Page 66 of The Unbound Witch

“You all make me want to murder someone,” Bastian said, storming off to the back room while everyone else continued to howl with laughter.

I used the opportunity to sneak a moment alone with him, slipping through the repaired vines hanging from the door frame. Silhouetted in moonlight, taking his true form with his back to me, every heaving breath, every ounce of heated power rolling off his body in cascading shadows drew me nearer. I knew what happened inside wasn’t the reason for this angry reaction, something else was bothering him. I’d forgotten how dangerous and angry he could be. As if he’d been holding himself back and composed since we’ve returned and every part of him was near breaking.

“The shadows serve a purpose,” he whispered.

“And that is?” I asked, stepping forward to run my hands down the hard muscles of his back, surprised he hadn’t conjured his wings.

“They tell me things. Like when pretty, little witches approach quietly.”

I moved my fingers along his side as I circled him, staring up at searing silver eyes. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Talk about what?” He gripped my neck, his thumb stroking softly.

“You’re not really mad at Crow.”

“No. I’m mad at the world. At my total loss of control. At the witches who have us cornered. Of sitting here like a fucking target, waiting for them to make a move. Your new plan can’t be the only answer. Waiting for some prick to show up and give us information he might not even have. The Harrowing is out there, still taking its course.” He gripped tighter around my neck, pulling me in as he whispered. “We tried to save Nym, but have done nothing for you.”

“You’ve done everything for me.”

“Grab your head one more time, Raven. Keep pretending that you are well and not suffering.”

I couldn’t help but flinch at the power lining the edge of his voice. The growl and desperation competing, even as I could see the longing on his face. I should have known that I wasn’t fooling him. I tried to pull away, but he held me firm.

“Fear is power,” I whispered, reminding him of words he once spoke to me. “I am not afraid, and I will not give them that power.”

“I am not afraid of them,” he said, equally quiet. “I am afraid of me. Of what I will do when I get my hands on them.”

“You’ll have to beat me to it.”

I closed the space between us, pressing my lips to his so fiercely and for so long, I thought we’d faint from lack of breath. He moved his hands into my curls as he held me. Seconds ticked by, each one relaxing those broad shoulders more and more as we lost ourselves in one another. A kiss that was far more than a kiss. It was a bonding. A promise to each other that we would not fall victim to cruel witches in a struggling world. A tear fell down my cheek as I felt every emotion he poured into the heated moment. Where we’d both reached the cliff of our wit’s end and now, we jumped.

“How confident are you in the plan?” he asked, moments later.

I pursed my lips. “The one you refused?”

He took a step backward, sliding his hands into his pockets. “It’s dangerous and reckless, and you’re the one at risk.”

I shook my head. “That’s exactly why it’s going to work. He’s overly confident when it comes to me.”

“Fool,” Bastian said, a forced smile on his face.

“I know you don’t like it, but he hasn’t come here yet, and we don’t have time to sit around. If he doesn’t show up, then fine. But I think he will.”

“We put it to a vote, Bash,” Kirsi said from the door.

“Kings don’t care for votes much, Kir,” he said, his voice hollow as he lowered his head.

She swooped around, moving between us. “I won’t leave her. I won’t let him hurt her. I promise.”

“Promises are only good until they are broken.”

“How poetic,” she said, turning to face me. “You need to eat something, and then we go.”

I nodded, slipping my hand into Bastian’s and pulling him out of the room. The others sat on the floor, Crow with a small puddle around him, eating squash soup from mortar bowls in silence.

Atlas looked up from his dinner, made eye contact with Bastian, and shook his head. “Looks like you’ve lost the battle, friend.”

“It’s not a battle,” Eden countered. “It’s a good plan, and it’s going to work. You just need to leave first. So, eat up.”