Page 29 of Rise of the Witch
“That fucking bitch,” Nox seethed, glare shifting between Tan and me as he misinterpreted the drama unfolding before him. “She’s coming between us, and you guys are too goddamned pussy-whipped to see it!”
“I am simply existing, you ogre,” Vasi growled as she strode into the room, resplendent in flowing black layers, silver bracelets jangling on her delicate wrists, looking like a more authentic version of Stevie Nicks. A new tattoo on her forearm caught my attention, the pattern oddly resembling ours but inked in white and seeming to glow against her tanned skin. I zeroed in on the glimmer of red in the design, feeling something possessive flare up in me—an obsessive need to make that red just as distinct as the white.
‘Obsessed’ is too tame a word to describe how I feel about this woman...
She gave a shy smile to Tan before turning to the shifter. “Thank you for the dress, ‘Thia. It’s been a long time since I had a reason to look this nice.”
Anthia smiled warmly at her, and I realized she was genuinely looking out for her friend’s best interests. “You look lovely, Vasi. I know it’s not a palace gown like you used to wear, but that stuffy frivolousness probably never suited you anyway.”
Palace gown?
Letting my gaze sweep over Vasi again, I realized I wanted to discover everything there was to know about this fascinating creature. Not only her human life and existence since then as Baba Yaga but all that she was—her hopes and her heartache. I remembered how wrecked she’d looked when the Rusalka taunted her at the pond, and I wanted to learn more about her pain so I could help her carry it.
And maybe she can help me with mine as well.
Harbison reappeared at that moment with Turkish coffees for all, smiling broadly when he noticed Vasi had joined us. Without hesitating, he eagerly raised his odd camera and snapped a photo of her, causing her to scream and cover her eyes in pain at the blinding flash of light. Nox immediately pulled her against him, spinning on the occultist as he snarled, “What the fuck is the matter with you?! Did you not consider that maybe she’s never had her fucking photo taken before?”
Sufficiently chastised, the occultist turned beet red and blurted out an apology as Nox carefully checked with Vasi that she was okay. Suddenly realizing the rest of us were witnessing himnotbeing an asshole, Nox cleared his throat and gave Vasi an awkward pat on the head before turning his attention back to his coffee, as if he could hide at the bottom of the cup.
I see you, you big teddy bear.
A sharp inhale of breath brought our attention back to Harbison, who was staring at the newly-developed photo like he’d seen a ghost. He wordlessly placed it on the counter, hesitantly turning to Vasi, “You’re...you’re young?”
Peering down at the photo, I saw Vasi looking the same as she always did to me but realized the occultist probably saw her with the disguise of the Yaga. However, what caught my attention was the distinct thread of light running between Nox and Vasi, unmistakably connecting his heart to hers.
Chapter 24
Vasilisa
Dinner was uneventful, although this Harbison kept reminding me why I usually didn’t associate with humans. He spoke incessantly of pointless things, openly gawked at me as if I couldn’t plainly see him doing so, and overcooked his food. I didn’t eat meat very often, but even I knew chicken shouldn’t taste like tree bark.
Breathing evenly, I reminded myself that the reason I’d accepted the occultist’s invitation was to possibly discover new clues as to what was devouring my home. If the forest was destroyed, the shifters and other supernatural creatures inhabiting it would be exposed, making them vulnerable to human interference. If those who ran the Facility were already aware of shifters—wanted to tag and track them for whatever reason—there was no telling what might happen if the sacred boundaries of my woods were breached. I would gladly put up with a tiresome human for one night if it helped me combat what was happening.
Our host was at the head of the table, with me to his left and Anthia to his right. Tan was next to me, alternating his flirtatious attention between me and Asa, who sat on his other side. As usual, Nox positioned himself as far away from me as possible—across the gleaming, mirrored table and down a couple of seats, successfully using the monstrous floral centerpiece as a shield against any possible eye-contact.
Probably so neither of us has to acknowledge what we saw in that photograph.
Seeing physical proof of my link with Nox had shifted something inside me. Until now, I could pretend that any attraction I was feeling toward him was simply due to forced proximity. The tether in that photograph told a different story, reminding me how I needed to finally accept our connection.
Thinking back to our first encounter at the thermal pools, Ihadnoticed a subtle pull from each man, even then. Now that Tan and I had thoroughly enjoyed each other, I could feel his presence as if he were a part of my own body, even when he was in another room of the house. The sensation seemed to originate from my heart, causing my new tattoo to pulse in response. I wondered if he was experiencing the same phenomenon but didn’t dare ask in front of an audience.
And I still don’t know if he fully understands what he’s committed himself to.
Anthia had pulled me aside before dinner, confessing she’d accidentally revealed more to the men about our shared legacy. She was apologetic, but I waved it off. I should have told them already and promised my friend I’d explain everything the first chance I got.
But first, some parlor games.
Having cleared the dishes—and the floral arrangement, much to my annoyance—Harbison took his seat before solemnly looking around the table, his greased hair catching the flickering candlelight. “Please, take the hand of the person next to you. It’s time we begin.”
Although I’d offered my dream tea, Harbison claimed the house’s unique global positioning and many angles of the mirrored surfaces inside would be enough to initiate communication with the Nav and its inhabitants. He also insisted I was the only conduit we needed tonight—a declaration that made me uneasy for some reason. While I knew Harbison traveled in occultist circles and was more knowledgeable of my existence than most humans, he had more confidence than I did in my natural ability to bridge the divide between the land of the living and the realm of the dead.
As if sensing my nervousness, Tan snatched my hand, depositing a quick kiss on my knuckles before lowering our joined hands to his lap, suspiciously close to his dick. Harbison eyed our affection with interest before taking my other hand in his on the surface of the table. Anthia seemed less than pleased to be holding Nox’s hand, but she gave me a reassuring smile across the table that also helped calm some of my nerves.
Closing his eyes, the occultist began to speak in a voice far too dramatic for my taste. “Spirits! We summon you where the veil is thinnest; call to you from this window to the underworld. Join us now! Speak to Baba Yaga—she who exists between this world and the next and guides lost souls on their journeys. Oh, inhabitants of the afterlife, tell us what youseeeeee!”
I heard Asa snort in amusement at the dramatics, then attempt to hide his outburst beneath a cough. Harbison cracked an eyelid to glare, but a resounding boom echoed in the air before he could speak. My heart started to race as I recalled Veles emerging through the shattered oak in the grove, but Tan’s grip on my hand tightened, his thumb running along my skin, soothing me instantly. I turned to face him, to announce I’d decided I didn’t want to participate in this séance after all.
Until every candle in the room extinguished.
