Page 47 of The Unbound Witch

“I mean ... define stealing. I traded without permission. That's hardly thievery.”

Atlas nudged Raven, white hair falling into his eyes “I couldn't care less how she got it. I'm a growing boy. I need food.”

“In age or maturity level?” I asked.

He grinned, the scar over his brow lifting. “Definitely both.”

“What's the plan, Bash?” Torryn asked from across Crescent Cottage, folding the blanket he'd slept with on the hard floor and tidying what he could. Anything to be helpful.

There were only three small cots in the cottage. Raven, Eden and somehow the drunk captain used them. The rest of the group insisted they were fine without. Raven tried to force Torryn onto one, but I think we all knew there was no way his large frame was going to fit, and he was far too chivalrous, anyway.

Bastian shifted to Grey's form. “Back to the castle. Things seem to be fairly quiet around here. Let's hope it's the same there.”

Raven dropped the knife onto the counter, then awkwardly scrambled to pick it up before anyone might notice. Except we all had.

“What?” she asked, pushing a lock of her curly black hair behind her ear. “Just nerves.”

I circled above. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”

“Who's a child now?” Atlas teased.

“I think I should maybe go to see my mother before we leave the Moon Coven territory. She knows something about me. She did something.” Her voice lowered, but her tone remained severe. “I want to know what it was.”

The Dark King cleared his throat. “We can travel back and forth as easily as I can cast a door. We need to know the Grimoires are safe. If we have that, then you can go see your mother, and we can start hunting down Nikos.”

Atlas cracked his knuckles. “Ah, yes. Can't wait for a little visit with that fucker.”

Raven opened her mouth to protest, but Torryn stepped forward, his heavy boots thunderous on the floor. She stopped instantly. The respect she had for the shifter and his kindness trumping her will to argue.

“Nikos is the problem now, it seems. He’s already been here, so we know he’s around. He can force anyone into an enemy, even one of us. He’s a problem we need to solve immediately. But if we don’t know how much power the witches are harboring with those damn books, it makes sense that we check that threat first, then hunt Nikos.”

Torryn was loyal, but fair. Offering counsel but not taking charge. I could see that Raven was warming to him quickly. I shared a glance with her, thinking I'd see hesitation there, maybe the empathy she'd always held for Nikos renewed. But there was nothing but fire in her eyes. A woman scorned.

“Fine. Castle first but my mother's second. They might also know something about Nik. Deal?”

“Deal,” the king said, kissing her on the head before swiping a piece of fresh bread and popping it into his mouth. “Thanks for stealing the bread, Kir.”

“For the last time, I didn't steal it. I left a pumpkin.”

The laughter was equal parts bliss and annoyance. Moments later, we gathered in a line facing the blank east wall of the shop.

“We will come back,” Raven assured Eden.

“I promise, we are fine. Whoever destroyed this place isn't getting past that barrier. And if they manage it, they won't know what's waiting for them on the other side. Endora Mossbrook may be all shades of evil incarnate, but I am her daughter, and viciousness did not skip a generation.”

“Noted,” the king said with his chin lowered. “Focus now. Once I cast the door, you'll all walk through so I can close it behind me. If, for some reason, the coven leaders are there, stay close. All in. All out.”

He gestured, and a door with shadows as deep as his own appeared before us. Torryn went through first, blade out, body on high alert. Then Atlas and I went. I turned, nearly gesturing for Scoop to follow before I remembered my own plight. Raven followed behind me, sharing a glance before turning away. She’d seen, because of course she had.

At first, I wondered if the Dark King had taken us to the wrong place. But the ground was soot, matching the Fire Coven territory. My stomach rolled as I steadied myself, something foreign thrumming like a heartbeat nearby. No one else noticed and the sensation confused me.

I jerked around to see the king's expression as he moved through his magical door and took in the ruins that were his castle. Not just his castle, but the only home he'd ever known. The sun rose in the distance, the vibrant colors of golden light illuminating the debris in a beautiful, terrible way. Only three partial walls stood. Everything else was rubble. Not a soul in sight. No gates, no guards, not even a whisper of the stable. Everything had been obliterated. Whatever spell had done this took no prisoners.

My heart sank to my stomach as I remembered who had remained in the castle. If Nym had made it back after the Trial, if Scoop had been left behind when she'd gone... were they... killed?

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RAVEN