Page 67 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

She nodded absentmindedly. “I can,” she murmured. “But it’s going to cost you.”

I reached into my pocket, pulling out a heavy bag of coins. The witch laughed. “I wasn’t talking about money, Your Majesty.”

“Name your price.”

She watched me with a strange, dark gaze. A lesser being would have fidgeted under her attention. I would not.

“A favor now for a favor later.”

“Absolutely not,” Kaia bit out. “Name a different price.”

The witch’s eyes flicked to my best friend. She lifted one shoulder in a shrug, her shawl falling partway to reveal dark red lines that another might have mistaken for tattoos. I knew better. This witch dealt in blood magic.

“No,” she replied. “You want my help. That’s the cost.”

I worked my jaw. “What’s the favor?”

Her smile was beautiful and horrifying at the same time. “You’ll know when I ask it.”

I glanced at Kaia. Her lips were pinched, expression unreadable to most. I knew her well enough to tell when she was displeased.

“We can find another way,” she said quietly.

“We can, but how long will it take? She’s out there—powerless—because of me. I don’t know who took her or what they want.”

Kaia sighed. “This is a terrible idea. She”—Kaia hooked her thumb toward the witch listening to us—”could ask for anything. If she’s not interested in money, and she won’t say what favor she wants, you know whatever it is won’t be good.”

I ran my palm over my jaw, thinking. “What if there were stipulations on the favor?” I asked, turning to the witch.

She took a sip of her tea, considering it. “What sort of stipulations?”

“You can’t ask for my kingdom. No ownership of a person. You can’t ask someone’s execution.” I looked at Kaia. “Am I missing anything?”

Kaia rubbed at her forehead. “I still think this is a bad idea.”

“I’m aware. That’s not what I asked.”

She blew out a tight breath. “Off the top of my head, that seems like the most important things. I’m sure there are others, but I would need time to come up with a list.”

“We don’t have time.”

Kaia pursed her lips, glancing back to the witch. “Would you accept those terms?”

“I would.”

It was too easy, and yet there was nothing simple about it. I would have paused and taken more time to consider if I had it, but time was not on my side.

I opened my mouth to agree, but then hesitated. Kaia looked at me, holding my stare. After a short pause, she dipped her chin.

“You have a deal.”

The witch’s blood-red lips curled up in a close-mouthed smile. “It is done.” A frown tugged at the corners of my lips. I didn’t feel any different. There was no wash of magic. Hm. Perhaps it wasn’t the same with every witch.

“Now.” She set her tea on the table and reached into a hidden pocket in her dress, withdrawing an athame. Kaia moved in front of me, her hand going to one of the swords strapped to her back. A wry smile crossed the witch’s face. “I mean no harm to our king, Commander. But if he has a bond with this woman, I will need his blood for theportal to find her.”

I put a hand on Kaia’s shoulder. “It’s fine.”

“She’s a blood witch,” Kaia hissed under her breath.

---