Page 99 of The Unbound Witch

“Did you even sleep?” I asked, rising from the blankets, slowly this time.

“We did. Caught a few hours after we got the new barrier in place. It took a bit longer than I remember from last time, but the Moon and River Coven Grimoires are safe for now. We can worry about getting the other books there later.”

His voice was more jovial than I’d heard him in a long time. Securing a couple of the Grimoires and taking a night away must have eased his mind.

I leaned over the counter, looking down at the swirls of lines and intricate borders. “Here.”

“The isles?”

“I know they hate you,” I said, “but I’ve come to learn they all do, so let’s just get this shit over with.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Well, aren’t you a peach this morning?”

“Something like that.” I moved the stones on the map accordingly. “Moon and River are in the Fire Coven now.” My heart skipped a beat. “At the castle?”

He nodded, a pure boyish smile on his face. “Wait until you see how it’s coming along.”

I shared in his joy as if it were my own. “I can’t wait.”

A twinkle in his eye gave me so much more hope than I’d had in days. “So, where are the others?”

“Well, Moss is still here. Cut off from Endora, we hope. Storm hasn’t moved. That’s four. Xena is …” I paused, moving a jade crystal. “She’s hiding in the Forest Coven. But she doesn’t have another book nearby, so at least she’s somewhat safe. And the last two are in Whisper together.”

He moved, wrapping his arms around me. “So, two more stops and this nightmare is over. Then we can go home. For good.”

I snuggled into his arms, stealing a moment of strength from his solid body. Dipping his head, he pressed his lips to my neck.

Lifting a shoulder to push away the tickle, I continued. “We still have to figure out how to announce you’re actually alive. And we have to figure out what we’re going to do with these witches that want to ruin the world, but other than that, we’re golden.”

“Piece of cake,” he whispered, squeezing tighter, as if he’d never let go.

“As soon as the others figure out the Harrowing.”

A low growl escaped his lips as I listed our compounding problems. Something negative sat upon my heart today and I couldn’t shake it.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re right, and it’s foolish to let our guard down for even a second.” Giant, black wings circled us as he kissed my head and then tilted my head back to kiss my lips.

Finally, my shoulders sank. My heart slowed. The tension building around me faded away. He spun me to his chest, and I stood there for several seconds, listening to his steady heartbeat.

“Everything is going to be okay, Little Witch. I promise.”

A hysterical laugh burst from my throat. “Don’t make promises to me you cannot keep, King. I may be losing it over here, but I’m still very aware that everything will likely go to shit.”

“Give me back your fire. Give me the witch that stood toe to toe with the Dark King and dared him to see her for anything less than the fierce woman that she was. Give me back the warrior that stormed through my castle, sending my men flying as she tried to get to me, to rip my throat out.”

“Don’t be silly. I wasn’t going to rip your throat out. I was going to rip you to shreds. Big difference.”

He chuckled and I savored the sound before stepping away. “Let’s see this done.”

* * *

“Any ideawhich coven the others are in?” Torryn asked, standing near the edge of a small, floating isle in the Whisper Coven.

“No clue. They were gathering pieces for that wraith’s spell, last I knew. What’s our plan here?”

Grey shoved his hands in his pockets, and I couldn’t help missing Bastian’s form. I’d seen so much of Grey lately, I’d begun to miss the silver eyes and dark hair. He’d cast the wings in the shop, but it wasn’t the same. Not really. And though he could have taken his true form in there, he hadn’t stayed long enough to bother.