Witch Born(32)

“The great irony is you berate me for my secrets, Daughter, and yet you keep your own.”

Senna glanced up at the sky visible between the leaves. It would be fully dark in a couple hours. She’d wasted enough time. She marched away, feeling her mother’s gaze boring into her back. There were so many secrets swirling between them. But Senna had a good idea where to find their answers. And how to get to them.

One thing she knew for certain—secrets were sometimes necessary, but they were always dangerous.





10. Witch Wars





Stumbling over broken branches, Senna checked the barracks, the sparring field, the shooting range. But Joshen was nowhere to be found. Although it seemed everyone she asked had seen him somewhere, by the time she arrived, he’d already left.

When she did finally find him, she was shocked. She heard the unmistakable sound of Joshen’s voice, followed by tinkling laughter. Heat built on her skin. She stepped slowly into Arianis’ kitchen. The smells of frying fish and lemons filled the air. He sat at the table, laughing about something. They both looked up when Senna came in.

Joshen smiled at her. “Senna, you’ve got to try this cod. Best I’ve ever had.”

Senna didn’t take her eyes from Arianis. Her rich brown hair fell in fetching waves around her shoulders. Her large eyes were the color of cinnamon. Her skin was impossibly smooth, with natural rose hues. She was a soft beauty. The more you looked at her, the more striking she became.

“Senna?”

“I’m sure it is,” Senna replied. She knew what Arianis saw in Joshen. He was handsome—tall, with broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. In the lantern’s wavering light, his normally dark brown hair appeared black.

But Senna knew things Arianis didn’t. He always talked with his mouth full, stole from her plate, and often ate the best bits first. Normally, he was easygoing, but when her safety was concerned, he grew stubborn and bossy. His ears stuck out a bit, and his chin was a little soft, though his neatly trimmed beard and longer hair hid both rather nicely.

Despite knowing all his faults, she still thought he was beautiful.

He smiled and took another bite. “You want some? I’m sure there’s enough.”

Senna grunted. With Joshen, one could never be sure of enough food. “No. I’m really not hungry.”

With a disbelieving shrug, he turned back to eating.

Senna looked Arianis up and down. “Joshen, I need to speak with you.”

“I need to report back to Leader Reden anyway.” He deftly shoved the rest of his meal in his mouth, tipped back the mug, and nodded to Arianis. “Thanks again.”

Senna followed Joshen into the open. He held out her pistol. “I unloaded and cleaned it before loading it again. Try to keep it out of the rain.”

She took it silently. “Joshen, why were you at Arianis’ house?”

He looked down at her as if she were daft. “You said she was upset, so I came to check on her. She offered me dinner. I’ve hardly eaten anything all day.”

That meant he hadn’t finished off a school of fish by himself. Senna tried to cool her anger. After all, Joshen’s intentions were good, and he was oblivious to any form of subtlety. Things were what they appeared to be. Nothing more. She took a deep breath. “Joshen, Arianis is using you to hurt me.”

He was silent for a moment. “She should be angry with Coyel, not you.”

Senna shrugged. “Coyel is well beyond Arianis’ reach. I’m not. So you see why she might come after you?”

Joshen chuckled. “Never figured you for the jealous type, Senna.”

She blushed. “Joshen—”

He laid a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “You’re reading more into it than there is. But if it makes you feel any better, I’ll stay away from her.”

Senna wanted to make him understand this wasn’t just jealousy, but she didn’t think it would do any good. Besides they were almost to her tree house, and she still had so much to tell him. “I didn’t come looking for you to talk about Arianis, I came to tell you what I found.” She explained about the maps.

Joshen slowed to a stop. “By the Creators.”

She held her aching hand—she’d overused it today. She’d have to be more careful. “But there were no maps of Lilette and Calden. I’m going to check their personal library.”

He met her gaze and his face hardened. “Why take all these risks for something that happened centuries ago?” He suddenly stiffened. “You’re still trying to find a way to lift the curse on your own, aren’t you? You’re planning to go back to Tarten?”