Page 38 of The Unbound Witch
“I think the books are dangerous. I've seen what happens when two books are together and someone casts nearby. We cannot trust the coven leaders with that kind of power.”
“But you have to ask yourself ... How did Bastian get them into that magical room if he couldn't cast? And how did anyone use magic at the castle with six of the seven being close by?”
“Or,” a deep voice answered as Bastian came around the open doorway to lean against the frame. “We need to ask ourselves what kind of devastation those books can make if someone casts when they arealltogether. As for your first question, I created that barrier before I confiscated the books. When it was only the Fire Coven Grimoire. They react tocastingmagic, not the presence of it. The barrier kept any casting in the castle protected.”
Raven sat her cup down, worrying her hands again as she stared at the end of the bed. “I know you want to keep the Grimoires, but I don't think it's safe. There's peace to be found if the witches are given back those books. If Eden comes forward and tells the story of the Harrowing, the coven leaders can stand trial and new witches can be appointed across the board. We can start over.”
The Dark King shook his head, looking up to the ceiling with a sigh. They'd clearly had this conversation earlier and it likely hadn’t ended well. “This is a discussion for another time. It doesn't matter what we want for the books right now. Only that we make it home and see what state the Old Barren has managed to hold over these past days while we've been gone.”
I studied the permanent long length of my nails, wishing I’d tended to them before I died. “Will we get to look at Bastian or Grey when we go back?”
His eyes flicked to Raven. “Since we don't know what we are walking into, I'll be Grey. As far as everyone knows, Bastian has died. If that's an advantage in any way, we take it. That means I need to trust the three of you to keep the secret.”
I left my broken chair to circle the ceiling before landing behind him and flicking his ear. When he flinched, a small wave of satisfaction rippled through me. “Your secret is safe with me, King. I feel like it's only fair now that we’re in the inner circle.”
He lifted a shoulder, turning to face me. “I'm going to find a way to pick on you, Kirsi Moondance, and you're going to rue the day you—”
“Piece of advice, King. Maybe don't go around making peoplerue the dayas Grey. Dead giveaway. Pun intended.”
He switched into Grey, moving his fingers through his new blond tresses as he winked at Raven. “Noted.”
“I'm going to check on Atty,” Eden said, rising from the bed as thunder rolled above us. She pressed her hand into the pocket of the plain apron she was wearing and pulled out a necklace with a charm on the end. “This is going to be a dangerous journey.”
When she slipped past Bastian, they shared a quiet smile.
“How dangerous?” Raven asked, pressing her palm into her temple.
“It'll be as smooth as we can manage. Rest. You're going to need your strength.”
* * *
The dark skyreflected in the ocean for an eternity. There was nothing but us, and black sails flapping in the growing winds. Just humans running along the deck as the captain yelled at them from his wheel, two shifters, two witches and a wraith prepared to fight nature.
I remained hidden to keep the crew focused, staying near the captain on the highest deck, watching the chaos ensue. Thunder accompanied the day's ambience and as the ocean sprayed the crew, the storms grew. Crow, for all his demanding focus, appeared worried.
The boat rode the top of the tumbling waves without grace or glory. I imagined a canvas of a black ship tempting the goddess as she stirred and stirred the ocean below. The white caps of the ocean, the steep drops of the front of the ship. The silver lightning that webbed across the dangerous black sky. We'd sailed into a melting pot of nature's boundless fury.
I couldn't tell how far away the boundary was. I wasn't even sure if we would see it. But as Bastian held his arms around Raven, the sails rippled in defiance in the wind, and Torryn stood as still as a statue, I began to wonder if we should turn back. I would not die. But I could be condemned to this life alone, forced to watch my best friend perish on a ship intended to save her life.
She'd gotten a fucking nosebleed again. Just moments before Bastian agreed to let her come upstairs and watch. She'd been tossed around below enough that there was no arguing with her. But, in truth, there never was. Not when she put her mind to something. Which I loved her for. Still, to see her pallid face, the rag pressed to her nose, the worry on everyone's expressions, I couldn't help but wonder what the fuck we would get from this dangerous journey.
Crow's triangular hat flew directly through my stomach and before it could be caught, it was lost to the ocean. He didn't seem to notice though, shouting more orders to his crew as they tugged and tossed the thick ropes below, some wrapping them around their waist and leaping around the deck with haste.
“Someone needs to go get Atlas from below and the rest of you need to tie off,” Crow yelled over the pelting rain.
The ship tilted hard to the side before slamming back down into the water. Bastian held on to Raven. Torryn grabbed Eden's arm, her dual toned hair whipping him in the face as he helped her across the ship's upper deck and to a long coil of rope. Once the three of them were tied down, Torryn ran below, appearing moments later with the giant, sleeping wolf.
“How are you going to tie him?” I asked, moving to float beside Torryn.
“You can't,” Eden said, brows turned inward. “The ropes will open his wounds.”
Tor's lips turned to a hard line. “I will hold him safe.”
His words were like a promise between brothers. As if he knew Atlas would have made the same vow had the roles been reversed. Again, the ship rocked and crashed down, jostling everyone on deck but me, of course. There was no threat to me. No fear for my life. The only fear I felt now was for my friends. Old and new. I soared over to Raven and took her hand into mine, even if she couldn't really feel me there, we were in this together.
“I love you, Kir,” she yelled over the wind, and I could have sworn when she squeezed, something deep within me felt it.
“No,” Bastian growled, tilting her head to him. “Don't you do that. No goodbyes.”