Witch Born(122)

Chan shot her an uneasy glance before lowering his musket and backing away.

Joshen took a hesitant step toward her, his face unsure. He was thinner. A livid scar cut across his cheek, and he walked with a limp. “I figured I’d already given you a ring and a horse. The next best thing was another protector in case you sent me away again.”

Leaning against the railing for support, Senna released the puppy before her unresponsive arms dropped him. “Joshen.” It was the only word she could manage. It was the only word that mattered. She shook her head. “I was starting to think you were dead.”

“I came as fast as I could.” He ran his hand through his hair. “After our boat flipped, I lost Reden and Mistin. The waves were so high and I was hurt. It was impossible to swim. I was drowning. Something slammed into me and I grabbed on. It was a chunk of shattered mast.

“Still, the water was so cold I should have died of exposure in moments, but I managed to sit on the mast with only my legs dangling in the water. I found a flat of wood and used it to paddle and push away most of the dangerous flotsam.

“I found an island with this hidden bay and nothing but seals. I had to abandon the mast and swim for it. I barely made it before my muscles cramped up. I built my own boat out of the wreckage that washed ashore.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “That’s the same island Wardof was trapped on.”

Joshen grunted.

She closed her eyes. “I saved the Witches and left you to die. Can you ever forgive me?” And that wasn’t even all of it. She’d practically forced him into harm’s way, and for his service, he’d been tortured and nearly killed.

He brushed away her tears with his thumb. They weren’t gold anymore, just salty. “It was the right thing to do.”

She leaned forward until her head rested against his chest. His arms came around her. She inhaled deeply the smell of him—horses and the sea—and reveled in his closeness.

And once again she had the sense that this was where she fit, where she would always fit. She was finally home.

“I’ve heard so many things. Are they true?” he whispered into her hair.

She tipped her head back to look at him. “Most likely. But I’m just me again.”

He grunted as he cupped her cheek in his hand. “Senna, you’ve never been ‘just’ anything.”

She stretched up and kissed him softly. “I love you.”

He took her hand in his. “I know.”

Suddenly aware of the numerous eyes watching them, she glanced back to see the painters staring at them as if memorizing the scene. One of them was furiously drawing with a piece of charcoal.

Somehow she knew there would be a new mural soon, and she and Joshen would feature in it.





The End