Page 45 of The Witch and His Crow

He refused to release me. ‘Not them. You know who I’m speaking about.’

Frustrated at this man’s ability to dance around a subject, I tore myself free. I couldn’t manage it without the aid of a slight push of my Gift against his chest. ‘I think we’re done here.’

A slow clapping emanated around the courtyard. The melodic pace was off by a beat, as if the person clapping wanted me to look at them. And I did, finding Salem Tanner watching from the back of the crowd, his one good eye fixed on me.

‘Bravo,’ he called out. The crowd before him parted like water, as if surprised by the sudden appearance of the witch. Could they sense the danger leaking off him as I did?

Then again, what was a little danger if not something to enjoy?

Arwyn stiffened, falling back into silence. I didn’t know what drove me to do it, but I strode forwards away from my rival, faced Salem and the crowd, and mocked a bow. It was both awkward and dramatic, but I didn’t care. My goal was to provide a warning for those watching—one that reminded them not to fuck with me.

By the time I righted myself, Salem was gone. Yet his presence lingered. My mind went back to the letters, to the physical proof that Jonathan had been the one to make the mistake leading to Salem’s family’s death.

He deserved to know. I had to find him and tell him.

‘Hector.’ Arwyn stepped into my side. He kept his voice low, ensuring I was the only one to hear what was said next. ‘You need to be careful.’

‘No shit,’ I said, turning my back on my adoring fans until he was my entire focus. ‘So do you.’

‘I’m not talking about us.’

‘There is nousto talk about, so that would make sense.’

Before I stepped away, his hand snaked out and grabbed my arm. For someone covered in blood and riddled with pain, Arwyn certainly had the ability to bury it and act like everything was fine. That confirmed one thing—he wasn’t a stranger to pain. ‘There’s a wolf amongst our flock. And you know it.’

My breath caught in my throat, the very sky suddenly pressing down atop me. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

I did, but playing ignorant was important.

‘Tonight. Meet me at the boundary of the castle if you want to know more.’

With that, Arwyn left. Walking directly in through the crowd, directly towards where Salem had gone. I took a step to follow him, but my next words choked me as I saw his back. Arwyn’s skin was a mess of bloodied flesh. Grit and blood mixed together, left over from how I’d thrust him back into the wall.

I shouldn’t have felt the guilt that crept up, but I did. Immediately, I found Romy’s eyes. She would be able to fix him. But before I could even contemplate offering, Arwyn was gone.

Like a shadow, he disappeared within moments. All that was left to occupy me was his words.

There’s a wolf amongst our flock.

He knew. Arwyn knew about the Witch Hunter. How, I wasn’t sure. But I had no doubt what his words meant. And I had no choice but to find out.

‘How about we get out of here before someone else asks the victor for a fight, yes?’ Romy wrapped her arm around me, guiding me from the courtyard. Red leaves crunched beneath my boots, squashing them into bloodied piles. ‘I should be mad at you for getting yourself hurt, but I can’t get over thetensionbetween you two.’

Somehow I didn’t think she was talking about the tension of the fight. I rolled my eyes.

I waited until the courtyard and its crowd were far behind us before I replied. ‘It would seem I have a date tonight.’

‘Withhim?’

I nodded. ‘I think Arwyn knows about the Witch Hunter.’

‘Well fuck,’ Romy said, echoing my inner thoughts. ‘What time are we going?’

‘We? I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

Romy pouted. ‘As if I’m letting you out my sight.’

‘You don’t really have a choice.’

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