken. “How do you know he wasn’t lying?”

“I’m something of an expert at prying a man’s deepest, darkest secrets from his lips.”

“Right.”

“I think it’s time you tell me exactly what you were doing on my property⁠—”

The crashbar sounded, signaling the entrance of someone. We both looked up as a student made their way into the lecture hall, presumably to wait around for the next class. A moment later, two more students entered. I glanced at the clock.

“The next lecture’s starting in ten minutes.” Then I repositioned my bag, pulling free of Axel’s grasp. Without saying another word, I strode to the stairs and made my way up and out of the hall. Axel kept pace just behind me.

I used this time to consider my options. If I told him my intentions, he could very well forbid me from setting foot on his land—again. And round and round we’d go. Him forbidding me, and me breaking the rules. But, maybe if I told him, there was a chance he would sympathize with my plight.

The sunshine was a balm to my skin as I stepped outside.

Stopping, I turned to face Axel. “My next lecture isn’t for another hour. If you’ve got time, we can head to The Roost and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

He glanced around, almost on edge. I didn’t miss the way his jaw tightened as he considered my offer. When a group of students passed him, almost close enough to touch, he flinched, stepping closer to me instead.

I’d unpack that later.

“The Roost,” he repeated.

“If you’re up for it. I’m not just going to tell you my business right here out in the open.”

I could have invited him to my office. It was closer. But the thought of being alone with him in close quarters made my heart jump uncomfortably, in a way I couldn’t quite decipher.

“Fine,” he gritted out, then motioned me forward, eager to get moving.

We made the walk in silence. I barely noticed the students in the quad as we passed through. Or the cute window displays on Main Street.

Iris failed to hide her shock when we entered together, mouth hanging open as she watched us. Axel didn’t bother to open the door for me, not that I allowed him to. I made a point of reaching for the handle before he could, because I didn’t need proof that he was anything but a gentleman. He’d made that perfectly clear, even if he had put himself between me and the other wolves yesterday.

As if reading my mind, he made a scoffing sound.