Page 82 of Horn of Winter

I immediately called said Uber, then, once the app said it was close, hugged them both goodbye, grabbed my coat, and headed out. The rain had cleared, but thunder still rumbled overhead, and the night remained bitterly cold.

That unseen presence in the wind remained.

I shivered and cautiously reached out, trying to find his or her location. The minute I did, the presence retreated.

I swore in frustration and climbed into the Uber as it halted in front of me. It didn’t take all that long to get home, as it was almost midnight and the streets basically empty. Once back in the tavern, I dumped my purse on the coffee table then lit the fire—as usual saying a small thank-you prayer over the wood for its sacrifice—then walked over to the kitchenette to make myself a hot chocolate. It might be late, and I should have been tired, but an uneasy energy ran through me, and I had no idea if its source was the still rumbling sky or the prickling knowledge that I was still being watched.

I made my hot chocolate, then retreated to my chair, tucking my legs underneath me as I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Mathi, detailing everything Liadon had said.

His reply was almost instant.Not a hard decision, Bethany.

An opinion Darby shares.

And why would you expect her to say anything else, when the man she loves and her best friend are in the firing line? If you’re looking for someone to talk you out of what you know you must do, you’d be better discussing the matter with Sgott rather than any of us elves.

I knew that. I also knew there was no way I was going to burden him with that sort of decision.Listen, I’ve a morning tea-date with Win Frost, who’s a retired storm witch. You want to come along?

I take it this storm witch might have some names for us?

According to Darby, yes. We can go talk to them straight after, if you’d like.

Sounds like a plan. What time? I’ve got to update the council at nine, but I can delay if necessary.

He said ten, so plenty of time.

Perfect. Shall l pick you up at the end of the lane?

Please.

See you then.

I sent him back a smile, then tucked the phone away and sipped my chocolate, watching the flames dance as the storm continued to threaten overhead. Its energy ran across my skin and made the tiny hairs at the back of my neck rise.

The presence was back.

I could hear the vibration of it in the storm, feel it in the wind stirring through my bedroom’s open window. The energy felt more male than female, which meant that, given I’d sent the wind on a mission to find the witch using the horn, whoever it was, they weren’t the horn’s wielder. They also felt some distance away and oddly uncoupled—which made absolutely no sense. The wind also spoke of height, of steep sandstone cliffs overlooking a meandering river. Which was decidedly more information than Beira had suggested was possible.

But if this witch was working with my aunt, then why wasn’t she attacking? Why was she simply keeping tabs on me? Was Mathi right, and she was saving me for last? If that were the case, then who else was on her list? She’d already hit Kaitlyn and the Myrkálfars’ building, and really, the only other person she could go after was Rogan, and I knew for certain he was dead, having witnessed his bones being burned to ashes.

I had a bad feeling we’d soon discover the answer to that particular question.

I shoved the worry that insight raised aside, grabbed my purse from the coffee table, and tugged the bracelet’s box from its depths. The midnight stone bracelet reacted the minute I opened the lid, the tiny stars seeming to shine with anticipation. I once again ran a finger across its surface and the pulsing energy that caressed my fingers felt stronger, sharper. It wastempting, so tempting, to put it on and see what happened, but uncertainty held me back.

I needed more than assumptions and theories before I donned anything that held this much magic.

I snapped the lid back on and shoved the box back to the bottom of my purse. Then, before I could really think about it, I sent a text to Treasa. I had no idea if she knew about Cynwrig’s gift, but given I couldn’t talk to him about it without actually using it, she was my next best option. After telling her what he’d done, I added that I would not accept the gift until I knew more about it and the consequences of wearing it.

Then I drained the rest of my hot chocolate, placed the fire screen over the fire to catch any embers, and went to bed.

And once again dreamed of deception.

Mathi’s driver ushered me into the car and nodded without comment when I mentioned we needed to go to Panna’s first to pick up an order. As he smoothly headed back into the traffic, Mathi looked me up and down and then said, “Bad night?”

“Is that a polite way of saying I look like shit?”

He smiled but there was concern in his eyes. “You’ve rather large bags under your eyes. It is not a good look.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I keep having these dreams of deception, but they come with no goddamn details, and it’s annoying.”

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