Page 16 of Destiny of the Witch

‘The itch. I never appreciated how horrible it is. I thought you humans were just exaggerating, but it’s almost unbearable. And I’m only feeling it second-handthrough our bond. I don’t know how you’re not mauling your skin.’

‘Through sheer stubbornness,’ I admitted.

A smile ghosted across his face. ‘That sounds like you.’

Bastion came from the creature side of the Other divide, so he never had to go back and forth through portals and his magic never waned. It was surprisingly gratifying to have him acknowledge what human magic users went through.

‘You get used to it,’ I said.

‘It’s enough to make you want to rip your skin off.’

‘Hopefully Oscar has some ORAL potion in the car. If not, we’ll have to stop at a portal.’ I didn’t really want to do that, not with Ria and Meredith in my care and under my protection. A portal is always a point of weakness no matter what security the elementals offer, and it always feels vulnerable.

I went to say goodbye to Cain. He was talking to Victoria Dubois, the circus’s fortune teller and they were leaning close. There was a familiarity there that told me they were more than friends. Victoria was a beautiful young woman; Cain was incredibly attractive too and they made a stunning pair. If they had been famous, they wouldhave had some sort of mangled joint name like Brangelina – Vain perhaps. I snickered to myself.

Victoria was as powerful as she was beautiful. She was an incredibly gifted seer; even stuck in the Common realm as she was, she could still see glimpses of the future. When she was younger, many people had expected her to become High Priestess one day but then she’d disappeared. I hadn’t asked her why she’d needed to hide because that is an unwritten rule in the circus: no one talks aboutbefore. It’s too raw to consider all you have lost.

‘We’re all done here,’ I said firmly to Cain. ‘I’ve runed you all to the hilt. You’ll be absolutely fine.’

‘Thank you, Amber.’ Cain looked relieved and the tension eased from his shoulders.

‘A word, Crone,’ Victoria said.

‘Crone?’ Cain was taken aback. ‘You’ve had quite the promotion. I didn’t think you were old enough for the role.’ His voice was a little sharp.

I winced. I probably should have mentioned the new title and all that went with it, but my focus had been on Meredith. ‘A recent promotion,’ I muttered a shade defensively.

‘A word – alone,’ Victoria repeated.

I turned to Bastion. ‘Can you get Meredith and Ria settled in the car? I’ll sit in the back with them, Benji in the front. You’ll have to fly, I’m afraid.’

Bastion shook his head. ‘No, you ride with me and they can take the car. We’ll meet them at our final destination.’

I opened my mouth to object then closed it. I didn’twantto be separated from Bastion; the last time that had happened, I’d ended up in a dank jail cell. ‘Fine. Can you see if Oscar has any ORAL on hand?’

Bastion moved away and Cain also stood up and left me alone with the seer.

‘What did you need to talk to me about that needs privacy?’ I asked bluntly.

Victoria looked grim. ‘We need to speak of your future. What else, Crone? The Goddess tells me I must read you.’

I pursed my lips; I despised talking about my future as if it were immutable, but who was I to deny the Goddess? I folded my arms and waited for Victoria’s pronouncement of my fate. ‘Well? Go on,’ I waved at her impatiently.

‘A touch would help me achieve a clearer read,’ she suggested.

I didn’t want a clearer read, but I did want this whole conversation to be over and done with so I held out my hand imperiously. She grasped it andher eyes glowed. By the Goddess, she was powerful if she could access her powers to that extent even in Common.

She let out a strangled gasp before dropping my fingers. The light faded from her eyes and she looked at me with sadness in her eyes. ‘I don’t have enough power here to pull a true prophecy for you, but what I saw will come to pass. I’m sorry, Crone.’

‘What?’ I asked evenly. ‘What did you see?’

‘Your mother’s death, at your own hand.’

‘Never!’ I gasped.

‘You plunged a blade into her heart – but it will save us all.’

I shook my head and stumbled back from her. Never. I wouldneverharm Mum. For all I cared, the world could burn before I did that.

---