Page 46 of When Wishes Bleed

“Discreetly,” I pointed out. “You had no idea.”

“True, though it’s hardly the first time I’ve fallen under your spell,” he teased, then glanced at me as if gauging my reaction.

“Brecan—”

“I was joking.”

“I was going to ask you a question,” I fired back. He waved for me to continue, so I did. “What do you know about Mira?”

“Not much. Water witch. Weaves clothing. Has weird glass spiders that completely make me shiver.” He shivered dramatically.

“What about her magic?”

“I only know about animation and water.” His eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”

“You only control air, right? What about spells?”

“I know a few, but in the Houses, we’re mainly encouraged to master our affinities. The spells and incantations are performed by the Priests and Priestesses. Why so many questions?”

I swallowed uneasily. For the first time I could recall, I wasn’t sure I could trust him.

Fate stirred within, and a cool breeze swept over my skin. Brecan was safe.

“Something happened last night,” I started.

He straightened his spine. “What happened?”

“Fate sent a strong message that someone was going to attempt to kill him – by stabbing.”

Brecan’s brows furrowed. “Why didn’t you wake me?” His tone wasn’t angry, but concerned. Almost desperate.

“Whomever it was, disappeared when I showed up. Literally disappeared, Brecan.”

“You thought it was me?” he asked, clasping his chest, stung by my accusation. “I volunteered to come here to protect you. I know what it means for you to have Fate pushing you, and what you go through if you don’t do his bidding right away.”

“You shouldn’t—”

“Don’t tell me I shouldn’t speak it! It’s true. He needs to understand that he doesn’t have to hurt you to have you do his bidding. He needs only ask. You’re one of the kindest, most loyal witches I know.”

I pinched my lips together, thankful he thought so highly of me.

“But I want you to know that I could never – would never – hurt you. And right now, I know that hurting Tauren would do exactly that.” He began to paddle again. “I see how you look at him.”

A hard knot formed in the back of my throat.

“Besides,” he paused. “You’re my very best friend, Sable.”

I’d hurt him by even considering that he might have been involved, and I felt terrible for it. “I’m sorry for even thinking it,” I told him.

He nodded, but refused to look at me. “I don’t know Mira well, but I don’t think she would hurt him. Besides, you read his fate before we agreed to come. Whomever wanted him to die, was already close to him.”

Fate filled my belly with warmth. Brecan was right.

“A witch was in his room, Brecan.”

He shook his head and chuckled darkly. “Not every witch in the Kingdom chooses to live in The Gallows.”

That was a possibly I’d never contemplated until he said it. I assumed all witches would want to live amongst our kind, but never considered there would be dissenters. And the King… he knew my mother. Which meant that when she was alive, there must have been more movement to and from Thirteen.

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