Page 27 of Wildfire Witch

How many people had burned to death because of the setting of my curse? How many of them would’ve lived free of Spells Hollow’s corruption if it weren’t for me?

“Your actions dragged us both into hell. Take someresponsibility for what you’ve done.”

“I’m sorry, Aodhnait,” I whispered to the silent, fiery presence in my chest. “I never meant for you to suffer this long. If I could do it over again…”

I released a tearful scoff. That was entirely the problem. I was a witch, human blood coursing through my veins. Meant to live out a firefly’s existence and then return to the earth, so someone else had a chance to flourish. Instead, my improperly balanced magic spelled the end for countless people who happened to be in the wrong place with me.

Iwas the blight all along. The cursed terror, not the victim anymore. Not after everyone I’d brought down with me.

The lights overhead dimmed. It had to be nighttime across the fire bro’s compound. All these murderous shifters were getting cuddled up in their beds, while I pressed my back to a corner of my cell and curled my knees to my chest.

I held Rusty’s note crumpled in my fist. I needed to read and get rid of it before someone came to check on me. If anyone even would. Had Rusty not given me a meal and plenty of water, I’d probably be a forgotten raisin in this cell. I could at least look at what he’d gone out of his way to tell me privately.

I unfolded the paper and read through bleary eyes:

I know you have no reason to trust me, but I am not a member of the Fire Brotherhood. I am a special agent going undercover to cripple the gang from within, but you coming here and being my mate has changed everything.

Lance and Benedict were laughing about whatever you said to them earlier. You’re in a lot of danger and I plan to extract you tomorrow, cover or not. Otherwise, Lance will probably pull your heart out of your chest. Do not underestimate how much he wants your phoenix.

Get rid of this note.

I lifted a skeptical brow. He would want me to believe all this. What if it was some creative ploy by the leader of the fire bros—that had to be “Lance” since he hadn’t told me his name, while “Benedict” was his son. He wanted to mess with me. This note was way too convenient, and too perfectly worded to deliver false hope.

Tomorrow, Rusty would deliver me to Lance with a cruel remark, and then he’d kill me while failing to end the curse.We’d die burning to ash once more and start the process all over again.

Maybe I’d forget just how much Aodhnait hated me. I called on my magic to produce a little flame to destroy the note, when she yelled,“No! Wait!”

My fingers stilled in surprise.“Wait,”she repeated.“Don’t do it. Nix, I’m sorry. I lied.”

“You lied,”I echoed. Those fingers curled into a fist.“About what?”

“I don’t hate you or blame you for anything. You are a victim, same as me.”

“A little late to change your mind about that, isn’t it?”I asked tartly.

“I thought I could be bad for the right reasons, but listening to you has already been torture?—”

I sneered and made to light the note again.

“Stop! Just listen to me for a minute,”she exclaimed.

The skin over the tip of my index finger, where I was going to summon a candle’s flame, was cherry red. The uncomfortable feeling sweltering under my skin broke through the haze of my emotions. Aodhnait was calling me back from a literal edge. If I pulled even a bit of fire from her, we would die. My eyes narrowed, but I was listening.

“I thought if we told the leader he could have me, he would set you free. The one thing we’ve never tried is working with the shifters that’ve hunted us. But I knew you’d never tell the leader anything about us or consider giving me over unless I pissedyou off. You’re only impulsive when you’re mad. I…I used that.”At least she sounded ashamed.

“We’ve been partners in every life I’ve lived,”I said, trembling with restraint. I couldn’t shake her like I wanted to, though my furious twitches likely rattled her cage.“You didn’t think to tell me what your plan was?”

“You wouldn’t have convinced Lance of anything. Nor would you ever surrender me if you knew how I truly felt about the matter.”

“Clearly, I haven’t convinced him of anything, anyway.”I clenched my fist around Rusty’s note. Goddess, I was so angry, it was a shock that fire wasn’t spilling out of my every pore. I was sweating profusely, soaking through my clothes, while Aodhnait desperately tried to vent some of the heat building before we burned up.“If this fire bro is to be believed.”

“I believe him. I felt his energy.”

“Let me guess…you like him.”

“You haven’t kissed him yet. However, he will make for an excellent Plan B if they really are planning on extracting your still-beating heart tomorrow.”

“There is no Plan A!”I yelled, then regretted it from the bloom of a headache behind my temples.“I will not be giving you to the likes of the Fire Brotherhood, you manipulative fire chicken.”

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