Page 50 of The Unbound Witch

“No,” Kirsi denied. “I won't accept this. There has to be a way to stop it.”

“I'm with the ghosty,” Atlas agreed. “What do we do?”

“That's not the half of our problems,” the Old Barren interjected. “Though I'd feel much safer taking a private counsel, Your Grace. In fact, I quite demand it.”

Torryn cleared his throat. “You make demands of your own king?”

“He is aware of how this world is ruled, Strix. Decisions have been shared for a very long time.”

“They stay,” Bastian said, rising.

“They do not,” his councilman argued.

Torryn rose to his feet, ready to face off with the Old Barren, but it was Kirsi that interjected.

“Give your account to our king, and then he will decide who does what. Look around you. The world you're trying to command from the side is fucked up. You've all but ruined it. That castle was full of people and now everyone is gone. We don't know what happened to them and some of us actually give a shit. So, sit down and start talking or you can see yourself out. We’ll find someone else with answers. You can't be the only person that knows what happened at that castle.”

The man's face turned red, but he did not argue with Kirsi as he slowly sank to his seat. “I will concede if only to save time, Your Grace. Forgive me. Things have been on edge for us as of late.”

“It's fine, Barren. Just tell me what happened.”

“As soon as you, ah, er... died ... vanished … the magical barrier around the Grimoire room weakened. It held but cracked.”

“We went to the human lands. My power was stunted. Continue.”

“Within hours of what we thought was your untimely murder…” His hard eyes flicked to me, but Torryn cleared his throat, demanding he continue without speaking a word.

Torryn had quickly become as protective as Bastian. He checked on me in idle moments, silently watched in others. Concerned but also friendly. Safeguarding the person that mattered to his king. As was his duty, but it seemed to be more as well. Like friendship.

The Old Barren continued. “The witches descended. They somehow knew everything that had happened, though they expected your death, not disappearance. They demanded to speak with Raven Moonstone from the gates. When we denied them any information, they attacked. Taking down the gates, casting on the shifters with no hesitation, even taking out any witches that stood in their way as they stormed the castle. We tried to warn them not to seek the Grimoires, but they were determined. We knew they'd cast their magic and destroy everything, just as we'd discussed, should they ever breach the walls. So, we evacuated immediately, retreating to the township.

“The castle came down in a flash of power. One moment she was standing in all her glory and then next, she was ash. As far as our spies have been able to conclude, none of the coven leaders were killed. Your magic barrier was just enough to save them and parts of the room.”

“Unfortunately,” Atlas growled.

“How many were killed?” the king asked, his wings appearing behind him as if they were an unconscious thought.

“At least thirty. We've done our best to count the staff and Trial witches. It's been chaos.”

“Do you know...” Kirsi's voice faded to a near whisper. “Where are the survivors?”

“Two Moon Coven witches refused to come with us. We sent guards with them as far as the bridge.”

“Nym?” she breathed.

He rested his hands on the table. “Miss Moontide is the only one that remains here. She did not trust her coven members.”

I snorted, remembering Ophelia's shove in the final trial. “Can't say I blame her for that.”

My comment was met with a glare. Cold eyes, wishing my death. A piece of paper landed in my hand beneath the table.

I peeked down without drawing attention to it.

Miss Moonstone,

I don't think he likes you very much. Maybe we should have let you cast on him. Something small. Did I hear you can turn things blue?

Look at me not kicking his ass,