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Bo

I track her scent to the last place I ever hoped to find Mor.

The den of a true monster.

I stand on the edge of the wards in the light of the new day and roar, demanding an audience.

Demanding her release.

The front door swings open, and my heart sings at the sight of my witch striding out of her own free will.

“Bo,” she says in a calm voice.

“It’s okay. I’m okay.”

Despite her words, I know something is wrong.

I can feel it in my bones.

The freedom.

That’s what woke me up.

The lifting of a weight I hadn’t been aware had borne down on me from before I was even cursed into the form of a statue.

From the first moment I made a binding deal with Sev, there were invisible chains around my limbs, keeping me bound both to him and from him.

But they are gone.

Which means something happened.

But also, I am free to take revenge upon him.

“What did he do, Mor?” I pace on the perimeter I can’t pass because his wards know the violence in my heart.

“I’ll destroy him!” The declaration rides a roar so loud that no matter the room he lurks in, the villain can hear me.

Owen asked if I could embrace violence for my witch.

Now I know the answer for certain.

“You cannot attack him,” Mor tells me as she strides across the yard.

Only when she’s over the barrier can I take in a deep breath.

One that smells of roses and herbs as I gather her in my arms and inhale with my face buried in her fiery mane.

And as much as I hate disagreeing with Mor, today, she is wrong.

“Yes, I can.” I set her down and spread my arms wide, like she’ll see the remnants of the bindings that no longer hold me.

“The loyalty binding is lifted. I know you did something. Something for me.” Gratitude and fear twist painfully in my chest. Knowing that Mor came here for me is both a wonderful and terrifying thing.

“But whatever payment he’s demanded from you will die with him. Nothing stops me now.”

Mor presses her hands against my chest, her touch welcome, but unable to soothe the defensive rage I’m riding.

“I know, technically, you can hurt Sev now. But if you do, then he can attack you back.” She slips her hands upward, cupping the back of my neck, forcing my eyes to hers.

“Right now, you’re safe.”

“What does that mean?”

“I bargained the apple for the safety and freedom of everyone I love.”

“I … huh?”

“I love you, Bo!” She digs her nails into my skin, the sting more erotic than painful.

“You are one of the people I love, and so you are safe from him. Don’t screw it up!”

“And you’re safe?” I rasp the question, not caring about myself if Mor has put herself in some kind of danger.

Sev is a conniving mythic who’s probably only gotten more ruthless in the seventeen years I was trapped.

“I am. All that he gets is the apple.” She cups my face and kisses me.

“As much as he likes playing with people, he wanted that god object more.”

“He shouldn’t get to have it,” I grumble, not because I want the damn thing, but because it isn’t fair Mor has to trade anything of hers on my behalf.

Her thumbs stroke over the stubble on my cheeks.

“Items like that are magnets for trouble. Let Sev deal with whoever comes sniffing around for it. The only priceless items I care about are my grimoires.” She presses another kiss to my lips.

“And the priceless people in my life.” Another kiss, this one deeper and distracting.

“Do you trust me?”

“I do,” I murmur, drugged by her affection.

“And do you want to spend another second worrying about Sev and his deal-making drama?”

“No.”

Her smile is wide as she clasps my hand and draws me away from the gaudy house.

“Good. Because from today forward, I plan to forget about him.”

My feet don’t hesitate to follow, each step lighter than the last as I realize that, finally, I can leave the toxic mess of my past behind.

The future is mine to make what I want from it, with the witch that I love.