Page 47 of When Wishes Bleed

“You never knew?” he asked, a hint of wonder filling his voice.

“I never had the chance to know.”

“The Circle emptied the House of Fate when your mother died, Sable. Those witches didn’t die with her. If I was them, I wouldn’t go into the Wilds; I’d head straight for the lower sectors. And anyway, there must be others who grew up in the Lowers. Witches aren’t bound to pieces of earth or to their own kind. Not everyone wants to be ruled by the Circle, or by anyone, for that matter.”

Brecan knew, but few others likely did. The Circle forbade me from leaving Thirteen for trade, afraid Fate would ask me to end the life of someone while I was outside our sector.

It was another reason I considered accepting the invitation. Only the royal family could overrule one of the Circle’s mandates. With their permission, I could see the Kingdom, even if it was because the Prince needed my power.

Besides, every girl, witch or not, dreamed of becoming a princess. Not with crowns and gowns, but princess of the heart of someone she loved, and who loved her in return.

Witches only hoped to tolerate their hand-fasted for a year.

What would true love feel like? Love that knew no boundaries...

“I’ll help you,” he vowed. “We’ll find the witch responsible, and then the three of us will go back home.”

Home.

My House was there. Ready for me to finish cleaning it. Ready for me to paint. To revive and resurrect it.

Then I could figure out how to reclaim my position in the Circle.

That was all I wanted, until he sat down at my table for a reading of fate…

“You have to distance yourself from him, Sable.”

“I’m not near him right now.”

“Are you sure of that?” he asked gently.

Of course he knew I was thinking of Tauren while paddling with him. He knew me better than anyone.

“Hey,” Brecan interrupted my thoughts. “Why don’t we have some fun? My affinity may not be water, but… you should hold on.”

I gripped the side of the canoe as he pointed a finger behind us. Wind whirred out of his fingertip, propelling us across the water so fast, the air stung my eyes. I closed them, unable to prevent the laughs that bubbled from my chest, followed by a squeal as we accelerated.

The sound of horse hoofs clomping to a stop made Brecan pause and the canoe skidded to a sudden stop, lurching us forward. Brecan caught me when I was flung into his lap. On the far bank of the lake, two horses had stopped.

Tauren sat atop a dark stallion while his date, none other than the scheming Rose, rode a glossy white mare. Its silky mane matched her off-white riding habit. Her escort had done her research and styled her accordingly.

Tauren’s easy smile was missing as he took us in. I carefully scooted back into my seat. Brecan broke the tension by waving. “Sorry! Apparently we row quicker than either of us realized. Thank goodness we didn’t roll the canoe.”

“Can you swim?” Tauren asked.

“Of course, Highness,” he answered.

“And you, Sable?”

I nodded once. “Yes.” Sort of.

“Good,” he answered, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He clutched the leather reins with his gloved hands. “Enjoy your day.”

Before we could bid him the same, he’d kicked the horse and flicked the reins. Rose did her best to keep up.

14

Imade my way to the kitchens to check the Prince’s picnic lunch, spelling the kitchen and staff before the basket was taken out for him and his date, and then Brecan and I spent the afternoon lounging in a pair of hammocks that swung between three large oaks that grew in a triangle. Mira joined us mid-afternoon, relaxing in the tall grasses and refusing to accept the hammock I offered to share with her.

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