Witch Fall(59)

Jolin gathered the corners of the squares of cloth and tied them up with a strip of twine. “Better than to be ignored and pitied.”

Lilette leapt to her feet and strode toward the ladder.

“Lilette . . .” Jolin began.

She whirled around. “You think I don’t know what it’s like for people to never see past your face, to see what’s inside? I know, Jolin, probably better than you do.”

Lilette stormed back topsides, not even realizing what she was looking for until she found him. Han stood at the bow, leaning forward with his weight on his elbows. She moved beside him, mimicking his position. He eyed her sideways before looking back out at the water.

The ship was pulling away from the island. Some of Lilette’s tension drained away, replaced by sadness. Han’s entire demeanor had changed, as if the sight of his homeland fading away had bled the hope right out of him.

They were leaving Harshen, leaving Sash. The circle could only hold for another day and a half at most. “Now what?” Lilette said. “Will Chen . . . will he hurt my sister and the others?”

Han pressed his lips into a tight line. “They’re the only protection he has against the witches. There’s no going back.”

“No,” Lilette said.

A shudder rolled through Han, and he looked out to sea again. “The emperor was not a good man, but he was my father, and my actions resulted in his death.” His voice remained steady, but anguish simmered beneath his words. “And my brother . . .”

To save her life, Han had lost everything. Lilette took a deep breath. “No, you did not betray anyone. Sometimes love and honor conflict, and you chose honor. You were loyal to your country . . . and to me.” She couldn’t fathom why. She’d been nothing but trouble for him.

His gaze finally met hers, and she saw the boy he’d once been—the boy who’d had kindness beaten out of him. But it was still there—still at the core of him.

“We should be enemies,” he finally said. “But we never have been.”

She leaned in and rested her temple on the point of his shoulder, as she had when they were children. “No. Never.”





Chapter 21



Some are broken by grief. Others refined. The difference is a small but oft-made choice. ~Jolin



By their third day at sea, Lilette found herself at the bow, watching for the land Jolin said would come into sight at any time.

Han walked over to stand beside her. “Geth said you wanted to see me?”

Eyes watering, she held her hand out to block some of the light. “Shh, just watch.”

The sun finally slipped below the horizon, backlighting a thin, dark streak. “There.” She pointed. “That’s Kalari.” The homeland of the witches.

He squinted into the light. “Are you sure?”

Lilette smiled up at him. “I’m sure.” She looked back at the horizon, but the brief flash of land was gone. “Now we follow the coast for three days, and then we’ll reach Grove City.” Her voice shook as she added, “The circle is broken by now.”

His gaze fell. “I know.”

She braced herself to ask her real question. “You’re sure he won’t kill her?”

Han looked at Lilette, his gaze steady. “I’m sure.”

“What will he do to them?”

“Bind them up, better than he did before.”

“Will he hurt her?”

“Not unless he has to.”

Lilette felt the wind caressing her face. “Will he force them to sing again?”

“To protect Harshen? Absolutely. I’m hoping that with Father dead Chen will hold off the invasion.” Han hesitated. “There’s talk among the guardians.”

Her eyes scanned the endless horizon. “About?”

He shifted so he was a little closer. Lilette was very aware of his arm touching hers, the warmth building between her skin and his. “They say you’re stronger than any other witch they’ve ever heard.”

“What does that have to do us?”

He went on as if she hadn’t spoken. “There’s even talk that you’ll be a discipline head someday—I’m guessing that’s like the witches’ emperor.”

“There are four discipline heads who rule over the four elements—earth, plants, water, and light—and all the followers for each element.” Nassa had explained all this to Lilette earlier.

He studied her, a sadness weighing down his face. “They’re already vying over who will be your guardian.”

Lilette turned away. “Nassa says I won’t have a guardian until I’ve passed all the courses. I’ll start out as a witchling with a bunch of little girls.”