Page 20 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

So I told him about the Blackthorns. About the curse their family had placed on mine generations ago. How they saw us as rivals and had taken measures to ensure we never became more powerful than them.

“Every time I do magic, whatever magical energy I use is lost. It’s magic I’ll never get back. The more powerful the magic, the more I lose.” My voice hitched on the last word. I thought back to our first encounter. “I’ve tried so hard, all my life. But sometimes you just can’t help it. And now…”

“You used your magic on me.”

“I did.” My cheeks flushed.

At last, something shifted in his expression almost…softening. Maybe, just maybe, he felt some shred of remorse.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to take a gamble, giving him something honest. “It’s like I’m losing myself one piece at a time. And it hurts. All because of this stupid, selfish curse.”

“So you want access to my land to break this curse.”

I let out an exhale. “Yes.” He continued to stare at me. “Look, I’m not asking you to help me. I’m just asking for access.”

He rocked his jaw from side to side. “Don’t like witches. Don’t want one on my land.”

“I’m barely even a witch. Not anymore.”

Saying the words hurt. But they had the desired effect. Once more, something flashed in his gaze. Something unreadable.

“Fine.” His single word was bit out through clenched teeth. “On one condition.” I braced, because I knew what was coming. “You tell me who sent those mercenary wolves after you.”

The breath fled my chest. “It was Ambrose Blackthorn.”

He leaned back to regard me.

“Ambrose is the one who hired them, I’m certain of it.”

“The same Blackthorn whose family cursed yours?”

“The very same.”

“And why is he⁠—?”

“Ah ah ah.” I held up a finger. A slow, pleased grin pulled at my lips. “You said who. You never said why. I’ve fulfilled your one condition, Wolfie.” His expression darkened and he looked ready to react. “You can huff and puff all you like. But you gave me your word.”

He chewed on that until his expression flattened.

“Yes. Fine. I’ll grant you access.” Then he stood abruptly, lifting what remained of his coffee, draining it in a few gulps. He snatched up his trash and stalked toward the bin, depositing it on the way out the door.

I watched him go wearing a victorious smile. Because over the past few days I’d discovered something about Axel. His bark was louder than his bite. If he really meant to harm me, he shouldn’t have stood between me and Ambrose’s lackeys. And maybe…just maybe, there was something soft hidden underneath all those gruff layers of asshole he wore.

6

Iwoke early Saturday morning, invigorated with renewed purpose. After a quick shower, I rushed through my morning routine, letting Basil and Sage out of their enclosure. It occupied a corner of the living room, with acrylic walls that were four feet tall. I’d learned the hard way that bunnies were expert climbers and jumpers. And while mine were potty trained, they chewed on literally everything if I didn’t watch them, hence the enclosure. Since this was a rental, I didn’t want to explain to the landlord why all the baseboards had teethmarks.

“What did you two gremlins get up to last night, huh?” Their space was a wreck. One of them had pulled half the hay out of the feeder. Some of it was in their litter box, but the rest was on the rug. Toys everywhere. Their flop mats and blankets piled up in a nest. The food dish overturned.

“You guys are impossible,” I teased. “Sage, did you put him up to this?”

My precious little girl just stared up at me, blinking.

I looked at Basil. “She did, didn’t she.”

I put away their toys, prepared their morning salad—far fancier than the salads I ate, with three types of lettuce, some cilantro, a few dandelion greens, and a small handful of blueberries—then set about vacuuming the floor and cleaning out their boxes. It was a daily chore. Not many people realized how much work being a bun mom was. That was probably why so many bunnies were dumped in the first place. I refreshed their hay and water. Then spent a few minutes playing with them and spoiling them with affection.

Sage was desperate to give my hand a bath while Basil was content to do an entire lap of the living room, sniffing everything before side-flopping against the wall to watch us. I was jittery and even a little anxious. Now that I had one fewer obstacle in my path in the form of an uncivilized wolf, there were fewer reasons I might fail.