Page 104 of This Violent Light
An hour later, we are deep into discussions of a newNight Realm. How we’d like to lead, how we’ll balance power, how we’ll continue to fight for our people.
“Maybe we should find more witch allies,” Cora says. “We can’t break the curse, but wecanmake more sunwalker spells.”
“Cora,” I say, shaking my head. “You can’t be serious. After everything?—”
“It’s just an idea,” she says, cutting me off. “A lot to consider, obviously, but Grace and I can’t be the only decent witches in this world. There might be others willing to help.
“I like it,” Grace announces. “And not just because everyone hates me forimmediatelygetting a sunwalker spell.”
“Nobody hates you,” I’m quick to say, and Beatrice howls from the end of the table.
“Hells, you’ve gone soft,” she accuses. She glances around before pushing to her feet. “Can we go now? Their love is making me physically ill.”
“Good with me,” I say. I pull Grace to her feet, already tugging her toward the manor entrance. “We’ve gota lotof rooms to consummate.”
“That’s disgusting,” Cora says.
“Blame Beatrice for giving him the idea,” Grace says. Now, she’s the one pullingme, giggling as she hurries us along.
Fuck. Yes.
“Love is peculiar,” Amelia says. She scrunches her nose. “I’m not sure I’d like it.”
“I certainly wouldn’t,” Beatrice agrees.
“You would,” I say, but I don’t stick around to argue.
Grace and I cross the patch of dirt in the courtyard’s center. Not long ago, my statue stood there as a painfulreminder of everything I lost, as a desperate hope of what I might find again.
We tore it down days after returning. Beatrice wanted to get statues ofallof us, but thankfully the others put a stop to that idea.
“Every room?” Grace whispers as we disappear into the house. “That’s going to take a while.”
I spin her around, tossing her over my shoulder. She squeals but makes no attempt to get down.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got all the time in the world.”
The End.
