Page 7 of Destiny of the Witch

Mindful of her truth-seeking abilities, which extended to talking to people over electronic devices, I cleared my throat and said, ‘I’m okay. Things have been turbulent, but there have been some really positive developments.’

‘Any positive developments with Bastion?’ Her voice was lightly teasing.

‘Yes. We’ve had sex,’ I blurted out. Next to me Bastion’s shoulders started to shake with silent laughter.

‘Oh, Amber, I’m so happy for you! I mean … this is good sex, not angry sex, right? You’ve come through your differences?’

‘Yes, good sex. Great sex.’ I felt my cheeks redden and cut myself off before I used the word ‘phenomenal’. Bastion’s ego was big enough already. Amongst other things.

I realised I’d better tell her about removing the curse from him. It felt like a lifetime ago, but it had only been a matter of weeks. ‘I’ve lifted the witch’s curse from him,’ I said.

‘Oh, thank God. Thank you, Amber!’ Her relief was explosive and I felt another prickle on my conscience. Bastion was like an adopted uncle to her and she really cared about him. Though not in the way I did, that was for sure.

‘There’s more to tell you,’ I said gruffly, thinking of Jake. ‘But maybe not over the phone.’

‘Sure, I have stuff to tell you, too. We’re heading back in the next few days. Let’s have a coffee, a blueberry muffin and a catch-up when I’m home,’ she suggested enthusiastically.

I smiled. ‘I’d love that.’

‘Good. Amber?’

‘Yes?’

‘This is me, calling just to say hi. I haven’t had my phone on me for most of my holiday – we’re trying to stay unplugged as much as possible – but I’ve been thinking of you.’

‘Thanks, Jinx. I appreciate that.’ I was about to hang up when Bastion held out his hand. I passed him my phone.

‘Jessica Sharp,’ he greeted her. ‘Emory is looking after you?’ I didn’t hear her response but Bastion smiled. ‘Good. See you when you’re home.’ He hung up.

‘You didn’t even say goodbye!’ I said, exasperated. ‘You have terrible phone manners.’

He smirked. ‘I don’t want to burst your bubble but I have terrible everything manners. You’re the only one I say please and thank you to.’

I didn’t know what it said about me that I felt a little surge of desire at that. His smile widened: he’d felt it.

The front door was flung open and Dick glowered at us. ‘If you’re quite done lolling about on my doorstep, get in!’

Bastion’s head shifted in a purely eagle movement and his eyes flashed gold as he glared back. Dick retreated, swallowed hard and suddenly looked a little less certain of himself. ‘Please,’ he added lamely.

I kept the grin off my face with herculean effort.

We walked into thewater elemental’s home, not to his lounge as I’d expected but down some stairs to a wine cellar. It was cool and dimly lit, and the tinkle of a water fountain added to the damp, dark ambience. As a water elemental, Dick could call forth his element from nothing but it was a lot easier to pull water from nearby a source such as the fountain.

In the centre of the room was a man tied to a chair. He was soaking wet and shivering, but his eyes were defiant. I grimaced. Walking into a scenario like this always made me feel like the bad guy. I tried to not let that show; displaying your morals in the Other realm is like showing a wolf your jugular – highly inadvisable.

‘Who have we got here?’ I asked coolly, gesturing to the bound man. I didn’t recognise him.

‘Miles Turner,’ Dick replied just as coolly. ‘It seems he is part of a mercenary band of elemental renegades that call themselves Unity. There are four of them.’

‘There were four of usI’d thought,’ Miles glared at me, ‘until you killed Keith.’

I hadn’t killed many men in my life, but one was still unnamed: the fire elemental I’d killed when he’d attacked me. ‘Fire elemental?’ I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Miles pressed his lips together, refusing to speak further. Now, that was a problem. I could paint truth runes on him until the potion boiled, but if he didn’t speak all we’d get was a whole lot of truthful silence. A truth-seeker like Jinx could compel him to speak but I didn’t have that weapon in my arsenal.

That, however, was Dick’s problem, not mine. I opened my bag, snapped on my gloves and opened the jar of truth potion. At the sight of it, Miles started to thrash violently and tug against his restraints. He was going to ruin my runes if he did that while I painted them on.

‘Stay still,’ I said sharply. ‘If you make me bungle the runes, the effects could be deadly.’ I wasn’t even lying.

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