Page 46 of The Witch and His Crow

‘We always have a choice, Hector.’

Not when it comes to Arwyn, I thought, although I refused to voice that fact aloud. ‘And mine is to go. Alone. It could help us.’

‘Or, forgive me for being distrusting of the tall, sexy man who was just practically sucking your ear off, buthecould be the Witch Hunter.’

I shook my head. ‘You saw his fire, he’s clearly a witch.’

‘So is Jonathan, and Father Tomin is still using him as his pawn.’

Touché. Romy had a point. Jonathan was not only a witch, but the acting Grand High. If he was in the Witch Hunters’ pocket, I couldn’t know for sure that Arwyn was free of similar crimes.

‘So you think I shouldn’t go?’ I asked, already knowing the answer.

‘Of courseyou should go. I’m just saying you shouldn’t goalone. And we need a plan. We’ve both dealt with enough Witch Hunters to know their patterns, the way they think. Arwyn certainly fights like he’s been trained by a professional. I hardly think going to meet him alone is the best option.’

‘Would this be the moment I remind you that we’ve already spent time alone?’ I prodded her in the side. ‘Arwyn has had his chances to kill me. I agree with you, therecouldbe a chance he’s a Witch Hunter. We should treat everyone in this castle asa potential suspect until they’re dealt with. But I’m not going to refuse to meet him.’

‘I could torture the truth out of him,’ Romy suggested with a grin, wiggling her fingers at me.

I pushed her hands down. ‘Perhaps we’ll keep that as our backup plan.’

‘You say it like you have another idea,’ Romy replied, as if she was reading my mind. I was probably wearing my thoughts on my face.

‘Not another idea, but our first,’ I said, cringing at the thought of the air-witch who’d cracked my mind open like an egg. ‘We find Jordan now, get him on side. Then, by tonight, we have the means to confirm Arwyn’s loyalties.’

‘I’m not sure I like where this is going.’

A shuffling of feet sounded beside us. At least I thought it was feet. All there was beside us was shadow. No one was there. I tried to convince myself that old houses made sounds as though the walls longed to join in the conversation, and that this was no different. But that didn’t stop me from bringing my voice down to a whisper. ‘We find Jordan and make sure he helps us get inside Arwyn’s mind.’

‘He doesn’t seem like the most controllable witch,’ Romy said, voicing my inner concern.

‘I’m not interested in control.’ It was my turn to wiggle my fingers. ‘Plus, all it takes is him to be made to touch Arwyn. He won’t be able to control himself once the connection is made. And I have no doubt that Jordan’s reaction will either confirm or deny the accusations.’

‘Twisted, but smart,’ Romy said, wringing her hands together. ‘Ilikeit.’

‘You don’t survive years alone without being an expert at both of those things,’ I replied.

‘It helped you had your familiar,’ Romy said.

‘Thanks for the vote in confidence.’

She eyed me up and down, wincing as her gaze settled on my split lip. ‘Let’s get some food, water and as many supplies as we can carry to hoard up in our room. Then, I’ll see to your wounds. Wouldn’t want you going to the date later looking like that.’

‘I regret calling it a date,’ I said, threading my arm in with hers.

‘If anything, Arwyn acts as a good distraction. Not everything about the Witch Trials needs to be suffering and agony. At least some of us can have some fun.’

The way Romy referred to Arwyn as a distraction wasn’t exactlywrong, which was why I didn’t say otherwise. But he wasn’t enough of one to eliminate the thought that haunted me. The idea of seeing Jordan again made my insides turn. What I didn’t add to Romy was that if Jordan caused any issues, I would be the one to see he was out of the Witch Trials—permanently. There was no knowing what he’d gleaned from my thoughts. I didn’t like the idea of someone running around with access to my secrets. Then again, my memories from last night where hazy, but I was confident he’d said something.

‘I see… missing spaces. A block. His memories have been…’

What had he meant by that? I felt bad keeping it from Romy, but until I knew what Jordan meant, I wasn’t prepared to share. But one fact was clear.

If Jordan helped me, I would show him mercy.

If he didn’t, then his time in the Witch Trials would come to an abrupt end.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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