Page 41 of Witchbane

“Nick?” I asked, a thousand questions in my head, but unsure where to start. “Are you his scion?”

“I am,” Nick agreed.

A lot of questions were answered in that moment, even while more formed. I was confused, angry, and worried.

“I offered you a place as my scion,” Kiran reminded me. “Offered to teach you things you could never even imagine.”

“In exchange for giving up my mate,” I said, “so you took Nicky?”

“I accepted willingly,” Nick told us as he set the stack of blankets down beside us and began spreading them out. “You don’t even know what a scion is.”

“You’re bound to him,” I said.

“And he to me, and you’re bound to the wolf. They are not all that different,” Nick countered. “Why does it matter? I chose one for myself and you didn’t? Who is right and who is wrong?” Nick shrugged. “What would you give up to survive?”

“But your freedom?”

“What good is freedom if I’m dead?” Nick inquired. “Survival isn’t so black and white. And Kiran is not a fate worse than death.”

“I saved him,” Kiran said. “I thought you’d be pleased, since you’d tried and failed to do that yourself.”

Saved him. That was part of it. I’d been the one to put Nick in danger, to change the course of his life, and it had been my duty to save him. Only I’d failed. Not even just once, but over and over. Now he was bound to Kiran. What did that mean? Was he some kind of slave to Kiran? Would he never be free of Underhill? Would they both be lost when it fell? The level of anger I felt was almost irrational, like how dare he tie Nick to him forever, use him. Was it all to manipulate me? I was mad. And hot, really fucking burning-up hot.

“The kitsune is rising,” Kiran remarked.

“It’s too soon,” Nick said.

“He doesn’t have the control. Might never.”

“Stop talking like we’re not here,” Liam interrupted. “Seb is hot, burning warm. Is this a fever?”

“The kitsune is wanting out,” Nick said. He reached out to touch my face, his skin feeling like ice to my heated flesh. “Cool your rage. It’s unnecessary. I am fine. I promise. Would I be happier if we weren’t stuck in Underhill? Yes, but that is not Kiran’s fault. Let’s get you fixed up, fed, rested, and then we’ll work out the hows and whys.”

“The kitsune needs out,” I told him like he couldn’t know.

“Yes, and no. It’s not quite that simple for the kitsune, nor that complicated.” Nick spread out the blankets and a heap of pillows, creating a sort of nest of fabrics. He glanced back at Kiran. “Perhaps being relieved of your presence until after they’ve had some rest will help Sebastian’s resolve?”

Kiran seemed to give an exaggerated sigh. “We are running out of time for coddling.”

“And your presence will do nothing to help change that. Sebastian needs calm, not aggression. I suspect his kitsune is seeing yours as a rival.” Their eyes met for a moment, and I don’t know what passed between them. Nick added, “You need rest, too. I will find you later.” Kiran shrugged and backed out of the doorway, leaving us alone with Nick. “It’s fine,” Nick promised us.

“You’re bound to him,” I said.

“And you think that’s terrible, but I am not torn.”

“You appear healthy,” Liam said.

“I am, for now.”

Liam tensed, like he was going to push for more answers, but Nick held up a hand.

“Later. Sebastian needs to rest.”

I reached out to grab a fistful of his shirt. “The kitsune is stuck. I can’t let it out.”

A smile curved the edge of his lips. “Can’t? Or won’t?”

“Explain,” Liam said. “Please.”