Page 57 of When Wishes Bleed

So, no one back home saw the assassination attempt, or the dark magic I almost conjured. I leveled Brecan with an I-told-you-so glare, which he answered with a snarl.

“How do you know how Bay felt about it?” Brecan snapped.

Her smile fell away. “Because I communicate with him. Through water. Don’t you talk to Wayra through the wind?” I could almost see her hair blowing in her own personal breeze as Brecan dutifully reported to her that I’d called on a darker source. Interestingly, Brecan didn’t answer Mira.

The fact they communicated through their affinities was news to me. If they were reporting back, what else had they said? And who else overheard their conversations about me and my time here? If Mira called on Bay, could any other Water witch listen in?

I walked out the door. “Where are you going?” Mira called after me as I strode down the hallway.

“To check Tauren’s food.”

And to get away from them for a while. Especially Brecan. He had no right to spirit me away. I wasn’t a child and he wasn’t my keeper. Or my hand-fasted. He was supposed to be my friend, but apparently couldn’t accept that I had no feelings for him. He was obviously unable to control his own feelings.

I wondered if I could either, as I fought back tears of frustration and humiliation.

And now I would have to face Tauren again. I would have to spell a room to make sure his lunch wasn’t tainted.

I waited outside the dining room between two hulking guards. They were stationed at every door, shadowing Tauren’s every move now, thank goodness. Inside, a girl from Five with colorful swatches in her hair and wearing a bright pink dress waited for Tauren. He walked in using another door and kissed her hand as he seated himself next to her. He’d changed into a smart, sapphire suit and pressed white shirt. His hair was still damp from his archery exertions in the burning hot sun, as well as from the fright he had.

When the staff brought their plates, I spelled the room, checked for traces of poison, and walked out of it, removing the charm and making sure he saw me slip out the door. That was code for ‘your food is fine.’

He apparently didn’t want to accept a simple explanation this afternoon. Moments after I left the room, the door swung open behind me. “Sable?” he said tentatively.

I turned to face him.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, are you?”

He affirmed that he was, and I could see he was no longer shaken. “Brecan was furious,” he noted.

“I used magic on the telecast. He was worried I’d upset the Circle.”

He nodded once, like he didn’t entirely believe me. “And did you?”

“I upset two members, but the other two weren’t concerned.” This experience might at least convince them they needed a fifth, to settle disputes among them and to avoid such divisive stand-offs in the future.

“My men didn’t find the culprit.”

I told him they wouldn’t. The witch had fled, then disappeared altogether.

He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I have to get back to lunch.”

“I know.”

“Can I see you tonight?” he whispered. “Please?”

I swallowed, then nodded my assent.

“Thank you, Sable, for everything.”

16

Iavoided Brecan the remainder of the day, though he checked periodically to be certain I was in my room. Mira came by to chat, but I wasn’t in the mood. Thankfully, she left me alone with my thoughts.

I was sure the person who’d shot at Tauren was a male witch. Fate confirmed with a warm feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it wasn’t a pleasant or reassuring feeling. It was a warning.

The witch was dangerous. But something darker, more ominous settled into my bones. My fingers and lips began to chill. My teeth chattered uncontrollably.

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