Page 91 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

Nothing happened.

“I think you might have to offer a little more than that,” Walker suggested.

I frowned. “I’m sorry, I don’thaveany stories about pissing myself.”

Walker tucked a stray curl behind my ear.

“Maybe,” he agreed, “but you have plenty of secrets.”

More than you know.

“Fine,” I huffed. Refusing to be a coward, I met his gaze. I opened my mouth to tell him what I had done, but there was such affection in his eyes. Walker had always looked at me like he couldn’t help himself. He looked at me like I captivated him.

Losing that might kill me.

“I wasn’t jealous because the chimera showed interest in you or because she’s beautiful,” I said in a rush. Embarrassingly, tears pricked my eyes. “She…she is soft-hearted and delicate and…”

I thought it was an act, but I was wrong, and we need to go back to warn the others.

“And the exact opposite of you,” Walker finished, “which is why she doesn’t really do it for me.”

The compliment didn’t warm me like it should’ve, but magic dripped from the stalactite hanging over the bowl and filled the bowl with several drops.

“The more secretive the truth,” I observed, “the greater the magic.”

“I guess we should fill the bowl and see what happens,” Walker said.

The faster I spilled my secrets, the faster we could learn what we needed to and get out of here.

Or we’re stuck here indefinitely regardless of what we do.

I chose to believe the first option.

Walker swallowed, and I took his hand in mine.

“Whatever it is,” I promised, “you can tell me. We’re friends, remember?”

Though the word only encapsulated a fraction of what Walker and I were, it wasn’t exactly untrue. The tiniest drop of magic dripped into the bowl.

“Cady has been happier than I’ve ever seen her,” Walker said quietly. Shame colored his face. “Shethrivesas a witch, and she thrives with your coven. These past months, it seems like all I do is hold her back, but when I really think about it, I wonder if I’ve been holding her back for longer than that. If I had figured out what she is sooner, she could’ve grown up among her own kind, instead of being raised by her shithead brother.”

Magic poured into the bowl, but I shook my head. “Just because it’syourtruth doesn’t make itthetruth.”

Walker swallowed, and I continued.

“I love my coven.” Magic dripped from the stalactite. “And I love being a witch, but…I do not think it’s bad that Cadence’s early years were defined by you. By humanity. Her magic is incredible, but her heart is far more impressive. That’s thanks to you, cowboy.”

More magic dripped into the bowl, and I smiled.

“See?” I said.

Sadness still clouded his eyes, but he offered the barest hint of a smile.

My turn.

I hadn’t felt a whiff of foreign magic before we had entered the cave. Since this was probably the last time I could consider Walker my friend—my confidante, myWalker—I wanted to feel the warmth of his acceptance one last time.

One more innocuous truth, then I’ll allow him to hate me.

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