Page 27 of Liar Witch

Elsie starts picking up the herbs she dropped, and I can’t help but think that she’s being unusually quiet.

“Why are the others treating you like…”

Elsie stills, and when she looks up, her eyes are filled with tears.

“I made a mistake.”

That… doesn’t sound good, but before I can open my mouth to offer reassurance, she’s hugging me again.

“It was all my fault,” she blurts. “I just wanted to take a bit of Coop with me to my new coven. I never thought…”

I stare at Cas and Kier with wide eyes, begging for help. I’m completely out of my depth with the crying girl who suddenly seems so much younger than she did a few minutes ago.

My hands pat her sunshine hair awkwardly as I flail around, looking for the words.

“I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

It’s not the right thing to say. Elsie just weeps harder, her tears soaking my shoulder.

“It’s all my fault that Petra’s dead.”

Chapter Eight

Nilsa

My mind goes blank with shock. Of all the things I expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them.

“The mages were responsible for Petra’s death, Elsie.”

“No, I led them here.” Her words are blubbery and muffled by my shirt, but I can still understand them. “I thought—I thought Cooper wanted to find me when we were older. I never thought he’d give me a tracker that would lead the fleet to Sanctum. I still can’t believe it, but—”

My blood runs cold. “But what, Elsie?”

“When they landed, he came for me.”

I stare at her in disbelief. “Cooper?” That shy, clumsy nerd had actually taken part in a battle?

It’s almost as unbelievable as Elsie being responsible for Petra’s death.

“No. His father. Evert Castleman.” She shivers. “He came straight to the safe room where my new circle was supposed to wait out the battle. He knew who I was. Came straight up to me and ripped my necklace away from me. I thought… I thought I was going to die, but Reva…”

“I saved her ass in a flurry of beauty and grace for which she will be forever grateful.”

Even Elsie has to smile as the young Lunar sashays into the room, followed by a pair of cats. One—a white, fluffy abomination named Milo—makes his way straight to Elsie and mews at her feet until she releases me to cling to him instead.

The other—a sleek, black shorthair—must be Reva’s familiar. It jumps to the top of the cabinet above us and proceeds to survey our small gathering with a haughty expression that would make Opal proud.

“Elsie was damn near exiled for having the tracker in the first place,” Reva continues. “The Mother Solar was furious that she kept it hidden when she knew what it was.”

“We don’t exile juveniles,” I growl. “You made a stupid mistake, so what? They would have found Sanctum through other means if you hadn’t.”

“Either way, they’re all angry at me now,” Elsie whispers. “Most of them won’t even speak to me.”

“They’re hurting from loss.” Reva’s tone is soft, almost sympathetic. “They’ll get over it.”

Elsie doesn’t look like she believes her. “I don’t deserve their forgiveness.”

“Your Goddess sent you to Sanctum,” I remind her. “You’re here for a reason.”