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Zyla huffs, but the magic sparking at her fingertips fizzles. “Fine.”
I wait a minute to make sure she’s serious, then gently set Daisy on the ground. My mate immediately runs to the witch, talking in a low, soothing tone that the witch smiles at. I glance back at Callum and arch an eyebrow. “Some things never change.”
He swipes his arm over his brow but doesn’t respond. His gaze is intent on Zyla. I turn and nudge his shoulder. Slowly, he tears his eyes from Zyla and looks at me. I’ve only ever seen this emotion on his face once before, and that was years ago. He likes the witch who wants to kill him. He was always good at pissing people off.
“Not a word,” he mutters when he spots my knowing smirk.
“The folk is inside.”
At that, his features harden. “Right. Let me have a look.” He ducks inside the house, and Daisy follows after him. It’s not often I wish I were smaller, but right now, I’d give anything to be in that house with her. I’m not worried about Callum, even if he is a relentless flirt, but I am worried about her reaction to the healing magic.
“She’s stronger than she looks.” Zyla appears next to my head, using her magic to bring herself up a few feet.
“She’s fragile.”
She shrugs. “Maybe her body. Her mind is strong. For all she’s been through, your mate still knows how to love with her whole heart.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It isn’t my story to tell.” Zyla stares at the house. “Callum may be a bastard, but he’s the strongest warlock this world has ever known.”
I don’t have the same mind reading abilities as my friend, but judging by the way he watched Zyla, there’s history and more than likely he still hasn’t figured out how to get out of his own way.
“He means well.”
She tosses me a dirty look. “He means only to please himself.”
“He helped me during a scuffle with a group of werewolves. Saved me from falling face first off the side of a mountain even though he was as drunk as I was.” That only makes her scowl deepen.
“Do you know why I let you enter?” she asks after a moment.
“Because you found no ill-intent within our minds.”
She shakes her head. “I found your thoughts to be of pure intention, but that is not why I let you enter my village.” Turning, she looks me dead in the eye. “Your burden weighs on you so heavily it’s tainting your aura. It must be released or you’ll make yourself sick.”
“How does one release the expectations of a king and father?”
“By becoming what he was always meant to be,” she says softly.
“And what’s that?”
“A king.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want that throne. You know about the furies. You’re suggesting I take his place and endure their punishment?”
Zyla narrows her eyes. “You wanted to find a way to make an offering to them.”
Sometimes I really hate scouring.
“Yes, but not by offering myself.”
“You want to keep your mate safe?” she asks.
“I do.” The answer comes without a moment of hesitation. The bond drives me to do what’s best for her, but that’s not the only thing driving me to protect her. I’d hate for this world to take her smile away. It’d be like dousing the sun.
“That throne is how you do it.”
I press my lips together, hating what she’s saying. I’ve avoided the throne for so long that taking it seems wrong. “Perhaps you’re right, but she wants to go home and that’s where she will be safest. Can you help craft a spell to send her home?” Daisy plans to ask Callum, but Zyla is equally, if not more powerful than him. Asking both of them to help can’t hurt.
