Page 10 of When Wishes Bleed

The red-headed jokester saw me first and nudged one of the dark-haired boys, who turned to me with a roguish smile. His nose had been broken, but there were no divots in his cheeks. His hair was the same dark water hue of his friend. They were built the same. Gestured the same way. His eyes were the color of burnt toffee, a strange amber shade that was both warm and cool at the same time.

I realized the dark-haired men were brothers.

I turned to the other dark-haired brother, noticing his hair was a shade darker, a brown so deep it was nearly black. When he finally noticed me, I almost missed a step. His eyes were spun gold, the loveliest I’d ever seen. I told Fate right then and there that if it was him, I refused to do his bidding tonight.

Fate just chuckled in response.

“Good evening, Miss,” the red-head greeted, extending his hand. “Thank you for allowing us to attend your celebration.”

Flashing him a smile, I took his hand. “It is we who owe you thanks.”

The flash of a shield entered my mind. He was a protector of sorts. Likely a soldier. And a good one, too, as the silver shield he projected bore scars, but none of them fatal.

The roguish brother opened his hand and grinned as I placed mine into it. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said formally.

The golden-eyed brother watched silently as the others greeted me, but held his hand out. “Pleased to meet you,” he rasped. When I took his hand, I couldn’t suppress my gasp. In my mind, he kissed me. Feverishly. I wondered if he saw the same thing, because he pulled his hand away slowly, looking at me as if I’d hexed him.

I quickly schooled my expression, taking a deep, calming breath. By the Goddess, what was that?

“Excuse me,” I told them, walking quickly toward the woods beyond them. I held my middle. My stomach was being singed. Fate had finally decided to show up and help me.

Fine timing that he granted me his favor only after I made a fool out of myself in front of those young men.

Not that I cared, I decided.

I was relieved his mark wasn’t upon the golden-eyed boy. If he was the culprit, I might have been tempted to visit him in Twelve, just as the doomed young witch had sought out her lover. I picked up my skirts and jogged into the trees, letting the forest swallow me. Around my waist was a skinny length of solid black rope, stained with the last breaths of those Fate had damned and that I’d hung for him. I uncoiled it and quickly knotted the noose.

Fate whispered to me, You have found him. Now, make him pay.

Three young men huddled together, encircling a young witch from my grandmother’s House. Her green gown and robes darkened in time with the sky overhead.

None of them realized I was behind them until I spoke. “Lovely evening,” I remarked, staring up at the painted sky through the canopy. It was just as I had seen, just as Fate had designed.

“Uh, it sure is,” one of them chuckled.

“Do you know these boys?” I asked the young Earth witch. Madeline, Fate told me. “Do you know them, Madeline?”

She shook her head rapidly, a tear falling from her eye.

“We know her,” the dimpled boy fibbed. Fate’s mark throbbed above his brow, the sigil pulsing with the need for me to conquer him.

I smiled. “You lie.” I waved for the girl to come closer to me. “Madeline.” She hesitated for a moment, her fear of me being overridden by her fear of the men, and strode toward me, tucking herself behind my back. “Go find Priestess Ela. Remain at her side. It’s time.” Her eyes widened as the meaning of my words sunk in. She glanced back at the dimpled boy who was no longer smiling.

“Time for what?” he braced.

“A witch was found dead just inside our border this morning. The one who killed her will hang in just a few moments.”

The muscle in his cheek twitched.

Dimples was going to run. I could see him weighing his options, considering which direction to take

“What does that have to do with us?” his tall friend asked. He had no idea what his friend was capable of.

“Going forward, you should be more careful of the company you keep,” I warned him.

Before my words had a chance to carry over the wind, Dimples took off at a sprint toward the border. I let him run, allowing his confidence and sweat to build and drip in rivulets down his face and back. I let him think he might actually get away as I kept a steady walking pace at his heels. Then I whispered a spell to strengthen his spine so it wouldn’t snap prematurely, lassoed his head like he was a runaway steer, dug my heels into the ground, and gave the rope a strong yank.

Insects that had been singing to one another quieted as I reeled him in and began to drag him back toward the Center. His cowardly friends were nowhere to be found. They had long since scurried away, and were likely crossing the border back into Twelve at this very moment.

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