Page 82 of The Unbound Witch

I could hardly think beyond the way our fingers fit so perfectly together. As if my life as a wraith were penance for something so flawless. A cost I’d pay over and over as this golden witch led me confidently through the Fire Coven village, never once dropping my hand or acknowledging the people that glanced our way.

She picked up several items from the cart vendors along the main street, stopping to share kind words, or let the children pet our familiars. She fit right in, and they’d welcomed her openly.

Eventually, we made it to the end of the street, turning to wind through a few others with scattered homes built on charred ground. The Fire Coven territory wasn’t beautiful unless one had an eye for it. It was, instead, a bit haunting and dark. Dead trees where there might have been groves before. But several of the homes had gardening beds raised from the ground, covered in fresh soil with watering pails and tools stacked nicely in corners against their homes. They’d traded for coins or goods in the market and most seemed genuinely happy, which was honestly pretty strange.

I drew up short when I saw a large man sitting on a bench outside of one of the homes polishing a pair of giant boots. Nym had slipped from my hand, but when her eyes met mine, I could tell she knew exactly who we’d stumbled across.

“Kirsi,” she whispered. “Don’t.”

“As if I can resist this perfect opportunity. Go hide behind that tree.”

The mischievous smile on her face as she pointed to the sandwich on the plate beside him was why I’d fallen for her. She was always a team player. No matter the task. She put the kittens in her large side satchel and snuck away.

I vanished, floating toward the man. He took a large bite of his simple dinner and sat it back on a plate beside him, humming as he chewed and worked circles into his boot. I waited a few moments, watching his casual routine of taking a bite, setting down the sandwich, picking up his cloth and dipping it in the small black tin, working his way down his shoe.

I swiped the polished rag first. He set the food down, turning to look for the cloth. Assuming he’d dropped it, he bent to look beneath the bench. I quickly dragged the rag through his sandwich and as soon as he sat up, dropped it on the bench.

A snicker from the tree behind me nearly gave us away as the Old Barren whipped around to search for the sound. But Nym held her breath, and he turned back, lifting the rag and going back to work. I hung back, waiting. The second he bit into that sandwich and his face turned sour, I yanked the boot from his hand, whacked him across the face with it and tore off toward Nym, afraid my laughter would get her caught.

When the Old Barren jumped out of his seat, whirling around in confusion, the sound of Nym’s giggle soothed something within me. I didn’t think we’d ever have moments like this again. Her laughing at ridiculous shit I did. But here we were. She’d claimed I never wavered. But neither had she.

When the beastly old man disappeared into his house, we soared down the street, laughing, as the most beautiful golden witch led us out of the village and down into a valley, a small pond of water the final destination.

She reached into the satchel and set the two kittens on the ground before taking out the small bag she’d gotten from the market. Setting the satchel on the ground first, she sat, so as not to cover herself in ash.

With a smile still plastered on her face, she gestured to the ground beside her. “Come here. I want to try something.”

I lowered myself, confident something in my chest fluttered, though it couldn’t have. Not really.

“Close your eyes, beautiful.”

I pictured the lashes I might have felt against my cheeks, the blush that might have come before. Saddened a little, noticing all the small things I’d never have again, my grin faltered.

“I’m not sure how you are able to manipulate things with your hands, but I wondered if we could try something different. Open your mouth.”

I opened my eyes and pulled away from her. “You’re not sticking some foreign object in my mouth out of sheer curiosity.”

She laughed, the sound like the twinkling of a thousand stars, and I couldn’t help my own.

Rolling my eyes, I moved back in. “Fine.”

“Close ‘em,” she ordered.

I did as she said.

“I’m going to stick something you like in your mouth, and you’re going to try to guess what it is.”

“Okay, I like this game. It better be a body part.”

“It’s not.” She snorted. “Just concentrate on feeling with your tongue.”

“Licking you to make you scream is far more enticing.”

“Kirsi Moondance, you focus.”

“Fine, fine.” I opened my mouth like a good little girl, waiting.

“You have to try to hold it in your mouth first. Just concentrate on that.”