Page 33 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

Regardless of how badass she was, Cady still didn’t need to hunt the chimera.

“We’ll take a vote,” Anise declared. She wore her usual frown and simple dress. “All Elders in favor of the child joining the quest raise their hands.”

Six hands raised.

Anger and fear warred inside me and stirred my magic. I stormed out of the room, away from the witches and their damned votes, before anyone could stop me.

Getting out of the apartment building and into the sunshine eased some of the tightness in my chest, but magic brimmed beneath my skin. I wished I could go lose myself on a horse, but I settled for walking farther and farther into the forest beyond the apartments.

“Damn,” a familiar, male voice greeted. “I thoughtIdidn’t want to go on this trip.”

I stopped in my tracks and faced Ryder. He leaned against a tree with a black duffel bag over his shoulder. For once, he wore clothes—a black shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. He also wore his signature, cocky smirk.

“I’m fine with going,” I said, “not so fine with my baby sister coming with.”

At the thought, my magic grew even more potent. It heated my veins and hummed in my ears. If someone touched me now, they would get zapped. I almost wished Ryder would try.

“Eh.” Ryder shrugged. “From the looks of things, she’s probably better off than you are.”

I hated that he was right. Cadence shouldn’t be responsible for protecting herself.

That was supposed to be my job.

“Besides,” Ryder added and sighed. “Frey won’t let anything happen to the kid. Neither will I. Cady’s pretty cool if you overlook her family tree.”

Despite his rudeness, some of my panic eased at his words. It felt good to know there was someone looking out for Cady other than her out-of-control brother.

“Cadence is packing your things,” Freya said from behind me.

I turned and faced her. She had picked the debris out of her hair and plaited it into a neat braid. She had also gotten dressed in a fitted green turtleneck, black jeans, and her leatherjacket. Jewelry glittered around her neck and on her fingers. Her face was once again even-toned, but stony—stonier than I had seen it in weeks.

“And she’s packing hers,” I said, “because she’s going now.”

Freya nodded.

“How can you be so even keeled about this?” I snapped.

Freya swallowed. “It’s what’s best for the coven. It’s what has to be done.”

Forgetting Ryder, I drew closer to her and breathed in her ginger and lavender scent. It settled some of my frayed edges.

“Sweetheart,” I said softly. Freya stiffened. “What happened at the cottage? Tell me what’s wrong.”

Tell me what’s wrong, and I’ll fix it.

For a heartbeat, pain fractured the carefully uncaring mask she donned. Freya swallowed it, and the glimpse of the girl I had come to know disappeared.

“You can’t call me that, Walker.”Walker, not cowboy.“We can’t do this anymore. Everything else is far too important. The Elders were right.”

“Do what?” I asked. “Care about you?”

Want to kiss you until I eclipse everything else? Until you make me feel alive and whole instead of like a shell of what I once was?

“Not like this,” she whispered and shook herself. Resolve lined her face. “We’re coven members. That’s the most important bond we share. That’s the only one.”

I sputtered, opening my mouth and closing it like a fish out of water. That’s how I felt. Moments ago, I had Freya.

How was I supposed to un-have her?

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