Page 33 of Masked Fate

Yeah, that’s what this is.

We’re now on the same side with a very common interest.

Rave once told me that Pandora is an incredibly strong witch, which makes me wonder why she lets her sister treat her like this. I guess at the end of the day, no one wants to take out asibling. I’m an only child, but I see how Rave is with his brothers. No matter how much they fucked up, I don’t think he could ever kill them.

Unless they hurt Astrid, then all bets would be off.

“Does she ever leave Allyria?” I ask Pandora, wondering if that intel is indeed true.

She shakes her head, her black hair falling across her soft cheek. “Not really, no.”

I turn my head to look at Rave. “Well, I say we show up unannounced and visit the witch. What do you think?”

His eyes are on Pandora’s. “I think it’s time. I know she’s your little sister, but if we have to choose between your life and hers, you know which one we are choosing.”

She closes her eyes tightly but nods. “Don’t hurt Kainan.”

My eyes narrow, jaw clenching. “If you want him alive, someone better tell me who he is then.”

“He’s my cousin and right-hand man,” Pandora replies, studying me through lidded eyes. I notice how long and thick her dark lashes are, then wonder why I’m noticing such a thing. She mutters something under her breath that sounds like, “I miss the days when he ignored me.”

Well, too fucking bad.

I did ignore her because I couldn’t deal with the past and her connection to it.

But she’s important to my closest friends, and I can’t pretend she doesn’t exist anymore.

“You stay here. We will take care of it,” I announce after a few seconds of silence. “What kind of wards or witchy spells do you have on your castle?”

“You won’t be able to get inside without being invited,” she replies, pride flickering in her eyes. “Not without strong witch magic anyway.”

“We’ll just have to lure her out then.”

I’ve not killed a female before, but for Ebony, I’m more than happy to make an exception.

Rave eliminated the previous Witch Queen when I was bleeding out, barely alive, so I didn’t get my revenge.

But at least I can have this.

And I’ll still be able to sleep like a baby, knowing the realm and Pandora are safer.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Pandora

No one, and I mean no one, is more shocked than me when Salem comes to visit.

In Aravelle.

And he just appeared in front of us, zipping in and somehow ignoring every damn ward that protects us against strangers entering.

I heard a rumor that Salem’s magic allows him to be invisible and go anywhere undetected. His being here right now and not outside the castle gates makes me more confident that what I heard is indeed the truth.

That, or he has exceptionally powerful magic.

I know that August can walk through any ward without a second thought, so it’s been known to happen.

“How did you know I was here, Salem?” I ask, licking my suddenly dry lips. With Rave, Soren, and Sinda off to scope things in my kingdom, I’m a little on edge that he has shown up and is sitting opposite Astrid and me. Tor, the head of the royal guard, is watching over us from the corner of the dining hall. But when Nico and Elios show up, I know he’s called in reinforcements. I don’t think one male is enough to take Salem down. He’s the biggest shifter I’ve ever seen, and that is saying something.

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