Page 75 of Devil's Deal

“What should I do?”

“A spell,” Wiosna whispers urgently. “Use your magic.”

This makes no sense. “Why?”

“Because,” she growls. “Will you just trust me and do as I say?”

“No.” I snort, slipping out of my dress. I step into the river on the low bank, the gentle current lapping at my feet. The water is not too cold yet. Perfect.

“Jaga, this is important,” Wiosna urges me.

“Explain why and I’ll do it,” I say with a shrug, going in deeper until the water reaches my thighs. “I’m done being kept in the dark.”

The current strokes my skin like a caress, and if not for Wiosna, I’d probably touch myself now. There is so much tension I need to let go of.

“Because you need your magic,” Wiosna says, sounding cross. “Now more than ever. I remember how weak your spells were when I was alive, and you haven’t used any since I began watching you. That makes me think you haven’t improved at all, have you?”

I grit my teeth but nod. The last spell I did was the one to keep my poppies alive for Kupala, and I almost passed out from that.

“You need to break through, and now, with his power in your veins, you are the strongest. So practice. Let your magic out.”

“Why do I need my magic?” I ask. It’s not because I don’t know—I do, and Wiosna’s right. I should try harder. But I never told her about the woman from the future that I’m trying to become. Wiosna doesn’t know my reasons for trying to gain power.

“Perun’s sake, girl. Just look around. Gods, demons, werewolves… If you want to survive, you need to get stronger.”

And now I blush, thoroughly admonished. I hate the hot shame burning in my chest, the feeling of getting something wrong in front of my teacher. And so I make excuses, even though I know it’s something she hates.

“Well, until recently, I was supposed to survive by hiding my magic. So that’s what I was doing.”

Wiosna huffs impatiently. “Yes, and now you need something else. Hide still. But you can’t be a helpless mortal anymore, because that will get you killed. I’m serious, Jaga. Do anything it takes to release your magic. Anything at all.”

She’s right, and I give up. I can’t quarrel with Wiosna, because she always wins.

I take a deep breath and submerge. The shock of the chilly water enveloping my torso and head makes me laugh shakily until all my breath bubbles out of me. I emerge and wade in deeper until the water covers my breasts. The current is lazy here, and I feel so much cleaner, my sticky sweat dissolving in pure water.

“You’re right,” I concede. “Although, if you care about me so much, shouldn’t you encourage me to die? That way, we could be together forever. In Nawie.”

I laugh at my morbid joke, suddenly so happy Wiosna is here with me. We butted heads often, our personalities never fitting well together, and yet, she’s my family. Even more so than my mother was.

After Wiosna’s death, I had to be strong all the time. I still feel that pressure, that lack of support. Even when I feel weak, I must pretend, especially in front of myself. I forgot how nice it is to have someone to speak with frankly. Someone to ask for advice, someone to lean on.

I tip my head back and smile at Chors in the sky, thanking gods for giving me Wiosna back, even if it’s only her voice.

“Don’t be an idiot, girl,” she grumbles, though it sounds like she’s smiling. “I’ll help you stay alive as long as it takes, because there’s no way I’m suffering through an eternity with you. Live a long life and don’t bother me, you cheeky thing.”

I giggle and dive in again. When I emerge, the night air seems charged, something sizzling over my wet skin like energy. For a moment, I think it’s because of the power thrumming within me that just makes my happiness all the stronger. It buzzes like good wine in my veins.

“So, what spell should I do?” I ask with a smile, but there is no reply. Wiosna is quiet.

I brush water from my face and look at the shore. Two predatory yellow lights wink at me, watching.

It’s like he can’t stay away.

Chapter twenty-five

Name

And just like that, my brief moment of joy is wiped away and replaced with tension. I look down, making sure my breasts are covered, even though it probably doesn’t matter. Wiosna said he watches me all the time, and I assume that includes bath time. He’s seen me naked. Gods, I even had his mouth between my legs.

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