Page 24

A Witches Deal

Grace

We’re getting a Winter Solstice!

I haven’t seen Ro since my breakdown after the Dredge’s attack. I’ve been too busy training with Pearl. I come back so tired afterward, I just go right to sleep. But I’ve noticed decorations starting to be displayed in the Grand Hall, hallways, and along the grand stairway. Wreaths are being hung onto every wall and garlands of pine strung against mantles and rails. Servants have been running around madly the last few weeks, trying to get a party ready. Winter Solstice is just a few days away now. From the looks of this all, I don’t think it will be some small banquet; Ro must be going all out for this, for me .

Today, I have off from training because we are all going out to gather the Yule log. The servants have a candle-making station ready for us on return; we are making candles with something called runes carved into them. Tai says it’s something to do with nature’s magic; we light them for our loved ones.

I cannot contain my excitement. It smells of fir in the mountainous castle and massive pillar candles are lit everywhere I can see. I take a deep breath in, reveling in all of this. It fills my heart with happiness, but also longing. Like, if I just closed my eyes, I could imagine I’m still at home. I sit, cross-legged on the hardwood before the fireplace in my house, smelling the wreaths wrung across the mantle.

Kai strolls down the stairs, meeting me in the Grand Hall, a devious smile plastered on his face.

“Hey, buttercup. Everyone is meeting outside; you ready to get your logging on?” Kai beams at me. I can’t help but smile back at him. His smiles are infectious.

“Yeah, I’ll come out in a minute. I just want to look at the decorations a little more,” I tell him, feeling extra joyful with him near.

“Yeah, they’re pretty great. I don’t know the specifics on how you got him to agree to this, but I’m guessing that dirty mouth knows some tricks.” Kai laughs darkly, walking out of the Grand Hall and toward the giant double doors leading to outside.

I blush at his words and think of Ro. I almost wonder if he’s been avoiding me. I’ve been busy, but something tells me he has been trying to stay away from me. I wander the cavernous hall, admiring the way the fir wraps around the columns of midnight marble stone, reaching for the high-arched ceilings.

A door slams to my left and heavy footsteps follow. They thud through the hall, echoing into the room. I peek my head around the column and see Ro heading into the Grand Hall. I watch him, secretly, hiding behind the pillar. My gaze admires his muscular body. He moves so gracefully, yet he feels so lethal. The dark God is cut to perfection, but I know his body is deadly. Dark stubble has grown into a full scruff on his face with a few braids woven into his long raven hair. He pulled it low and thrown it into a bun of sorts. Kai must have gotten to him.

Ro stops suddenly in the middle of the room, seeming to sniff the air. His eyes wander until he reaches my column. I dash my head behind, hoping he didn’t see me spying on him. The air is silent as my heart thunders in my chest. It’s silent for a long while, so I gather the courage to peek around the column. I turn my head, but Ro is gone. He must have left. I let out a sad sigh and turn back around, only to see him there, standing right behind me.

I scream, loudly, slapping at his chest like he was a wasp coming to sting me.

“You asshole!” I shout at him, clutching my chest. I swear my heart stopped and restarted at the fright.

Ro slowly cocks his head at me. “You were spying on me, and now you call me names?” he says, a warning in his tone.

“I wasn’t spying. I was already over here when you came out,” I yell at him.

Ro steps toward me menacingly, his chest coming even closer to my body, leaning into me. I smell the whiskey on his breath and the smoke on his body. My heart thunders, but I don’t think it’s from fright anymore.

“I do not believe you,” he whispers. “You are a shifty human female that manipulates and humiliates me. You are a wicked storm I want no part of. Stay away from me,” he growls.

Ro starts to walk away from me, going further into the Grand Hall.

Humiliates? I have given him nothing but attention and blowjobs. How dare he? “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me? You think I manipulated and embarrassed you? How?” I yell after him, following him from behind the pillar and into the room.

He completely ignores me and keeps walking.

“Hey! Ro! Answer me! What about Hecate? When are we going back to the Sacred Cave?” I shout as he storms away.

“Why? So you can further humiliate me? As if I am bringing you back to that pool, witch,” Ro mutters angrily.

That fucking asshole. If he wants to play, let’s play.

I take off my dirty boot and launch it straight at his head.