Page 59 of Witch's Fate

“You know about me?”

“Only a bit. Malcolm spoke of you once, when he thought I couldn’t really hear him. ”

“Really?”

“He did. But it’s been over three hundred years and he hasn’t mentioned you again.”

“No. I suppose not.”

Felix sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose. “Malcolm was raised differently than I. With sorcerers instead of wulvers. They worshiped magic and power.Reallyworshipedit.” He spoke quickly, as if he wanted to get the words out before Malcolm woke.

“Since he was a child, he has trained to be a warlock. It was like brainwashing. There was no other way for him. In the history of his people, no one had ever deviated. He couldn’t conceive of a world in which he didn’t pursue that path. As the years passed and he grew into a man, he broke free of the chains of his people’s expectations. But too late.”

“I know all of this.”

“He told you?”

“Not in as much detail, but from what I’ve heard of his people and seen, it’s fairly obvious. But why did he tell you if he didn’t tell me? I know he wants my forgiveness. Or at least for me to get over the past and stay with him. He’s apologized, but never explained his perspective.”

“He didn’t tell me. Not really. Once, when I was injured and out of my mind with pain, he talked and talked. I think he thought he was distracting me, but he was actually trying to distract himself from worrying about me. But over the years, I put two and two together. I understand what he is—what it means to be a warlock. That they’re Oath Breakers. That was enough to make me able to guess what happened between you.”

“Why do you care?”

“I have Aurora now.” His silver eyes darkened. “I know what it’s like to have lost the one you love. If I lost her again….” His jaw clenched. “I couldn’t handle it. I think that you are that person for Malcolm.”

“If I am, why didn’t he explain this to me? Try harder to make me understand instead of just breaking my heart all those years ago?”

“Would it have mattered? You’d hate him either way. Rightfully so.”

“Yes.” Her fists clenched unconsciously. She felt for him, being torn between duty and desire, but everyone faced that at some point.

“Exactly. And Malcolm is a man of action, not words. He committed the crime against you. Why try to fix it with words when it’s not possible? He’d apologize but not explain.”

Sofia reached for Malcolm’s hand and squeezed it. She didn’t know what to think. What did it matter if he was a man of action when his actions had hurt her?

Except that he was trying to be better now. And from the way her heart pounded and her thoughts clung to Malcolm, she was probably falling back in love with him.

Falling in love with an Oath Breaker. As soon as this was over, she’d have to run from him. They couldn’t have anything real. Fate would see to it. She coulddiebecause of this. Laira had.

“He came to me for help, you know,” Felix said.

“Tonight?”

“Yes, but earlier too. He knew this might be dangerous. That you were at risk. In the event that anything went south, he wanted back-up.”

Sofia’s shoulders sagged. Malcolm had done that and hadn’t told her?

Actions over words.

“Why don’t you get a few hours of sleep,” Felix said. “We’ll stay here.”

Fates, that sounded good. Exhaustion dragged at her. She just wanted to close her eyes and not think about any of this. “Inara has something she has to tell me. Something the witches knew.”

“It can wait a few hours, can’t it? We’ll see to it that she stays here.”

The lure of sleep was so strong that she nodded. She also didn’t think she could handle any more bad news right now. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

Felix nodded and left the room.

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