Witch Born(96)

Low murmurs rose from those seated, but it was not the chatter of surprise or frustration. All of these women had known what was coming.

All except Senna. She slipped the cup beneath the table and poured the contents onto the floor. A small act of defiance, but it was better than nothing. She rubbed her eyes. It had been a long few weeks, and she was exhausted, but she had to drudge up the last of her reserves to find a way on those ships. If she could just manage to escape from Cord first.

She felt him watching her. No doubt he already knew her thoughts. There had to be a way around that. The impossibility of it made her limbs feel so heavy.

“And now, I must apologize to you again, Brusenna.” Ellesh surprised Senna by speaking from beside her. She took Senna’s cup and examined the dregs.

Not liking the way the woman towered over her, Senna stood. She was surprised how hard it was to keep from swaying. “For what, Ellesh?” She refused to call the woman by her honorific title.

The Composer motioned for Cord to come closer. “For drugging you.”

Senna sucked in a breath. She tested the unnatural heft of her limbs. Her heavy eyes. And she remembered the bitter tea. “But everyone drank the same tea,” she protested.

“The sleeping powder was already in the chipped cup.”

Senna felt Cord behind her, his hands outstretched in case she fell. But she hadn’t swallowed it all. That single act of defiance might save her.

But Cord would know that. She met his gaze and pleaded through the link. In return, she felt his fury, but not with her. Instead, his anger was directed at Ellesh.

His conviction spilled into her. He wouldn’t tell the Composer and give the woman another reason to violate Senna. He would watch her carefully and keep her safe. He promised it to himself and her even as Senna pitched into him.

In one smooth movement, he held her limp body protectively in his arms.

Ellesh rubbed her face tiredly. “I have done two great wrongs against you, child. I’m sorry for that. But it’s better this way. Better you wake long after we’re gone. Too far away for you to catch up to us. Too far away for you to interfere or risk yourself. Still, I am sorry.”

Senna was finding it difficult to concentrate. “When I am Composer, I’ll make you pay for this.”

Ellesh chuckled dryly. “We’ll see, Brusenna. We’ll see.”





30. Forever Sleep





Senna woke to the sound of pacing. She sat up with a start. The drug still pulled at her, but she fought it with every bit of determination she had. It was still dark out. Maybe it wasn’t too late. But before she’d even reached the door, Cord was there. Knowing the link was betraying her every idea, she tried to think of a way to escape without actually thinking of a way to escape.

Cord took her arm and steered her toward the bed. “Go back to sleep.”

She was afraid if she lay down again for even a moment the warm bed would capture her. “What right do you have to even be here?” It wasn’t appropriate to have a man in her bedroom.

He blinked as if he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. “The bond is considered practically a marriage anyway.”

Ignoring that, she narrowed her gaze at him. He seemed nearly as tired as she did. Was it possible the potion was affecting him as well, perhaps diluting its potency between the two of them? She hadn’t even drunk all of it.

Was that why he’d been pacing earlier? To try to stay awake?

She thought of potions she could use, but she didn’t have any potions—or seeds. All she had was herself.

She missed Joshen so much. She remembered another time when sleep had pulled at her, dragging her down to its soft depths. A song had saved her. It had been magic, not of power or potions, but the magic of one soul connecting to another.

Softly, she sang a lullaby her mother had sung to her as a child, when she was free from danger and betrayal.

Magic rings and moonbeams,

Star giggles and shadow schemes,

Gallantly slip the singing streams.

The lion basks in the flower’s beams

In the garden of your dreams.

Cord slumped against the doorway. Behind him, there were more Guardians assigned to watch her, but they were staring glassy-eyed at the fire.

With a start, Cord rubbed his face and looked at her blearily. “What are you doing?”

Firmly tamping down any thoughts of escape, she sank into the bed to allay his fears and sang again. It had an immediate effect. Behind him, one of the Guardian’s heads tipped back. The other rested his forehead on the table. Cord slumped forward, his eyes closed.

Focusing fiercely on the song, Senna sang again. Cord’s legs buckled. He caught himself with a start. Half asleep, he glanced at her, his mind fighting to wake.