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Her mind reached Maeve’s. Your friendship has kept me alive. I need you to know that. You’re so strong, Maeve. I wish I had half your strength.
Maeve couldn’t have been more surprised. I feel the same way about you.
At that, Kiara leaned back and smiled. “Maybe that’s why we’re friends.” She jerked her head suddenly behind her and switched back to telepathy. You should leave. One of the guards is coming.
Maeve dropped out of sight then crawled her way back up the path. The cell doors had a sightline through to the individual cell windows and the side garden beyond. With her satchel slung onto her back, she kept her pouch handy since the black and purple swirls returned to harass her. She flicked her herbs at it and kept the path clear until she reached the sidewalk once more.
She spotted a cab and raised her arm. When the cab pulled close, she opened the door and hopped in. She wished like hell she could levitate and fly. It would make her life so much simpler.
Now all she had to do was talk a wolf into helping her to bust Kiara out of the worst witch-prison in all of Elegance Territory.
Unfortunately, the hour was closing in on dawn.
When she got back to the Landing and headed down the spiral stairs to her home, she could hear him snoring. Suddenly, fatigue settled hard on her as well.
Before either of them could do anything, Braden needed to heal a little more and she needed a good day’s sleep.
Chapter Three
“You’re up.”
Braden closed a photo-laden book called Herbs and Their Uses in Dynamic Potions. He was in a witch’s lair all right. He sat on the couch in her living room and glanced toward the spiral stone stairs to the right. Maeve had returned from wherever she’d been.
She hadn’t been around when he woke up for the night and he’d been tempted to start looking around, to gain his bearings and figure out where exactly he was. But his instincts had told him to stay put. Her small, black cat had followed him around, keeping him company. He’d found the feline’s presence oddly comforting.
Another shower had helped bring him to the present, fully healed and rested. Alfonso had checked in on him as well and made sure he’d been fed. But before doing anything, like exploring what was her extensive Landing complex, he wanted Maeve’s permission. He owed her at least that much since according to Alfonso, she single-handedly supported and sustained the lives of her rescues.
Her steps were quick and her blue eyes bright as she crossed to him. She was an intense woman.
He rose to his feet. “I am up and I’m glad you’re back.”
She smiled then looked him up and down. “I can’t believe you’ve been sitting out here? You must feel a lot better.”
He chuckled. “Much. I slept through the night and the day. I’m almost as good as new. I admit your infuser helped, even though I’m still concerned you’re using emerald flame in your potions.
“But Alfonso was here as well. He brought me a nice pork loin, very tender and well-seasoned. You’ve got a good chef.” He gestured behind him in the direction of the bedroom. “The bed’s been changed. Everything’s fresh.”
“That’s good.”
She seemed distracted. He knew her a little. Her mind was chewing on a problem. “So, what’s going on?”
“Kiara.”
“The only good witch in Elegance.”
She lifted a reproving brow. “I beg your pardon.”
He held both hands up, surrender style. “All right. I guess there are at least two of you. Did you see her while I was sleeping?”
She nodded, the serious frown between her brows deepened. “Just before dawn. I need to get her out of that place. Veyda tortured her again.” He watched Maeve put a hand to her neck. “This time, she burned her throat. Which leads me to this. Any chance you could lend me a hand? I won’t be able to do it alone.”
“Hell, yeah. But let me understand. Are you saying you’ve located Veyda’s compound?”
She clasped her hands together. Her knuckles showed white. “I found it a few days ago, but it’s protected by a powerful security spell that I’ve only recently cracked, at least enough to get in there by myself.”
“Was this before you hauled me out of the Graveyard?”
“A couple of days before.”
