Page 73 of The Witch and His Crow

Arwyn took a seat opposite me, peering out the window, sleepy eyes wincing against the light. ‘You should’ve woken me, Hector.’

‘And ruin the peace and quiet? I don’t think so.’

‘Ruin the peace and quiet, or allow you time to read through your dirty little secret?’ Arwyn’s eyes lingered on the closed book. I longed to cower over it, hide it from view. I followed his gaze to my hands, noticing that my knuckle bones were standing out through the skin I was grasping it so tight. I made myself relax.

‘It isn’t dirty,’ I replied.

‘But you don’t deny it’s your little secret?’

I studied Arwyn, searching for a reason not to trust him. But his easy smile, his open eyes, and the ability his presence had to relax me, all told me to stop being pathetic. I exhaled, a long breath and extended the book for him to take. ‘Eleanor gave it to me. I didn’t tell you because…’

‘There’s no need for you to explain yourself to me, Hector.’ Arwyn took it, his focus intent on the leather-bound tome. As he traced his fingers over the cover, a shiver ran down my spine. ‘You don’t owe me an explanation.’

‘I know I don’t,’ I said, still finding it easier to be defensive than welcoming.

Arwyn pretended not to notice as he thumbed the pages and flicked through the grimoire. ‘Find anything interesting within her grimoire?’

‘Just the usual jumble of witch’s notes and sketches.’ I paused, careful to stop myself asking the next question. It would’ve been insensitive insinuating Arwyn had one of his own, when his mother was also killed by Witch Hunters. Perhaps his father passed a grimoire onto him, or maybe not. ‘I’ve been looking for a way of reaching Caym whilst we are trapped here.’

‘And…’ Arwyn briefly looked up at me through his dark lashes. They were so prominent I could’ve counted them. But a blush crept over my face and I looked back to his hands.

‘So far nothing,’ I said, snatching the book from him and turning to the page on demonology. ‘Except this explained some bits about those creatures Eleanor was keeping out with her shield. Have you ever seen anything like this before?’

I didn’t give him the book, but turned it so he could take in the page. Arwyn winced, as though something pained him. But he quickly hardened his expression and was quiet as he took everything in. ‘I recognise those runes. At least some of them spell out the same markings that were around the archway we all entered to get here. But this is about keeping the demons out. I don’t think it’s going to help reach your familiar.’

‘No, not that part. It also suggests keeping thingsin. We, being the things that are kept in. I’m wondering if a similar spell is around the castle. It would explain what’s keeping any of us from leaving. A double-sided barrier perhaps? Impenetrable from both sides.’

‘Unless a witch wishes to withdraw and walks out the archway they came in through.’ Arwyn’s rich azure eyes brightened. I couldn’t help but notice just how dull they made the sky look. As if he’d opened his eyes, drank in the beautiful colour, and left the world around him boring and bland.

‘A break in the armour, no doubt. But one I’m not going to entertain.’

‘No, of course you’re not.’ There was no denying the disappointment in Arwyn’s voice. It irked me, knowing it was something he hoped for me to do.

‘Then what do you want to do with this information?’

I shrugged, peering out the misty window. ‘If we could find the barrier, like Eleanor’s circle of stones, then perhaps we can then figure out how to break it.’

‘I could do with some fresh air,’ Arwyn said.

I knew exactly what he was insinuating. The silent understanding between us both made me smile. ‘It isn’t safe for us to go looking. Not with Jaz on the prowl and Salem missing. And the next Trial could start at any moment and we haven’t even located the next clue.’

‘Excuses, excuses.’ Arwyn tsked, tongue wetting his lower lip. I really needed to stop focusing on the small details of him. I had to focus. But that was easier said than done. ‘What else are we going to spend our time doing, Hector?’

‘What are you suggesting, Arwyn?’

I didn’t realise it, but we were leaning in closer. Not until Romy’s snores broke into a cough. Arwyn leaned back, dusting off the strange tension between us. ‘We’ll go together. First, we’ll go have a look at the boundaries, see if we can find anything similar to what was around Eleanor’s village. Then we can worry about the next Trial.’

‘Your priorities seem a little mixed up,’ I said, closing the book and planting it beneath the worn pillow at my back.

‘Youare my priority,’ Arwyn replied, so matter-of-factly my breath caught in my throat. Even his expression was serious. For the next few seconds, I waited for him to break and smile, but the more time went on, the more I couldn’t refuse the truth of what he said.

What I wanted to say waswhy? But I couldn’t bring myself to continue the conversation.

‘Well then,’ I said, looking anywhere but him. ‘It’s a date.’

Fuck my life. Why did I just say that?

A small, muffled voice sang from beneath the fortress of pillows. ‘Can I third wheel?’

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