Page 87 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

Walker

The woman in front of me was beautiful.

It was the only thing I knew, aside from the sweeping melodies of the music, but even that drifted as a more familiar song filled my ears. No, it wasn’t quite a song, but a heartfelt hum that moved my very soul. It tasted like cinnamon and smelled like cedar after fresh rain.

It felt like home.

My own magic answered in return. Lightning danced on my skin, but I imbued it not to hurther.

I would never hurt her.

Her achingly familiar magic called to mine and roared in my ears, fierce as a lion. As her copper eyes bored into mine, I realized I knew this witch like I knew myself. I spoke her name, and everything else quieted.

“Freya.”

She smiled, and it was like sunshine after a thunderstorm. I reached for her, but something held me back. I glanced down and found myself strapped to a giant rock.

“Walker?” Cady said and came to Freya’s side.

Fear marred her tiny face, and my heart squeezed.

“It’s me, Cady-Cat,” I promised. “I’m okay.”

My sister grinned, and the vines released me. I stumbled forward, but Cady and Freya were there to help me right myself. Cady reached behind her and lifted my familiar brown hat. I crouched so she could put it back on my head then lifted my sister in my arms and swung her around. She was heavier than the last time I had done it, but I didn’t mind, not when she squealed in delight as she always had.

Once I set her down, my gaze returned to Freya.

Freya, who feels like home.

I wanted to hug her. No, I wanted to send everyone away for the next hour, the nextyear,and kiss her senseless. I wanted to touch her creamy skin and pay homage to every freckle and feel the softness she hid under that hard shell—

Freya inhaled sharply and turned away.

“Try to eye-bang her with less of a crowd, maybe?” Cady whispered.

Heat crawled up my neck, and Freya coughed. Her ears were tipped pink. I elbowed my sister and mouthed,what the hell?

Cady merely giggled and focused on where Ryder and Elle stood a foot apart from each other, awkwardly staring into each other’s eyes. Surprisingly, Ryder was the first one to pull away. He scratched the back of his neck and cleared his throat.

“Um, thanks,” he said, “for…bringing me back.”

Below us, something hissed and splashed. We walked to the edge of the cliff, and I caught a glimpse of a glimmering black tail.

“So,” I said, “what exactly just happened?”

Freya opened her mouth to explain, and I noticed her face was paler than normal. I wanted to ask her if she was okay, but something shifted beneath our feet. Not something, I realized, but the island itself. Instinctively, I guided Freya and Cady away from the cliff’s edge.

As adrenaline sped up my heart, my magic flared through my veins. In answer, Freya’s power thrummed in the air. The ground shook harder, and we locked eyes.

“We need to take cover,” Ryder said.

The ground shook more violently, and a limb fell from a tree. It crashed toward us, and I reached a hand to block it. Lightning stretched from my palm and struck the falling limb. For a moment, I stared at my hand in wonder.

“Get down!” Freya ordered.

We crouched, and she created a forcefield of wind that surrounded us. Cady reinforced it with towering, thick vines. As the ground continued to shake, I tucked my sister beneath me. Birds screeched, and the earth itself rumbled.

“Not yet,” Freya whispered. “It’s not time.”

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