Page 73 of Pure Magic
Staring at the ground, Kaden stands with his spine straight and his shoulders rigid. “They told me.”
It’s all coming clearer. Mother and father would have been devastated upon hearing what Ariana had done at the Order. Kaden had done the wrong thing by helping Ariana escape. They likely scolded him and told him the coven would come and bind her for killing. Kaden loved our sister. It’s hard to judge him harshly for trying to protect her. I doubt he thought she would kill our parents so heartlessly. “I see.”
Kaden meets my gaze and nods, as if thanking me for not condemning him.
Ariana looks from me to Kaden. The smile that spreads across her face twists my stomach. “It’s good to be together again.”
A bright-blue tent appears next to a pair of trees to our east. Ariana giggles at my surprise and shades her face against the rising sun. “I need my rest. We move at dusk. Kaden, Adam has sworn to help me. I think him a witch of his word, but do not let him leave.”
Kaden lowers his head.
“I’ll not break my word.”
Ariana disappears inside the tent.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, and void of all his normal arrogance, Kaden asks, “Why did you come here?”
“To save the young witch you kidnapped,” I say flatly. I’m full of questions and emotions, but I don’t know if I can trust Kaden. I assume he still follows the dark, even if Ariana has abused his devotion.
“What was she to you?” Shoulders hunched, he kicks the ground.
“An innocent who didn’t deserve to die in my place.”
Kaden’s head snaps up, and his eyes are full of shock.
I stretch my feet out in front of me and cross my ankles. “You don’t think we’re going to survive this, do you? Ariana doesn’t care if we live or die, Kaden. She serves the darkness. I’m certain my heart is not black enough to live without the light. I cannot speak for your heart.”
“I have not walked in full light in a long time. Goddess does not want me. Perhaps I’ll live when the gates of hell open and darkness reigns.” Facing the fire, he collapses with his legs crossed. “I’d hoped you would stay away. Even as I searched for you all these years, Adam, I was glad you stayed so far ahead of us. Perhaps my soul is lost, but knowing yours was safe with Goddess gave me peace.”
Part of me wants to tell him my heart is still safe, but there’s little point. Perhaps thinking he needs to save me will change the course of events. Drawing a long breath, I sigh. “I’d give anything to go back and start again with those frogs we set upon the high priest, brother.”
He gives a joyless laugh. “No one gets a second chance.”
Time to change the subject. “I missed my breakfast. Can we find something to eat before the world comes to an end?”
“Call a rabbit, and I will cook it.” He smiles wickedly.
“You know I’ll not use my gift that way, but we can track one or a nice pheasant.” I like the idea of going into the woods and finding food with my brother the way we did when we were young. Nothing is the same, but perhaps he’ll remember as I do.
Shaking his head, he sighs. “Why must it always be the hard way with you, Adam?”
Mimicking his action and sigh, I respond, “Why do you always choose the easy path, Kaden?”
An easy smile that also reminds me of simpler times spreads across his face. He stands. “Stay here. I will find something. You never could trap anything with much success. You’ll only slow me down.” When he reaches the edge of the woods, he looks from me to the tent then back at me. “You’ll not run away?”
“I gave my word.” It would be easy to escape, but Ariana would find another innocent witch to use in my place.
With a nod, Kaden walks into the woods.
I miss having Sara Beth in my head. I sealed away my mind while she slept so that she wouldn’t hear me. She would have tried to stop me. Perhaps I could have convinced her that Trina deserved a chance to live, but we’d have argued. I prefer that we had a peaceful and loving night together. If she hates me for leaving, perhaps Trina’s arrival at the camp will soften her anger.
It’s so strange to want her to hear my thoughts. When Goddess first gave the gift, I wanted nothing to do with another person in my mind. Now I’m lonely without the sense of Sara Beth.
“Thinking of that high priestess?” Kaden walks toward the fire with a rabbit in his hand.
“I was, yes.” There’s no reason to lie about this. He probably knew I was in love with her before I was ready to admit it.
He pulls a bowl from a sack, then guts and skins the rabbit. He puts the organs and head in the bowl and leaves it near the tent opening.
