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The ghost of the smile she woke up with turns into a disappointed frown. She moves away from me, and the movement makes my side feel cold. “Okay,” she says but doesn’t sound happy about it.
I start to walk and glance behind me to see if she’s following. After a curse, she falls into step next to me. “So, I thought we could find a stream or set a trap to find something to eat,” I say.
She chuckles. “You don’t know how to fend for yourself, do you? Leave the fishing to me. Come on.”
She leads me down to the river and wades into the water. I watch her while nothing happens. “Don’t you need a net?”
“All I need is quiet.”
I sit on a nearby rock and wait for her to work her magic. With a jolt of her hands, she pulls a fish out of the river.
I smile. “Impressive.”
She passes me the fish and then repeats the process. We cook our food and eat in silence. This isn’t my typical breakfast, but it does the trick. Rose seems distracted. I’m beginning to think she’s going to run.
I take the last bite of fish right before I find out the truth.
A twig snaps, followed by a few more. I look around, but it’s too late to try to escape. A tribe of warriors surrounds us with spheres pointing straight at me.
“Silvi,” Rose says, getting to her feet. She hugs the woman, and I feel like my whole life just ended, even though I’m not dead.
Yet.
Chapter Ten
ROSE
Silvi hugs me tighter than ever before. “I thought we’d lost you,” she says, relief evident in her voice.
“I had a chance to get the moonstone, so I took it. Titan was there when I killed his father,” I say.
Emotional tears stream down my face. I’m relieved to see her, although tense about what’ll happen to the guy who’s become my world. He held me captive, but I feel like he cared for me too.
When we returned home, Titan was taken away. I couldn’t ask where they were taking him or say goodbye.
“Titan,” she scoffs. “How can you be on first term names with that rodent?” Her words are harsh but justified. He stole something from every member of our coven.
“Did you not hear me say I killed a member of his family?” The words sound hollow. I’ve stabbed people before, but I’ve never had to deal with the consequences. If someone’s running towards you and it’s a choice between you or him, the decision’s easy. The king was unconscious and not a direct threat.
“We found you naked in the woods with him. Did he touch you? Please tell me he didn’t hurt you.”
She ignored the part where I did what was needed. She treats me like a little girl who can’t look after herself, even after a dangerous mission. If I told her what we’ve done together, she’d be horrified.
“I’m fine.” I spin around, glad I had a bath before this conversation. The dirt and sex removed from my body do not wash away my sin. Silvi wouldn’t understand why I gave in to temptation. I’ve never been interested in a man before, but Titan makes me feel alive. It wasn’t the magic or the realm. It’s him I like.
A horn sounds, and we go to the meeting point. Silvi sits on the front row of benches, and I hover around the edge. The open canopy has been erected for years and is the place we gather for serious matters.
* * *
“Wolfbane Coven,” Markus our leader shouts with excitement while holding up the moonstone I gave him earlier. It looks clean, and every bit of the lingering blood is gone. “Thanks to Rose and Silvi, we have the precious gem back where it belongs.” He shows it with pride.
My sister soaks up the applause, whereas I shy away from it. I don’t want any special treatment; I just want my life to go back to normal. My days in the woods with the elements will be different now we have our magic back, but I’m looking forward to exploring it. Once the eyes are off us, I can enjoy a simple supper with my sister and avoid the politics of the coven.
“For Rose’s brave efforts at retrieving the stone, I’m going to award her the greatest honour.”
Everyone claps, but unease settles over me. I don’t want the duty of choosing how to kill Titan. I might be jumping to conclusions, but what other reward could he be talking about? Pain surrounds my chest at the thought of losing him. I feel dizzy, like I might lose consciousness. I don’t even think I want to be present to find out his fate. My heart beats faster while I try to push away my feelings towards him. “Bringing the moonstone home was an honour in itself. I don’t need anything else,” I say, my stomach filling with dread.
“You are too humble, Rose, but that will change.”
