Page 100 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

I was in love with Freya Redfern, and I loved her enough to recognize she didn’t feel the same.

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Freya

As I had feared, the tracking spell yielded nothing. It was as if Elle had never existed. Part of me wished that were true, no matter how selfish that made me.

I couldn’t be selfish anymore, not after I had experienced the cost.

Since he had almost watched his sister burn to death, the color hadn’t returned to Walker’s face. He leaned against a tree and stared blankly at the charred remains of the trees that surrounded us.

My familiar laid still and stained by blood beside me. A fresh wave of disgust rolled through me—the High Witch had attacked him before he even had a chance to shift. Going after one’s familiar in such a way was not only cowardly, but downright monstrous. Only Coven Mothers were granted familiars, and they were only able to bond with one throughout their long lives. Mom had lost hers a couple years before I was born, and it had been a pain she carried with her throughout the rest of her life.

In a state of semi-shift, Ryder continued to pace like a caged wolf. I hated that I was the reason my childhood friend experienced such duress, but I could only help him by bringing his mate back.

Nothing said "I’m sorry" like returning the other half of your friend’s soul.

While Cadence and Ryder swapped ideas about where to begin the search for Elle, I cautiously approached Walker. I reached a hand toward him to help him to his feet, but he continued to stare ahead, vacant-eyed.

“You could do me the courtesy of yelling,” I said. “I prefer that over the silent treatment.”

His gaze snapped to mine. “I didn’t realize you were there.”

Worry gnawed at me. Swallowing the part of myself that begged me to hang my head in shame and leave him be, I cleared my throat.

“Walk with me?” I asked.

I hated how hesitation shook my voice, but Walker stood and followed me. Awkwardly, I dropped the hand I had held out for him. When we were away from the others but still within eye shot, we paused. Bugs buzzed wildly. They would be enough to drown out our conversation from Ryder’s ears.

“Cowboy,” I prodded. “What’s going on in your head?”

Walker studied the jungle floor like it held the secrets of the universe.

“Why should I tell you?” he snapped. “You don’t find it necessary to shareyoursecret plans.”

I sighed. “Okay, I deserved that—”

“No,” Walker interrupted and swallowed. “No, you didn’t.”

When his gaze met mine, I gasped at his stricken expression. The magical bond between us hummed in the air, and I sensed the swirling mess of his emotions. Walker’s eyes rounded, and the agony and longing and something even deeper that I had glimpsed left as quickly as it had struck.

“What was that?” I whispered.

Walker ran a hand through his sweat-dampened curls.

“It’s just the bond between us.” His voice was resigned. “I could sense your pain during the fight earlier. I think going into the cave strengthened it—whatever it is.”

The disgust on his face was a pang to my chest.

You wanted space,I reminded myself.

“That’s a good theory,” I said lamely and shook my head to clear my thoughts.

“Freya,” Walker blurted. “I’m sorry.”

I tilted my head in confusion. “Forwhat?”

He took a deep breath and reached for me, then jerked his hand back to his side. His fingers curled like they itched to touch me.

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