Page 82 of Witch Untold
Shit. Now was the time to lay my cards on the table and hope she’d help me. “Jasper is losing his grip on being present. He keeps slipping away, I think back to this abyss place. He has no control over it.”
“Then it means the bond between the two of you is weakening.” Her eyes narrowed. “Interesting considering it was the malevolent that bound himself to you.”
What was she implying… Wait a second. “You think he’s deliberately loosening his grip on me?”
She canted her head. “I’d be able to be more helpful if I could understand the nature of your relationship with the malevolent.”
“I love him.” I said it bluntly.
Her mouth parted in a smile. “Ah, and you think he loves you.”
“I know he does.”
She puffed out her cheeks. “I would tell you that you’re insane, but the evidence is in your favor. Only he can end the bond between you, and it seems like his feelings for you are subconsciously leading him to let go.”
“So I tell him not to. To check himself and keep a grip.”
She shrugged. “Seems like a good plan. If he knows what’s happening, he can focus on making sure it doesn’t.”
“And how do we get him back from the abyss if he gets…stuck,” Bramble asked.
Ida smirked smugly. “You don’t.” She took a gulp of her ale. “But I can.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “For a price.”
“Ida…” Lauris shook his head, looking disappointed. “These are my friends.”
She pressed her lips together. “Which is the only reason I’m giving them my time, but a job is a job, Lauris. You want me to pull your malevolent back from the abyss, then you pay the price.”
“How much?”
She chuckled. “Oh, honey. I don’t want or need your money.” She leaned in and licked her lips. “I want your blood, sex, and pain.”
Oh, shit. The three trademark ingredients of a blood witch’s magic.
“I’ll pay the price for her,” Lauris said.
Ida rolled her eyes. “Sorry, love, it doesn’t work that way.” She raked me over. “You want my help, you pay the price. I’d love to have some Grimswood power in a jar.”
Shit, she knew who I was.
She let out a bark of laughter. “Oh, honey, you’re famous and very much in demand.”
“No,” Bramble said to me. “You can’t do this. Anna won’t allow it. The anchor’s blood and power can’t be put in the hands of a blood witch. Who knows what she’ll do with it. Plus, Jasper hasn’t been gone that long. He’s been gone longer, right?”
She had a point. I sighed. “Thanks for the offer. If he doesn’t return soon then I’ll be back to take you up on it.”
Ida shrugged. “Whatever.” She drained her tankard and pushed back her chair. “I got stuff to do, and if you want to keep your key to Shady Lane, you best get your friends out of here before the powers that be lock on to them.” She stood and stretched. “See you around.”
She strode off between the tables occupied by hulking fae and into the gloom.
“Come on,” Lauris said. “We should get back to Grimswood.”
We stepped back into the courtyard, silent and empty now, and cut across it to a pillar similar to the one we’d entered via.
“Lauris…” Bramble asked. “How come you have a key to this place?”
He pulled the key from his pocket and pressed it to the pillar, which lit up with strange whorls and whirls.
“Honestly, Bramble, I have no fucking clue.”
