Page 61 of Kiss the Filthiest King

In my experience, witches gossip. They know about other covens, their network of communication transcending borders.

Rain sips her tea, lukewarm by now. It's not half bad, though the iron taste of the very water in this world burns on the way down. I don't know how Darina survived twenty-four years here. How any changeling survives it. The torture must be constant, unyielding.

"Maybe Highvale or Oldcrest?" she guesses. "They’re warded lands, exclusively for sups. Oldcrest is mostly a school, and though there are witches, I'd say there are more vampires than anything else. Highvale might be a better bet. It's a larger city and the rumor is, there are a few powerful witches there. Even demigods."

"Fine. I'll go."

"It's not that simple. As I said, it's warded. I can put in a request for an invitation, but it’ll take a little time—let alone managing to ask for the aid of a scholar able to contact a demon…"

I cut her off. "No need for requests. I know someone who lives there."

If I weren't this distracted, I might have thought about Highvale first; but my contact is fae. I didn't realize his city has its own witches and sorcerers.

"I am grateful for your assistance," I say, about to take my leave.

Before I can say so much as goodbye, she's on her feet. "Wait! Let me come with you."

I blink in surprise. "What?"

"Highvale? Ilvaris? They’relegendary. What kind of witch would be if I missed any of that? I took time off to find Darina anyway. Let me accompany you, please?"

I take a moment to consider. I'd travel faster alone, but on the other hand, I'm never one to turn my back on a witch. One never knows when one will need a little spell only mortals can do as a favor.

"All right, but make haste." I need to get this over with as fast as possible. Then I can return to the hunt, and the enticing mortal who should know better than to wander into the woods. "And pack light. We're traveling by portal."

* * *

Highvale is a thing of beauty. Shining white buildings carved into stone, with an art that I believed mortals had lost to time. High columns and golden-domed ceilings, flat roofs, handpainted murals.

Most of all, like nowhere else on Earth, this place doesn't cause me any pain. It's not that it's free of metal, but it has been treated in order not to harm the folk. And the air is so pure, one would think it was in the mountains of the Hollow, not right in the middle of Europe, surrounded by nothing but polluted lands.

This is a place of magic and beauty.

And power.

"How are you doing, old friend?" Stillwater calls, offering me a hand.

I take it and smile. "It's been too long."

I don't tell him I'd do better if I were in America, coughing under the effect of the iron and nasty air, so long as my eyes could seeher. Watch over her. Make sure it's her this time.

Although every ounce of my body and soul screams she must be.

What's her name? How old is she?

I force myself to stay in the moment. "This is Rain, a witch friend of a friend. Rain, Alden Stillwater—one of the few gentry fae who somehow thought it a good idea to call this poisonous world home."

He laughs at that. "There are far fewer of us assholes around here." He waves toward his two companions."Silver, Kleos, this is Calreth, leader of the hunt. Cal, these are two of my interns. They’re shadowing me today."

Silver is a petite thing with pink hair and silver eyes. Kleos has ocean blue eyes, and red hair braided down her back in a fishtail.

Both mortals. Both notably powerful. I don't even have to try to sense it.

"Interns?" I repeat.

They seem on the young side, but no one with such obvious strength ought to be called anyone'sintern.

"I'm a guardian these days." He gestures me forward, and we follow after him. "Silver and Kleos are starting in the bureau; it's required for them to go through some training. You don't mind if they stay with us, do you? You called a little last minute; I couldn't rearrange things."

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