Page 356 of Fated to be Enemies

“Were you ever going to come for me?”

“I was.” My words dried up at the end. I cleared my throat. “I was so scared of seeing you again or finding out what happened to you. It prevented me from just going. I was going to send a letter, but I wasn’t allowed.”

She nodded slowly. “No communication is allowed between residents of the kingdoms.”

Her Salviun twang made me smile. I hadn’t heard it in a long time. “I told myself when I became keeper I would go to you, find a way to bring you here, but the truth was I could have all along. I chose not to because I was afraid you wouldn’t want to see me.” I looked at the fire. “That you hadn’t forgiven me.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Hadn’t forgiven you? For what?”

“If I hadn’t hurt Miss Thompson, revealing my powers, I would never have been forced to leave. If we hadn’t snuck out to see the witch hanging…”

She reached across the rug, and her clammy fingers curled around mine. “None of that was your fault. You were trying to protect me.”

“I left you alone there.”

“Believe it or not…” She gave me a sad smile. “I did okay.”

I looked her up and down. “I can see that.”

“I wouldn’t have wanted to come here, even if you did come.”

My lips parted. I hadn’t considered she’d actually enjoyed life in Salvius—or had one to leave—only that I could bring her here, away from there. To me, Salvius had always been a grizzly, horrid place. “Of course. I’m sorry.”

Her lip curled at the corner. “I work with a doctor of the mind. We help people in asylums. I’m his apprentice. I travel all over.” She twirled her fingers, and the flames danced taller. “I found out I had magic a few years ago. I never told anyone. I knew I could come to Istinia, and I’d get to see you, but everyone told stories about how evil it was here, and when you grow up hearing it, it’s all you know, ya know?”

My brain faltered. “You’re a witch.”

“We’re sisters.” She tapped her fingers against her knee. “Of course I am. They tried to see if I was for years. Miss Thompson was especially awful, but my powers never surfaced, and when they did, I was scared. I didn’t want to come here, especially when I didn’t hear from you. I had no idea what they’d done to you. I thought the worst.”

I covered my mouth with my hand. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“I knew there was no contact between Istinia and Salvius, so I hoped you just couldn’t let me know even if you were okay.”

“I should have found a way.”

She leaned back against the wall. “Maybe, but I could have done the same.”

“So, a mind doctor, hmm?”

“Yep.” She leaned forward, anticipation in her eyes. “Dad would have a field day. He did always hate all of that psychology stuff and talk of witches—well, anything that required being open-minded. I wonder if he knew Mom was a witch.”

“You think it was Mom?” I asked.

She nodded. “It definitely wasn’t Dad. We’d have known, and we didn’t really know Mom.”

“I guess she’s the logical choice.”

She blew out a tense breath. “Enough about me. Let’s talk about how you’re a goddess. I’m so sorry that guy had to die.”

“Oh.” I slapped my hand against my mouth. “No, I should have said. I just said that to get Alexander out of the house and away from you. I needed him to believe Freya was alive.”

“The goddess who kidnapped me, correct?”

“Yes,” I answered. “She’s dead now.”

“Did you?”

I nodded. “She was a bad person. She killed a lot of people.”

---