Page 24 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

A slight blush rushed to her cheeks. “Yes, well, you never talked too much about your grandfather, only Lorenzo. And your grandfather had a part in our—arrangement. I assumed the worst. But from our conversation, I could tell he cares deeply for you.”

My steps faltered. My grandfather had never been good at expressing his feelings, that’s where my mother got it from. He spoke in actions rather than words. Hearing from Lennox, who knew so intimately what it was like to be loved by a family member, she thought my grandfather cared deeply for me—I wasn’t sure how to place how it made me feel.

“My grandfather—he did the best he could with me. I was not easy to be around during the years my parents died.”

She dipped her chin. “You told me as much, and so did your grandfather.” I looked over at her as we continued through the streets of Cel Nox.

“My grandfather must have liked you to offer you this much information upon first meeting him.”

“You know better than anyone I make a good first impression,”she remarked. I couldn’t stop a laugh from rumbling out of me.

“You’re lucky I didn’t run right back out the door after those first days I spent in Alethens.”

“A weaker male would have.” There was a slight tilt to her lips.

“Was that a compliment, Lennox Adair?”

“Interpret it how you want to.” I let myself smile at the small pieces of Lennox slipping in. It gave me a small semblance of hope. This entire conversation did. She wasn’t shutting me out entirely.

We walked in silence the rest of the way to the Stygian market. Lennox’s pace slowed when we reached the first block as she took in the packed city street.

I leaned in close to her as we approached. “Stay close to me.” Her eyes widened as she surveyed the street.

A male pulling a street cart bustled past, my hand reached instinctively towards Lennox, my hand resting on her hip and pulling her closer—out of the path of the male. A gasp slipped past her lips as my fingers tightened around her hip.

It took everything in me to let go, but I did.

Lennox followed behind me as I navigated us through the busy streets, weaving in and out of the booths. Every so often I looked back to check on her.

My fingers twitched to intertwine with hers, but I resisted.

Slowly, I needed to take this slowly to not scare her off and shut her down.

Finally, we arrived at the street where I had found the witch before. Sitting in the same spot was a different witch, her table stacked high with books.

I couldn’t believe it.

We had found the witch Scribe.

13

LENNOX

Witches have a strange third sense when it comes to meeting other new witches. Each witch gives off a feeling. Typically you are able to sense what coven a witch belongs to, what kind of elements they possess, or what kind of person they are. Like an alarm system of sorts to warn you about danger. Sometimes you get a slight feeling, your magic goes on high alert or there is a slight prickle at the back of your neck. Sometimes you get no feeling at all.

My magic writhed inside me as I took in the witch across the street. All four elements of my magic fought against each other to be released as I assessed her. The sensations coursing through my body put me and my magic on edge.

I had heard stories about evil witches. About the witches who misused magic.

I had a feeling the witch sitting in front of me wasn’t entirely good.

“Wait.” I held out a hand to stop Luka as he started towards the female. He turned, his eyes going wide as his hand looked at my fingers grasping the firm muscles of his arm.

I immediately let go of him.

“What?”

I tilted my headtoward the witch. “I have a bad feeling about her.”

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