Page 30 of Liar Witch

Sometimes, even I have to admit, Solars can work miracles.

“It took her hours to finish.” Reva’s voice jolts my attention to the rest of the room.

Elsie is on a bed next to me, still wearing the same robes she had on yesterday. Her apron is stained with blood—my blood—and her hair is slicked to her face with sweat.

Kier is gone, replaced by Cas at some point while I was out. This time he’s wearing his own clothes, and Nos is with him. Both twins are asleep, slouched against the doorframe, dark circles under their eyes.

TheDeadwoodmust have arrived.

I haven’t seen Rysen yet and that bothers me. Usually the gruff, overprotective vampire is in the middle of things. For a second I worry that he’s still in Cawshome, but the feeling of Opal’s presence nearby disproves that.

I may not have spoken to my familiar since we were rescued, but I sent her after Rysen before I was caught trying to kill the Queen. Opal might be sarcastic, and a little bit obsessed with food, but she’s also a stubborn thing; she wouldn’t have abandoned him.

Reva is sitting in the chair between Elsie and me, fiddling with one of the bottles of elixir that the Solar left on the table. We’re the only two awake.

A flood of gratitude hits me as I push myself up so I’m sitting. Elsie looks completely worn out, but I can already tell that—despite the hangover I’m currently experiencing—I’m completely healed.

Even the memories of the time I spent under the Eagle’s whip feel muted. Like they’ve been safely tucked behind a sheet of glass. I can see them, but they can’t touch me.

She didn’t just heal my magic and my body, but my mind, too.

“She’s a good healer,” I mumble.

“I know. She deserves to be treated better than she has been recently.”

“Agreed.”

I’ve already got a plan to bring that up with Sophie when I see her next. No high priestess should teach their coven that it’s okay to give a teenager the cold shoulder like that, no matter how stupid they’ve been.

“I want to take her back to Ilyani.”

I blink as Reva’s words settle in. “That’s suicide. The Castlemans own the city.”

“She needs to know if this Cooper betrayed her. She needs closure.” The other Lunar pushes to her feet with a frown. “Besides, Sophie’s already asked me to find any witches who are at risk and bring them back to Coveton for protection until this mess is over. I’ll accompany Elsie, make sure she’s not harmed.”

“Aren’t you a bit young to go?”

“I’m almost the same age as you.”

“But not immortal yet.”

“I’m strong enough that Petra sent me on missions with the immortals. Besides, we’ll be travelling by broom, staying away from mages.”

“She’ll try to heal everyone.”

“That’s what I’m for.”

I shake my head, but don’t bother to object anymore. Reva is more stubborn than I am, and that’s saying something.

“We’ll find this Cooper and drag whatever excuse he has for betraying her trust like this out of him.”

“What do you think it will accomplish? She’s tainted forever in their eyes now.” It’s a sad truth, but an undeniable one.

Sometimes, youth can be a curse. Immortals have long lives and longer memories and tend to judge innocence with a skepticism borne of their age. They forget how easy it is to trust when you’ve never felt the sting of betrayal.

Elsie will forever be remembered for being the one who gave away Sanctum’s location. Until the place is rebuilt—and maybe even after—she will be haunted by her mistake. Even those who see it for the accident that it was won’t forget the loss of their sisters so easily.

I grind my teeth silently at the unfairness of it.