Witch Born(80)

Nothing made sense. Grendi wanted to exterminate every living Witch. So why was she allied with them? Senna was an enemy of the Tartens. So why were their allies protecting her?

Senna tried to wrap her mind around the impossible realities. Calden and Tarten had been hunting for her…and now she was helpless against both of them. Maybe it was better if she was captured by the Tartens instead. If she cried out and they found her, at least she’d know if Joshen was…

A sob shook her so hard, her legs buckled and she dropped to her knees.

“Cord, keep her moving,” one of the other Guardians growled.

Cord crouched before her. “Listen to me, Senna. Grendi can use Joshen to manipulate you. She won’t want him dead.”

Tears glazing her eyes, she looked up at Cord. He was close enough she could smell his breath—sweet and dark, like licorice. And she remembered her visceral reaction when she’d stumbled into him the first time they’d met on the ship. She hadn’t realized, hadn’t understood what that reaction had meant. But somehow her body remembered what her mind didn’t—that Cord had held her before, when he’d attacked her on that moonless night and she’d shoved a shard of glass into his guts.

He moved as if to wipe away her tears. She turned away. “I’m sorry I didn’t kill you the first time.”

His hand dropped. “If the Tartens capture you, they won’t have any reason to keep Joshen alive,” Cord said, his voice hard. “Do you understand?”

Hope bloomed within her, and she could breathe again. “What about Reden?”

Cord pursed his lips. “Senna”

She fisted his shirt in her hands. “Tell me!”

He clenched his jaw. “Grendi hates him even more than she hates you.”

That meant there was little hope for him. A soft cry of pain escaped Senna’s lips. She’d thought she’d accepted that this might not end well. She’d been willing to risk her life, determined to save Haven. And Joshen and Reden had seemed so indestructible that she’d never fully internalized the peril they faced.

The soldiers were dangerously close. One cry, and they would find her.

Senna made her decision. She would go with them until she had a chance at freedom. Then she would find Joshen and free him, no matter the cost. She allowed Cord to pull her up.

Guardians fanned out of sight into the bare trees, moving as silently as ghosts. All Senna heard over the ragged sound of her breathing was the distant waves.

Cord stopped often, giving her water to wet her parched throat. Finally, they reached the city Senna had bypassed on her first trip to Tarten. The geography lessons drilled into her head supplied the name: Epal.

The Guardians emerged from the trees and took up flanking positions. The streets were eerily quiet, but Senna occasionally caught sight of a dirty face watching them. Windblown debris gathered around the buildings, while heavier items remained abandoned in the street. A child’s sandal caught her attention. One of the leather straps was broken. Senna couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to its owner.

All this destruction—it was partly her fault. She’d only wanted to undo it, find answers to the danger looming over Haven. And now Joshen…Senna stared at her feet and didn’t look up again.

They reached the dock and boarded the Calden Witches’ boat. The craft was smaller than Parknel’s ship and sat higher on the water. Its sails were different, too. The ship looked fast. On its side, Mirage was painted in blue.

Cord took her to a small cabin on the main deck. Except for a bed, basin, and chamber pot, it was empty. Senna glared at the man.

Much to her annoyance, he didn’t show any reaction. “You should sit. I know you’re exhausted,” he said.

Though her muscles quivered with fatigue, she stood straight.

Mistin interrupted the tense silence a moment later. She had a tray of food that immediately sent Senna’s mouth watering.

Ignoring Senna, Mistin sat on the bed, her legs folded beneath her, then looked up. “You have two choices—eat and keep up your strength, or refuse and grow weaker.”

Senna didn’t know this confident, powerful woman. Had everything about Mistin been a lie? She must have been the one who attacked Senna with the slingshot.

The girl watched Senna carefully. “If you start to sing, Cord and I will subdue you. This room will be flooded with Guardians. You won’t be given another opportunity.”

Senna considered her chances. She could certainly get a few notes in before they knocked her unconscious and stuffed a gag back in her mouth. But it wouldn’t be enough time.

“Are you even siblings?” Senna asked in disgust. “Or does everyone from Calden look alike.”