Page 26 of The Witch and His Crow

‘Can I help you?’ I left his hand hanging in the air between us.

‘That seems like a rather loaded question,’ he replied, lowering his hand to his side and fisting it. Clearly, my refusal of his handshake annoyed him.

Good.

‘No, it’s actually rather simple. So, are you going to answer it?’

He forced on a smile, flashing brilliantly straight teeth. There was no denying he was handsome. But I thought most of the allure came from his confidence. The way he never dropped eye contact, and the fact he was a few inches taller than me.

‘Well, I am doing as all our fellow contestants are doing and attempting to make allies for the weeks to come.’

I shrugged, spying Romy still talking to the red-haired witch. She was clearly nonplussed that I was being cornered by this man. In fact, I imagined she’d take our conversation as my attempt at finding another witch to join us.

‘Sorry, but I’m not one for making friends,’ I replied.

‘Clearly, since you were the first witch to kill someone today, or so whispers suggest. You have made people wary, but also quite interested in you.’

I was about to open my mouth and tell this man that I didn’t kill the witch when something stopped me. A memory. A sharp zap of something from my past as I lost myself in his eyes. ‘Do…do I know you?’

Once again, he extended his hand. ‘I was wondering when you would notice. It has been years, but believe me, you never left my mind. Poor Hector. I always wondered what became of you.’

My heckles rose at that. His pity was nothing but infuriating, even if his expression suggested complete sincerity. ‘Back tomy initial question…’ I said, aware that my eyes were probably glowing, my power zapping through me.

‘Salem Tanner.’

My world fell out from under me. I almost dropped the glass as that name settled into my bones.

‘Salem?’ I exhaled, finding it hard to believe I spoke his name.

‘Hello, again,’ Salem replied with a smile. ‘Time has been kind to you, Hector. You look well.’

I couldn’t even begin to unravel how loaded his compliment was. Salem Tanner, my school bully when I was six years old. Except that wasn’t what had me frozen to the spot.

His scar. The damage to his face.

I wasn’t the only one to lose my parents to Witch Hunters eighteen years ago. Salem’s family was reported to have been murdered first, in some confusion as to where the Briars resided. And clearly, we both came away scarred. Salem was obviously more physically scarred than me.

This time, I didn’t let his hand hover. I took it, feeling as though I had no choice. Because deep down, I harboured guilt for what had happened to his family. They died because of mine.

Upon impact with his smooth palm, I felt the tingle of his gift. Just as he had when I was a child, taunting me with his ability to conjure and control electricity, he zapped me. This time, though, it wasn’t unpleasant. Actually, it sent a shiver of pleasure over my skin as he pulled me in and planted a kiss on my cheek.

‘We have much to catch up on, you and I.’

I swallowed, aware that my cheeks were flushing hard. ‘Do we?’

‘Well, I would say it’s the least you could do, you know, considering how much you owe me.’

Owe me. He wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t stop me from reacting negatively. I snatched my hand out of his, wanting nothing more than to put distance between us.

‘I should… go,’ I said, looking up for Romy but being unable to find her.

‘Of course,’ Salem stepped aside, sweeping his arm out as if that alone was my permission to leave. ‘But consider it, Hector. Even with all those years between us, we don’t need to be strangers. If, or when, you change your mind, I’ll be waiting for that conversation.’

I felt sick. It ached in the pit of my stomach, threatening to spill the wine and food I had consumed. Not wanting to spend another second in his line of sight, I bowed out of the party and moved straight for the doors to leave the Great Hall. All the while, I felt his eyes on me.

Salem Tanner’s presence made me restless. I had spent the most of my life hidden from attention, and here I was standing plainly for all to see. Facing demons that I thought had long been left in my past. Whereas the Witch Hunters tore my life apart, it wasmyname that ruined Salem’s family. I knew the guilt could become all-consuming, but also that it was a distraction I couldn’t afford.

And yet, the further I got from Salem, the deeper his presence wore into me. So much so that I felt us tied together in knots.

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