Page 94 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

Nox shook his head. “Not that I can see.”

I turned to Korbin and even he seemed to wilt beneath my gaze. “Perhaps you should take a look.”

“Perhaps,” was all he said. But he whispered something into Rook’s ear and the pair of them headed towards the house.

Korbin’s head was thrown back, his pale eyes seeing nothing as he stared up at the ceiling. His hands were planted firmly on the thick rug in the centre of the room, his anchor for finding a memory of something that Raevyn had left behind. Rook chewed on the edge of his thumb and Hawk lounged in the large armchair. I could still feel the warmth from the fire so they definitely couldn’t have left that long ago.

Suddenly, Korbin gasped and fell sideways.

“Paper,” he muttered as Rook caught him in his arms. “I need paper.”

Nox ransacked the drawers and came back triumphant with the items required. Korbin drew something on the page, I wasn’t sure what it was. The guy was blind, how could he draw anything?

“He can sometimes see but it’s an ether sight.” Casimir spoke with a condescending tone, but it just made me smile. He never seemed to be scared of me. He just always seemed to be annoyed.

“What is it?” Nox asked as he looked over Korbin’s shoulder.

It was a mixture of symbols and shapes, and I recognised it instantly. Clever girl. “Infernal tongue.”

“What does it say?” Hawk asked, his amber eyes searching mine for the answers.

“It doesn’t say anything,” I said, and a little bit of their hope died. Gods, they were so fucking adorable. “It’s a map.”

Rook placed Korbin gently onto the sofa. “Can you read it?”

I nodded. “Of course.” Who did these people think I was? I was a fucking God. I could—

“Now, now, let’s not get too full of ourselves.” I could sense Casimir smirking as he spoke.

I took a deep breath and counted to ten before I started decapitating limbs. “It’s topside. In Witch Country.”

“Then let’s go,” Nox said, and I couldn’t agree more. I had some witches to murder. Man, it was good to be back.

Chapter Forty-Two

Raevyn

The image of the lake had been projected into my mind as clear as fucking day. Of course it would be there. We had ceremonies there to celebrate our coming of age, of new life and all the things worth celebrating. Suppose my grandmother thought the sacrifice of my powers was worth a fucking party.

As I stood at the edge of the woods surrounding the lake, I wondered whether I’d ever see the guys again. I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I would survive this. Maybe I would, but I’d never be the same person and the bond that had put us together initially, wouldn’t be there anymore. I’d mean nothing to them. They’d move on and I’m sure they’d find someone else. The thought hurt more than anything I’d ever felt before, but I was doing the right thing.

Wasn’t I?

“Are you sure about this?” Apollo asked.

“Yes,” I said with determination, or at least tried to. I don’t think I was altogether convincing though.

“Just don’t let the guys stop this. I know that if they find us, which they probably will, I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to them. Or to you. Please Apollo, do this for me?”

Agony seared his eyes, the ember sparks blazing bright in the low light. His magic seeped from him, wrapping around me tightly. I didn’t think he was even aware he was doing it. “I don’t like it, Raevyn. We should wait for them, together we could stop her. Please, don’t do this.”

My vision turned hazy, and I could feel him using his magic on me. “Stop, Apollo. You need to let me go. I don’t want to put you in danger.”

His hand gripped my throat, a low growl rumbling through his chest. Desire exploded in my core and I had to resist the urge to kiss him. I wanted to pull him closer, but I couldn’t. In order to save him, I had to let him go.

I pulled my magic to the surface and pushed back against his.

“Don’t Raevyn,” he whispered against my lips. “Please.”

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