by L. A. Boruff
"I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think it was," she assures me.
I laugh bitterly. "Trust me, it's worse." I take a deep breath, knowing what I have to say next will blow her world apart. She'll put it back together quickly enough, but that isn't the point. "I ended up in service to the king here," I blurt out before I lose my nerve. The how is complicated, but hardly matters in the grand scheme of things.
Callie blinks a couple of times, the words sinking in.
I wait. I could try and justify what I did, but it's better if she comes to terms with it first.
"In service how?" she asks slowly, taking in my words.
"Not in any way that hurt people. I avoided that whenever I could. I'm not proud to admit it, but I did intimidate, steal, and bully."
"How old were you?"
"I left when I was twenty-one. I..." I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. "I saw the king beat someone to death for being a half-witch. After that, he announced that he wanted to hunt down any others with diluted blood and put them to death."
True horror passes over her face. "That's awful."
"It's the way of the king." I shrug. I don't think she's fully come to terms with what the man is like. Nothing is going to convince her until she sees it for herself. The knowledge of that breaks my heart, but I know from experience how persuasive Robert can be.
"What did you do after that?" she asks.
"I ran away and hid. I can't say I'm proud of it. Any of that time, if I'm honest, but I stayed away from other witches for years. And then I realized I couldn't do that. It was wrong to stand by and watch. So I came back and ended up meeting Hank and Will. Until recently, we've never really done anything against the king, but we've helped people escape who have, and protected others. We're doing our little bit."
"I think that it's an admirable thing to do," she says evenly.
I shake my head and let out a small laugh. "It's not admirable at all. It's nothing more than guilt. I'm a man on the run from my past, ashamed of the person I was."
"The person you were doesn't matter anymore," she assures me. "What's important is the man you are now. You're trying to right the wrong, and have surrounded yourself with good people to help that. If you can't see the good in that, then you're trying not to see it."
"You're almost convincing when you try." I half smile at her, still weighed down by the emotions of the past. "But I'm trying to be the person I should have been the entire time. It's not hard to stay away from the dark, but it is hard to fight against it."
"That makes sense," she admits. "Is that what everyone here is doing?"
"I'm not sure. I've never had this conversation with Will and Hank before. Perhaps it's time I do."
"Probably. Otherwise, it's going to come out at a really bad time, and you'll have to explain it during a showdown or something."
I laugh for real this time. "It might be distracting if I stand there monologuing like a Bond Villain."
"To the wrong side," she points out. "So probably best if you avoid doing that."
"Good plan." A part of me wonders why she isn't running away from me right now. I may not have included any specific details about who or what I was, but that doesn't mean she can't guess at the kinds of things I did.
"You know what else is a good plan?" There's a twinkle in her eye as she asks.
"What’s that?" I'm intrigued, unable to work out what she may be thinking.
"Not beating yourself up over who you used to be. Everyone has a past, everyone has done something they regret."
"Not everyone has supported a tyrant," I say. "Someone who is determined to destroy everything good in this world."
"I'm sure he isn't that bad," she assures me.
Oh, Callie. A part of me wants to argue against her, but there's no point. She hasn't seen the king's ruthlessness yet. And I don't blame her. I’d heard stories before I came to the US to be part of his coven, and I didn’t put much weight in them. I changed my mind after a week in his service.
"He's the kind of man who'll add more names to the list of who to kill the longer someone defies him." The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Callie's eyes widen.
"I'm sorry, that's not what I—"
"It's alright. I appreciate you telling me the truth." She says reaches out and cups my cheek in her hand.
My gaze strays to her lips. I'm not sure how it's come to this when she should be angry at me.
She leans in and kisses me softly, just like the one we shared in the kitchen. There's nothing hesitant about this, though. She doesn't see me like the man I used to be.
I tangle one of my hands in her hair, tugging her closer and inhaling everything about her. My heart pounds and in that moment, I know that everything I am is hers.
We break apart, still close together, lost in one another's touch.
The door creaks, breaking the tension slightly, but we still don't move.
"It's time to go," Will says, stepping out of the back door with Hank just behind. I guess there are no more sweet kisses for me right now.
I pull away from Callie, not truly wanting to leave her warm embrace, but knowing we need to get going if we want to search the dowager's house before anyone comes upon us.
She jumps to her feet and dusts herself off. "Right, I'm ready."
"You're not coming with us," Hank says. "We can't take that kind of risk. Too many people know who you really are, if any of them have leaked that back to the King..."
"We have to trust our allies," she bites back, instantly angry. "And I won't have that sort of mistrust going on. No one has told the King about me, and that's that."
"You're still staying here," Will insists.
Defiance flares in her eyes. "Why?"
"What if your cat takes over while you're there?" he asks. I silently applaud him for arguing with a reason she'll likely accept.
Callie scowls.
"You're too precious," I say instead of letting either of them get a word in edgewise. "We can't risk you in an area they already know about. As far as we know, they haven't figured out you live right next to the firehouse."
Hank snorts. "That's cause they're dumb."
I crack a smile. "That may be the case, but we have to take advantage of that. They do know where the dowager lived and they've already set one fire there."
"But they don't think I'm anything but a human," Callie points out. "In the letter—"
"Which could all be made up," I say. "I've seen the king do that before."
"I'm sorry, you've seen him do that?" Hank demands.
I hold up a hand to stop him. "I'll tell you in the car." Callie was right about that. It’s time to tell them. “It’s time I came clean about some stuff.”
He looks like he's about to argue, but doesn't. He narrows his eyes at me instead. Probably because he realizes it’s a big deal if I'm going to tell them about my past.
Callie tries again. "I..."
"Callie, we can't take that risk," Will says softly. "Your safety is far too important."
A calculated look flits through her eyes. Oh no, what is she planning?
"Fine. I'll stay," she promises. "But I don't want any of you getting yourselves caught. Please?"
"We promise we'll be as safe as we can," I say.
She nods, looking a little uneasy. She kisses each of us on the cheek and slips back into the house.
"I have a bad feeling about this," I mutter.
"Never mind that, we have your secrets to finally discuss," Hank reminds me.
I sigh and begin to fill them in on the truth about me and where I come from. I have to hope they know me well enough not to want to cast me off.
When I'm done, Will claps me on the shoulder, while Hank just stands there. So much for waiting until we were in the car. I suppose I shouldn't have expected that to happen.
"Thank you for telling us," he says. "Now, let's get going, we don't want to waste any time at the house."
>
I do a double-take. "Wait, that's it? Let's get going?" That’s it? They weren’t going to lecture me or tell me I’ve damaged their trust?
Hank shrugs and starts walking around the house. "What do you want us to do, say you're a knob, and we never want to see you again?" He pauses. "I used knob right, didn't I?"
I shake my head in amusement as I follow him. "If you're trying to call me a dick, then yes. But I kind of did expect that. I mean—"
"You mean, nothing," Will counters. "You're not that man now, James. We know that, and we trust you."
Happiness bubbles up inside me. Maybe I can finally achieve peace. I never expected this conversation to go so well, so easily. I feel like I can finally begin to come to terms with my former life, and one day be free from the echoes of my past. I just hope none of it will come back to harm Callie.
I glance between my two friends. There's no need to worry about that. With them helping to protect her, there's no doubt she'll be safe.
Chapter Eighteen
Callie
I go up to my room and slip my clothes, boots, and jacket on, determined to follow the guys to my grandmother’s house. No, I’m not going to be stupid about it, but I’m also not going to sit here with my tail between my legs, waiting for them to save me.
“What are you doing up?”
I whirl around at the familiar voice, my heart beating fast. “Oh, Theresa! You scared me!”
Her ageless face twists in an expression of regret. “I’m sorry. I got up to go to the bathroom and saw movement in your room.” Her gaze moves over my clothes. “Going somewhere?”
For some reason, I feel like speaking my plan aloud will destroy my will to go. “The guys are trying to find an object of power to help unlock my magic.”
Panic flashes in her dark eyes. “They pissed off the king and now they’re going out of the protection of the ward?”
“Not far. They said they’d be okay.” Her reaction makes me feel suddenly uncertain, not just about me going, but about me letting them go.
“Can I sit? Can we talk?” she asks, gesturing to the chair in front of my desk.
I nod.
She moves across the room with graceful movements, even though she wears a pair of my pajamas with coffee cups on them. When she turns slightly, she grasps the candle flickering on my desk and moves it closer to the edge of the desk, to highlight both our faces better.
“I’ve debated about speaking with you for awhile, but I wasn’t sure I should.”
I settle on the edge of my bed, curiosity awakening inside of me. “About what?”
She hesitates, then tucks her long, dark hair behind one ear. “About the insanity of this plan, when there’s a much smarter one.”
“What do you mean?”
She frowns. “The thing is, I don’t regret getting myself or my mates mixed up with this. The king is an evil bastard, and your mother was my best friend. I owe her child my loyalty, but I’m going to tell you what the others won’t. We don’t have a flying shit’s chance of being successful.”
My thoughts race together. “They said, if I could just unlock my powers—”
“You aren’t a goddess, Callie. Look at how few people support our side verses theirs. We’re going to lose. No matter what. And then we’re all going to die.”
I shake my head.
She continues talking. “Even if they find an object of power and unlock your powers, we’ll all be dead before the solstice.” Her tone of voice leaves very little room for argument. She’s sure about her opinion.
But there’s always a way. I shake my head. “No, I don’t believe things are hopeless.”
Theresa leans closer. “I didn’t say they were.” She lowers her voice conspiratorially.
“Then what?” I ask. If there are other options, she should’ve said sooner.
She takes a deep breath. “All the king cares about is the throne. Killing you and all of us? It’s nothing in comparison to the throne.”
“I don’t understand,” I say. “I’m his big threat to keeping the throne. Me being alive threatens him because I’m the rightful heir. Aren’t I?” I had begun to come to terms with it, with the fact that I’d have to learn how to be a leader and fast. Sort of come to terms with it. I’d at least begun to believe it was true. It’s a start.
She looks around, then leans closer. “Offer him the throne in exchange for your powers. Then, his interest in us will be gone, and should anything go wrong, you’ll have the power to defend us.”
I wrap my arms around myself, feeling cold. “But what will happen to the witches then?”
She shrugs. “Less than what will happen if you don’t offer him the throne. Everyone will die, including us.”
My teeth chatter. “I don’t know what to do.”
Theresa leans closer and presses a hand to my cheek, forcing me to meet her gaze. “I was your mother’s best friend, so I need you to believe me. She risked everything to save your life. But do you see how she didn’t remain to fight, she ran, because she knew this was not a battle she would win.”
“What should I do?” I ask again. Her words make sense, but giving up the throne gives the King his position, which is what the people don’t want. I’m supposed to liberate them.
“Make the sacrifice. Do what’s right. Protect the people who risked their lives to save you and end this.”
My stomach flips. “So… I just go to the king and what? Won’t he just kill me before I make the deal?”
“No, because I happen to know where he is tonight. And he’s alone. If you go to him there, he’ll make the deal just to be rid of the headache of you. Just to secure himself the throne. He doesn’t care about having a niece or if you’re powerful, as long as he’s the King and his son will be after him.”
Her words make sense, but something about it still makes me uneasy.
Leaning closer, she whispers. “I know you don’t understand our world, but I do. Your men are unwilling to risk putting you in any danger, even to save their own lives. But do you love them enough to do the same for them?”
The answer comes easily. “Tell me what to do.”
***
I turn off the engine of my car and the silence that surrounds me is deafening. Taking several deep breaths, I pull the key out of the ignition with shaking hands.
This is it. I’ve made this decision. To protect everyone.
It’s the right thing to do.
I open my car door and stiffen at the coldness of the wind swooping off the water. Curling my shoulders in my jacket, I close the door and start toward the beach, leaving the pavement of the parking lot behind. My boots sink into the sand with each step I take, the feeling on the wind ominous.
This is the right thing to do, so why does it seem so wrong?
I’m giving up a throne I don’t want. I’m ending a war my side can’t win. And I’m saving the lives of the people I care for. On paper, there is no other choice but this.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling.
I only walk for a few minutes when I see the glowing silver light Theresa described. My heart races as I move toward it, my instincts screaming a warning.
It’s the bravest thing I’ve ever done to keep walking, in the dark, in the night, toward a man feared by so many. There’s so little I understand about all of this, but I believe Theresa. The others didn’t want to put me at risk, but this was the least I could do for them.
As I come to the hidden place the gollum had dragged the man when I first arrived in this town, I round the rocks and see the king. His eyes are closed. His arms are spread. And the mud where the man was sucked into and disappeared, glows with a blinding silver light.
I feel sick. This is the place, Theresa had said, that the king and his mistress use to gain extra magic from the lives they do deals with. Is the man I saw die still in that mud? His body being drained of his magic?
Shuddering, I push the thought aside. It isn’t the time for that.
/> Taking a breath that shakes my whole chest, I force my shoulders back and step out from behind the wall. “King Robert, we need to talk.”
His eyes flash open, and for a moment all I see is silver where his pupils should be, and then the light fades away in a rush, and we’re left in darkness.
It takes a long minute for my eyes to adjust to the light cast from the moon. But I try not to panic as I stand, not twenty feet from the man who is supposed to be the root of all evil.
“Regina,” he whispers my mother’s name. “You’re alive.”
I stiffen. “No. Not Regina. Callie, her daughter.”
His eyes, the same blue as my own, roam over me. “You look just like her.”
I say nothing. what is there to say? Wasn’t it his men who hunted and killed my parents? Wasn’t it his men who burned my grandmother alive? And isn’t he the reason my guys are scared right now?
“Did you come because of my note?”
Not exactly. “Yes.”
“So, you’ve decided to--”
“I want my powers unlocked.”
His eyes widen for a second, and then he laughs. “And why would I do that, dear niece?”
I choose my words with care. “Because… if you give me my powers, and promise not to hurt those under my protection, I’ll agree not to take the throne.”
He smirks and takes a small step closer to me. “Or I could kill you here and no one would ever know.”
“Actually,” I draw the word out. “You can’t. The spell my grandmother, your mother, placed to protect me makes it impossible for you to use your magic on me.”
He lifts a hand and points it at me. After a second, his amusement fades away. His eyes narrow, and his hand shakes. I sense magic around me, and the scent of it is sour, ugly.
But it doesn’t hurt. Not even a little.
Slowly, his hand drops to his side. “I’m certain, given enough time, I could find a way through it.”
I try to sound confident. “But why bother when I’m offering you what you want?”
He studies me, and I get that feeling again, the same one I got the first time I saw him, that there’s something evil about this man. “Alright. I’ll unlock your powers, and you’ll give the throne to me.”