by Gwen Knight
“Another good goal,” he said. “But I’m hoping you’ll stick around and assist me with my plans.”
Last night, I’d suffered a mild epiphany. I couldn’t hide in the shadows anymore. I couldn’t look away while the fae continued to abuse witches. They’d decimated the Foundry like we were nothing. Lit them up in flames to teach me a lesson. We were nothing but fodder. And if they treated us this badly here, how were humans treated in the other cities? Oren wanted to fix the city. He wanted to fight for equal rights. And maybe there wasn’t anyone here left to free if he succeeded, but that didn’t mean there weren’t elsewhere. If I wanted my freedom, I needed to be willing to fight for all witches. This might be the only offer I’d get, my one chance to make a difference.
“Keira?” Oren waved a hand in front of my face. “You’re a mile away from here.”
“I’ll help you,” I told him in a soft voice. “I’ll stay and help you and Markos remove Dask from power. But only if you promise to free any witch under your power. And only if you promise to free me when this is done. No more bracelet, no more locking me up, no more forcing me to reap bodies. I kill Dask, and I’m free. No turning back.”
“Keira—”
“Promise me,” I snapped. “I won’t accept any half measures here. You say you want freedom for witches. Well, now’s your chance to prove it.”
He stared at me, his eyes as bright as the surrounding forest. “You have my word. Like I said this morning, you’re not my prisoner. I need your help, but I won’t force that on you. And afterward, you’re free to leave, go wherever you’d like.”
“What about the other witches?”
He frowned. “What other witches?”
“The ones in other cities. The ones being as mistreated as they are here.”
“Ah.” His shoulders slumped. “I can’t make any promises there. I need to secure Osvea before I even consider attempting a siege on another city. Tell me you understand that.”
I swept my tongue across my bottom lip and considered his words. In all fairness, I liked that he hadn’t been quick to promise me their freedom. It was an unrealistic goal. “Promise me you’ll at least consider it. See how they’re treated and if there’s a way to free them. You could bring them here. Allow them to live in Osvea. Surely a system that allowed us to trade amongst ourselves would benefit everyone.”
“Now that I can promise,” he assured me. “No guarantees, though. I won’t know anything until I take the throne.”
I nodded.
He jutted a hand out toward me. “Agreed?”
I took his hand without hesitation. “Agreed.”
“All right. Now that we have all that out of the way, shall we give this a shot?”
I glanced back at the Foundry, my pulse leaping at the sight of singed homes and burnt rubble. Now or never, right? “Let’s do this.”
We stepped out from behind the tree and waded through the last bit of distance. I made the conscious effort to breathe through my mouth, too terrified I might retch if I had to smell the bodies again.
At the edge of the Foundry, we paused and took in the devastation. Not a house stood untouched. And everywhere I looked, another body littered the ground. Hard to believe this had only happened yesterday morning. So much had happened since then. Hell, my whole life had changed.
Oren stepped ahead of me, his pace slow and careful so as not to step on anything. “Can you reap them?”
I could. Question is, did I want to? It felt like such an invasion. On the one hand, it was wasted potential. But on the other, it was still their lives, their magic. I turned away from Oren before he could see the next tear fall.
“Keira, you don’t have to do this,” he said. “I meant it when I said that. We can tell Markos that something went wrong. The guards chased us off, or that the bodies weren’t reapable.”
Still, I didn’t answer. I was too busy staring at the nearest house. Half of it lay in ashes while the standing half was charred, clinging to its last bits of strength. I could see inside, see the couch I’d sat on with Logan and my father.
“Keira?”
“My father’s house,” I told him.
Oren released a slow breath. “I’m so sorry.”
I nodded. The nice part was I believed him. He continued to prove that he was nothing like his family. “Thanks.”
“Come on,” he said. “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it. I don’t want to keep you here longer than necessary.”
With a sniffle, I turned away from my father’s house and glanced down the street. So many bodies, so much death. But I felt their magic beneath the surface, almost like an itch I couldn’t scratch. When trapped by Arik’s bracelet, I hadn’t been able to feel anyone’s magic, as though it’d been cut off from me. Or I’d been cut off from a piece of myself. But I felt it now, silent and powerful, tugging at the edge of my consciousness.
Quite distracting.
So much so that I didn’t hear the approaching footsteps until it was too late. I spun around, my hands raised in defense, when I froze at the sight.
Auburn eyes stared down at me from a familiar face half covered in soot and dirt.
“Logan,” I whispered.
9
Prior to The Crossing, Faction Fourteen thrived. It was the responsibility of a few to steal into the human world and absorb their magic. Upon return, they would disperse the magic among the entire population. For countless generations, this was our way. The Crossing changed everything. Witches were the only ones to survive the event, and for some reason, they are immune to our touch. So far, our brightest minds haven’t been able to determine the reason why.
—Alchemist Dyvon Rubes
“Logan…” Surely, I was seeing things. The entire Foundry had burned down. I’d watched it happen. Their bodies lined the streets. Yet here he stood, covered in soot and filth, but…alive? “My God,” I murmured.
“I’ve been watching the Foundry. I figured Arik would send you in to reap us,” he said. “I thought if I could reach you somehow…” His jaw tightened, and his narrowed gaze cut to Oren. “Who is that?”
My hand rose to my mouth as tears sprang to my eyes. Logan was here. Standing right in front of me. I staggered toward him and placed my hand on his chest. Sure enough, his heart beat beneath my palm. “I can’t believe you’re alive.”
A faint smile crossed his lips, and without another word, he wrapped his arms around me.
I closed my eyes and sank into the embrace, my cheek pressed against his chest. I never knew a hug could feel so good.
“Um, introductions would be nice,” Oren mumbled behind me.
Sniffling, I drew back from Logan, grinning from ear to ear. “Logan, this is Oren. Oren, Logan. My best friend.”
“He’s fae,” Logan grumbled.
“Most are,” I teased, too ecstatic to let his mood spoil this moment.
“Why is he here? Why are you with him?”
I glanced over my shoulder at Oren. “It’s a long story. One I’d love to share with you, but now isn’t the right moment. I came to reap the Foundry, and I still need to do that.”
“What?” Logan hissed, his fingers closing around my wrists. “Are you out of your mind?”
I turned back to him and blinked, startled by his vehement reaction.
“You seriously came here to steal our magic?”
“Not steal,” I whispered. “It’s a long story.”
“And what, you intend to give it all to the fae?”
Chagrin colored my cheeks. Yes, that was my intention. “You don’t understand—”
“No, I think I do.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you. For years, I defended you. Told the others they didn’t know what they were talking about. And here you are, ready to happily channel all our magic to them. You know they’re the ones who did this, right? A whole swath of guards surrounded the Foundry and lit us up.”
“I know,” I whispered. “Dask made me watch it.”
“It’s what I do, remember?” I shot back, my tone sharp. “I’m the Reaper. Remember how they spat that name at me?”
Disgust darkened Logan’s face. “You really are a traitor.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, about to defend myself when Oren chimed in.
“Not that this isn’t a lovely reunion, but need I remind the two of you that we’re out in the open?” He stepped up behind me, his chest pressed against my back. “If the guards catch us, we’re in for a world of trouble. And kid, I don’t know you, but I think you should back off. You don’t understand the situation. Maybe try listening a bit before shooting your mouth off.”
Logan’s eyes sparked with fury, his hands sparking with magic. “How about you shut the hell up before I give Keira another body to reap?”
“Oh, I’d like to see you try,” Oren challenged, his body rumbling with mocking laughter.
“Guys—”
“All you fae are the same. Arrogant bastards who think they own the whole world.”
“Maybe because we do?” Oren taunted. “Or did you forget this was our world first?”
“Oren!” I hissed.
“Which gives you the right to treat us like we’re nothing, right?”
“Hey, if the shoe fits—”
“Guys!”
“Stay out of this Kiera,” Logan snapped. Green light leaked from his hands as he jabbed a finger in Oren’s direction. “They’re nothing but monsters! Murderers who take what they want. Well, I’m sick of it. Look around. This is all because of them.”
Tired of their bickering, I stepped to the side, then placed a hand on both their chests. Before either of them could utter a single word, I sent a shock of magic through each of them.
Logan inhaled sharply, then dropped to his knees. Oren staggered backward, his gaze distant as he fought off the assault. My fingers tingled with energy while the air around me crackled. It was the second time I’d used my magic since Oren had removed my bracelet, but it’d felt just as remarkable. My whole body flushed with warmth, and my heart skipped a few beats.
“Christ, Keira,” Logan wheezed. “The hell was that?”
“Her magic,” Oren responded in a gruff voice.
“Enough,” I snapped, eying them both. “Both of you need to listen. We’re on borrowed time here. If Dask sends someone out to collect these bodies, we’ll have missed our window. So the two of you are going to stow your personal issues and keep quiet while I work. If I hear so much as a peep out of either of you, there might just be another body littering the ground before we leave. Does anyone think I’m joking?”
The stunned expressions on their face suggested otherwise.
“Good. Logan, I will explain everything to you. But not here. And not right now. There’s too much to go over. Just trust me. There is reason for my madness.”
With a deep breath, I turned away from them and faced the task at hand.
Even now, the sight of the Foundry in ruin brought a lump to my throat. Plumes of smoke still wafted up into the clouds, shading over the town’s carcass. And before me, corpses as far as the eye could see. Which was exactly how I needed to think about them. They weren’t my family, not anymore. And their power would go to a good cause, I hoped.
I crouched next to the nearest body and studied her profile in repose. Seemed the fires had barely touched her, but still, she was dead. Wide, unblinking eyes stared back at me, a honey-brown color that had once sparkled with life. And from the sight of her, I’d wager she’d been thirteen, maybe fourteen. So young.
Shaking my head, I placed my hand atop the upper swell of her slender chest and released a long breath. Wisps of energy slipped through her still veins. I needed not to think about it. This wasn’t a young girl but merely a source of energy. Not that I believed it. Instead, I found myself wondering about her parents. Why wasn’t she with them?
Though I no longer wore my bracelet, I still felt my magic increase by fifteen units. I shook my head and groaned. So young to have so little.
I pushed to my feet and dusted the snow off my cloak before moving to the next body. One by one, I reaped the people I’d once loved until I’d cleared the entire Foundry. When the final thread settled within me, I turned and glanced at Oren.
“Was it enough?” he asked, his voice soft.
“Maybe. Barely three hundred units between all of them.”
Logan sneered and turned away from us, as though disgusted by the conversation.
“I’d hoped for more,” Oren whispered. “Markos likely did too.”
“It’s all there is. Can’t draw blood from a stone.”
“No, but you sure tried,” Logan griped.
I ground my teeth together and ignored his comment. Once I explained everything, I was hoping he’d change his tune. But in the meantime, we needed to move.
Oren nodded and gestured toward the treeline behind us. “I take it you know them as well?”
Them? I turned, my heart leaping into my throat at the sight of six other humans making their way toward us—my father among them. A wide grin spread across my face as I raced toward my father. Why hadn’t Logan said anything?
My father called out to me, his own smile lighting up his face.
Tears blurred my vision, but that didn’t stop me from throwing myself into his arms. “I can’t believe you’re alive!”
His hand cupped the back of my head and held me close. “Logan helped us escape before the fires could reach us.”
Relief and gratitude welled up within me. “He didn’t tell me.”
“A little preoccupied,” Logan griped.
I didn’t care. Nothing else mattered right now.
“Keira.” Oren’s hand came down on my shoulder. “We need to be moving.”
We did. But we couldn’t leave my father and the other humans behind. It was a death sentence. “What about them? We can’t just leave them all here. If the guards find them…”
Disbelief widened Oren’s eyes. “Are you serious?”
“Uh, yes?”
“You really think we should bring seven humans back to Markos?”
My body tensed. “Are you suggesting we should leave them here? What happened to equality for all?”
Oren turned with a low groan. “You’re going to be the death of me, you know that?”
“At least you’ll die doing something honorable.”
“Keira?” my father asked.
I glanced around. He and Logan stood off to the side, watching Oren’s and my interaction. A strange darkness had formed in Logan’s eyes, as though he were seeing me as a different person.
And maybe I was.
Things had changed. If they wanted to survive, they needed to change too.
“You guys can’t stay here. Dask will send someone to clear out the bodies. If the guards spot you, they’ll kill you on sight.”
“What does Dask have to do with any of this?” another asked.
I raised my chin and met Gavin’s gaze—one of the Foundry elders. “I don’t have time to explain everything right now. Just know that Arik is dead and Dask is in power. Oren helped me escape. There’s some place safe we can take you. It’s led by another fae named Markos. We can answer all your questions once there. It’s a roof over your head, food in your bellies, and a warm bed. Are you coming?”
Everyone nodded along, except Logan. It wasn’t until I met his gaze with a lifted brow that he sighed and nodded. “Fine.”
“If you have anything to grab, do it now.”
Of course, no one moved. As a whole, humans owned very little. And what they’d had, Dask had burned down.
“Do you think this is wise?” Oren demanded.
Tired of explaining myself, I looked at him and sighed. “You wanted numbers, right?
Well, here are seven more witches who need protection. But more importantly, once we explain everything to them, they might join the cause. We have power, something to offer you and Markos—if you’re willing to remove their bracelets, of course.”
“Somehow, I just knew you were going to demand that.” Oren lifted a hand and rubbed his brow.
I couldn’t help but smile. He seemed so uncomfortable with the suggestion, but what other choice was there? They’d soon learn I was free of mine. And what was good for the goose was good for the gander. “You can’t leave them bound. That’s not equality.”
“Equality.” He exhaled. “You’re going to make me regret agreeing to that, aren’t you?”
My smile widened. “You bet.”
“Come on, then. Let’s get them back to Markos.”
Nodding, we started down the street. The moment I turned toward the exit, I froze at the sight of three guards, crouched in the middle of the street, sifting through the debris. I wasn’t the only one to notice them. Oren reached out and grabbed my arm, his face ashen white. Fortunately, they had yet to notice us. Unfortunately, they were in the prime position to spot us if we made for the trees.
“Shit,” I whispered.
Oren nodded. “Shit.”
There was only one option. I didn’t relish it, but I refused to let three measly guards destroy whatever freedom I’d gained. And I refused to let them take another life—witch or fae. Sooner or later, Dask would find us. That outcome was inevitable, but it didn’t have to be today. I could at least buy us some time. The thought of reaping them while alive twisted my stomach. The guard from the dungeon flashed behind my mind’s eye, and for a moment, I thought I might throw up.
But what choice did I have?
“Keira?” Oren’s voice barely reached my ears. “A plan would be good right about now.”
I forced myself to swallow as a million thoughts whisked through my head. Maybe I didn’t have to reap them. Maybe Oren could glamour us all. Except that wasn’t realistic. What would a large group of fae be doing in the Foundry? Not to mention, the amount of power needed for eight glamours was astounding. And it would require a level of control I wasn’t sure Oren possessed. We couldn’t risk it.