Page 18 of Destiny of the Witch

My mouth dropped open. As the Crone, surely I could do the same? What need did I have for Victoria’s horrible prediction? I could see my own! ‘I could read the stars!’ I blurted.

Bastion shook his head firmly. ‘The only thing you’re reading tonight is a romance novel. You’re wiped out, Amber, and you’re shaking with cold. Let’s get you warm and fed, then we’ll visit your mum and Lucille. Hopefully Oscar and the car will have arrived by then.’

‘Griffin Air is faster.’

He grimaced. ‘But colder. I should have checked the weather before insisting you come with me. I should have just flown above the car.’

‘If the Connection knew you were flying so close to cars where Common realmers could spot you, you’d be in trouble,’ I argued.

He shook his head. ‘The Other realm protects itself; you know that. All the Common realmers would see is a giant eagle.’

‘Maybe – but the Connection still wouldn’t be happy.’

He raised an eyebrow. ‘Since when have you cared about the Connection?’

‘I wanted to be the Symposium member once,’ I said primly, pushing away from him. ‘For a long time I wanted to work within it.’ And now I’d be outside of it forever because the Crone couldn’t be a Symposium member.

It was strange to realise that letting go of that dream still stung a little. The Connection was a good organisation in theory, but in practice too many bigots held positions of power. It was corrupt, lumbering and slow, not the unifying organisation that we needed it to be. For a long time, I’d wanted to be the one to revolutionise it, to bring about the change it needed, and letting go of that ambition was bittersweet.But my role as Crone would bring different challenges and different rewards.

Maybe Kass could introduce the changes that we needed. A good leader delegates, so this task would be all hers. And if I was a little jealous? For me, that was personal growth.

Bastion felt the swirl of uncomfortable emotions within me and tugged me to his side. He kissed me lightly. ‘Let’s get inside.’

The warmth and wards of the Coven tower wrapped around me as we entered. I was so eager to get to my apartment that I all but jogged down the stairs. Bastion keyed in the code on the security pad on my door and let us in. He immediately headed to the kettle – a man after my own heart.

‘Get out of those wet clothes,’ he ordered, ‘and I’ll run you a hot bath.’

That was an even better idea than a shower! ‘Deal! I’ll make us a cup of tea.’ While the kettle boiled I went into the bathroom and pulled off my wet clothes, cringing as the wet fabric dragged against my skin. I dragged on a fluffy dressing gown, almost sighing with relief as its soft fabric rubbed against me. I was still feeling glacially cold but things had certainly improved.

Iwent back to the kitchen to select my mug. I pulled out one that saidToday I’m going to be more useless than the ‘G’ in lasagnebecause it felt true. I was wiped out and, I could admit to myself, a bit low. A lot low. Meredith had almost been killed on my watch. Victoria thought that I could andshouldkill my own mother. Someone had subverted my protective runes on the circus. I was working so hard, yet nothing was going my way. I felt like Destiny had me in her crosshairs.

I wanted to confront Hannah, but an interrogation was the last thing I could handle right now. Besides, I still needed to give Lucille her potion. If Lucille died… I couldn’t even finish the thought. Saving her was about all I had left in me. Tomorrow I’d confront Hannah – but after at least six hours sleep.

My tummy rumbled so I made a quick slice of toast while my tea was brewing. Bastion’s mug saidYou are the human equivalent of a participation trophy.It made me laugh because it couldn’t be more inaccurate. He was a specimen of male perfection and he knew it; as his girlfriend or partner or whatever I was, I needed to keep his ego in check. Just a smidge. He already knew he was glorious.

‘Bath’s ready!’ he called and I went into the bathroom, mugs of tea in hand.

He had put in masses of bubbles that towered above the bath like a gargantuan white castle. I was momentarily speechless. ‘I think I overdid the bubbles,’ he said, a shade sheepishly.

I wanted to assure him that he hadn’t but I burst out laughing instead. ‘Oh, Bastion,’ I finally managed to say while I still giggled. ‘How much did you put in?’

‘All of it,’ he admitted. That set me off again.

When I finally stopped laughing, I slid out of the robe and got into the bath. The water was hot perfection and I gave a happy noise. The chill in my limbs would be gone in no time. I hummed contentedly.

When I was submerged, I could hardly see Bastion for the cloud of bubbles. That made me start giggling again. He stepped forward, gathered an armful of them and plonked them on my toes so at least I could actually see. ‘Better?’ he asked.

‘Perfect,’ I smiled. ‘Don’t change a thing.’

‘Well, one thing,’ he said. ‘Give me a minute.’ He disappeared from the bathroom and I took the opportunity to grab my mug and sip my tea, warming me from the inside out. I had an inkling aboutwhat might be coming; after all, there is nothing better than reading in the bath.

Bastion came back in and held out a book. I grinned as I read the title:The Bite Side of Life.The blurb told me it was an enemies-to-lovers romance about a monster hunter and dashing millionaire vampire.

‘I’ve noticed that all the books you give me are enemies-to-lovers romances.’

He winked. ‘I had to plant the seed somehow.’

‘Sneaky griffin.’ I tried to act as if I was telling him off, but he could feel the amusement behind my tone.

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