Page 58 of Witches Be Damned

“Yeah,” I admitted. “She promised me a favor for being kind to her and feeding her at the Academy.”

Luna’s brows drew together. “What kind of promise?”

“A debt to collect.” I shrugged. “In fact, I’ll call it in now.”

Luna’s grim smile said that wasn’t happening. “Let’s sort out the politics first, and then we’ll talk favors.”

Ugh. Translation: probably not happening. Cheyanne vanished into thin air or turned into a cat again and couldn’t vouch for the promise or deliver it.

The arrival of the headmaster and soldiers terminated that conversation for the meantime. He hadn’t changed a bit. Bushy brows, brown eyes, and brown hair losing its battle with gray. Fit body tucked in a gray uniform. Venellan, the headmaster of the Academy, who was demoted temporarily when a usurper arrested me and sentenced me to the Guardians. Without proper procedure, might I add. Shame the Appeals Council ignored that little fact in my submitted paperwork.

“Miss Nomical, you’re looking well,” Venellan addressed me in a sympathetic tone.

“As well as can be for a prisoner.” I probably shouldn’t have gotten sassy with him, but I was an emotional wreck at the moment and not thinking clearly.

“Yes, well.” He glanced at Talon with shrewd eyes. “Let’s see what we can do about that, shall we?”

I didn’t get my hopes up at his reply. Nor did I indulge in pleasantries or talk of appeals or begging him to do something to prevent my return. “Let’s get this over with.”

Luna squeezed my arm in warning to be nice.

“Very well.” The headmaster tipped his head at Talon and ordered, “Call the Guardians.”

“No, I’ll take her.” The Darnax removed cuffs from his pocket and approached me.

Obsidian went crazy and launched off me, his claws sealing around a ring, tugging, but the Darnax was stronger and bigger.

Talon’s skin crusted over with gargoyle stone and his voice came out deeper and commanding. “Do not try me, little one. Let go.”

Obsidian let out a pathetic squawk and obeyed, falling back on my shoulder with a light thud. As the smaller of the gargoyles, he had to submit to his Alpha, and I didn’t begrudge the little guy.

“I’m sorry, Romance Queen,” Talon whispered, the stone receding at his will rather than the call of darkness.

He took to calling me that nickname at the Academy in his time guarding Luna. Loads of study sessions led to me telling her about the latest romance I was reading, hoping to form a book club between us. Alas, she was too busy with catch up lessons and romancing her men. I refused to let his nickname soften me.

A frustrated scream clawed at my throat, and I begrudgingly lifted my wrists. Cold black metal sealed over me, and I rubbed my flesh, hating the feeling and constriction after six days of liberation from the Guardian’s cuffs. I didn’t bother asking if the bindings were necessary. I willingly gave myself up and let them take me back. Hardly a flight risk.

“Bye,” I croaked to Luna at the behest of her man tugging me up the stairs, depriving me of a hug or one last sob in her arms.

Talon marched me to the Terra Room like a damn cop. Students glanced my way and whispered. Fuck them. I didn’t care what they thought.

A beat before we crossed over a portal to the Guardians, Venellan caught my elbow, and thrust out his arm, wrapping my fingers over an unsealed envelope.

“Best of luck, Miss Nomical.” With that, he nodded at Talon and departed.

The Darnax gave me a moment to read the letter as best I could with secured wrists. A letter to the new warden, explaining the mistake with a previous colleague, Kymbal, who had unfairly sentenced me to the Guardians. My chest lit with a vengeful flame at reading the asshole had been fired for misconduct. The flames darkened and chilled at the last paragraph requesting my release under the premise of a fateful mistake.

Next, I read the handwritten note. “We haven’t forgotten about you. We have tried unsuccessfully six times for your release, but we’re stonewalled by a man named Vartros. Luna indicates she met with him after your incarceration, and he warned her not to support your appeal or it would be denied. We understand he’s gone missing and are trying a new avenue with your new warden to collect on our successful seventh appeal. May the Veil protect you.”

Lucky seven. The one I turned down to stay with Tor.

I broke down again at my friends and headmaster fighting for me. I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t forgotten. I wasn’t battling without an army. Suddenly, my freedom felt closer than ever.

I crunched the note up in my palm and lifted it to Talon. “Take this. They’ll read it, and I don’t want them knowing my business.” Didn’t want anyone trying to sabotage Luna’s efforts.

As for the headmaster’s letter, I doubted it would have any impact, given the warden’s need for soldiers to collect every last prisoner before he even considered releasing my team and me. Still, it was positive news.

I also forgot the biker Castor’s promise to get us out, and my thoughts brightened a little with hope that we only had to endure prison a little while longer and they we were free.

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