Page 31 of Rise of the Witch
“Very true,” Harbison pursed his lips, seemingly to hide the smile fighting its way out. “Even the word ‘Yaga’ has no direct translation. Many believe it is less a name and more of a description. Some interpret it to mean ‘horrible’ or ‘chilling.’ Still, others suggest it was a euphemism for another name too holy or terrifying to be spoken aloud, and therefore, long since forgotten.” He suddenly turned his attention to me and rubbed his chin. “Yet, you are not as terrifying as I expected, despite your appearance.”
Even though he’d been busy brooding since our confrontation over Veles’ photograph, Nox interrupted to address the occultist. “So, let me get this straight. To you, she looks the same as that old hag that crawled out of the underworld?” Harbison nodded, and Nox sat back a moment in thought before looking to Tan with a rare smile. “No wonder the crowd went fucking wild when you stuck your tongue down her throat!”
All three men burst into wild laughter, and I had to smile along with them, fondly remembering the screams of terror in the streets of Zerkalo. To be honest, my disguise as Yaga never bothered me; I’d gratefully used it as a way to finally discourage the lecherous men I’d encountered my entire life and to avoid humans in general. However, it was nice to feelseenby humans again.
Humans of my choosing.
I chewed my lip. Perhaps I hadn’t told Tan, Asa, and Nox about my legacy because I’d been so focused on defying it—probably out of spite for how long I’d been forced to wait for my fated mates. But after all that had happened, I couldn’t keep pretending my connection with them didn’t mean anything or that I could simply enjoy them and send them on their way. In my gut, I knew it was far more complicated than that. Feeling a familiar buzz of recognition, I made a silent vow to humor my fate, to try trusting in it.
Perhaps to try trusting these men.
Realizing the laughter had subsided, and everyone’s attention had turned in my direction, I attempted a friendly smile, suddenly self-conscious for how Harbison saw me. “So, how did you and Anthia meet? I know she sells you my dream tea and...bath bombs,” I cleared my throat. “But clearly, you two are friends.”
The occultist laughed, any remaining wariness melting away at the easy sound. “Yes, we are, although I had little choice in the matter.” He turned his gaze to Anthia with genuine warmth. “I actually spotted her in an internet cafe here in town—they make lattes todiefor—and she almost bit my hand off when I went over to introduce myself. However, we became fast friends, all initial first impressions aside.”
Tan snorted.“Thatsounds familiar. I don’t think Vasi was very pleased with how we all first met, although it is a memory I will personally cherish forever.”
My cheeks burned as I desperately changed the subject, not needing Anthia and Harbison to know the details of that particular story. “You know, Tan, I realize I’ve never asked how you three met each other...I assume it was through the Facility?”
Surprisingly, it was Nox who answered. “Yeah, Tan showed up for orientation and, much like Anthia did with Harbison, forced me to be friends with him. That was over ten years ago at this point, and I haven’t been able to get rid of him since.” Nox smiled broadly again—probably thanks to the wine—and I felt heat start to build in my core at how incredibly handsome he was when he let down his guard.
And I can’t even blame it on the wine…
Tan barked a laugh. “Yaaa, well, you should be thankful. Everyone else was too scared of you to even try to be friends. Scared of your father, rather.”
Before I could ask who his father was, Nox continued, “And then Ace joined us a few years later, fresh out of boot camp…”
“And we immediately adopted him!” Tan crowed, throwing an arm around Asa and pulling him across the plastic-covered couch, subsequently sloshing wine onto the frosted glass floor. “He was just a helpless baby, and the hungry wolves were already circling.”
Asa rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “I am only four years younger than you, Tan, and I can handle myself. But yes, it didn’t hurt to be ‘claimed’ by you inthatsnake pit.”
I suspected it wasn’t the wine that caused Tan to practically pull the other man onto his lap and affectionately nuzzle him. “Mmm...well, you made me wait for theclaimingpart, but yes, I’m forever thankful to fate for bringing you into my life,Gueneshem.”Surprisingly, Nox glared in Harbison’s direction as if daring the occultist to comment on his friends’ display of intimacy.
My heart constricted at Tan’s words and Nox’s protectiveness. It hadn’t occurred to me that fate may have connected my men first, to form close bonds with each other long before I was destined to meet them. They were born in separate countries, some with oceans between them, so the likelihood of them meeting under different circumstances was slim.
Fate may not be so cruel after all.
Realizing the hour was late and my energy was starting to fade, I turned to Harbison. “Anthia tells me other occultists have been experiencing unusual communications from the Nav. Can you elaborate?”
Setting down the plate of cookies he’d been snacking from, Harbison grimaced. “Well, the experiences have varied, but the most notable change is that spirits are contacting uswithoutbeing called. Usually, a séance is required, or a trance brought on by your dream tea, for those of us who can obtain it.” He shot a grateful smile toward Anthia before continuing, “However, I personally have received communications from the dead at all hours of the day and night. Oddly, it seems to happen more in heavily populated areas, like in town, as opposed to when I’m out gathering supplies in the forest…”
I thought back on the destruction we’d witnessed at the border of Zerkalo, how it seemed to be encroaching on nature from the direction of civilization. Recognizing synchronicities was a large part of the intuition training I received with my former mentor, so I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a correlation between the increased death rate in the forest and occultists’ increased communication with the dead.
But what exactly is the connection?
Suddenly chilled, I recalled how I’d also experienced an unexpected interaction with the Nav, specifically in the form of Veles appearing to me in the sacred grove. As Harbison had stated at the beginning of the séance, Yagas were known to walk the line between life and death—and even occasionally assisted travelers with crossing over—but it wasn’t a talent I’d ever naturally possessed. The Yagas’ patron Goddess was Mother Mokosh, not the god of the underworld, and I still wasn’t surewhyVeles was interested in me, although Nox had assumed I would recognize the horned man in the photograph.
And why that angered the big ogre is beyond me.
“Forgive me for prying, again,” Harbison hesitantly spoke, back to treating me with faint caution. “I have heard stories of the Yaga’s...invisible helpers…” he lowered his voice, implying healsoknew this was a subject best left untouched before gesturing at the others. “But I’ve never heard of a situation like this. These men arehuman,and yet, they can apparently see you in your true form. How is that possible?”
I swallowed hard and glanced at Anthia, who nodded encouragingly. “These aren’t just any men...” I began when my gaze landed on Nox. He was eyeing me with his usual suspicion, but there was something else behind his scowl.
Fear.
The realization that he absolutely did not want to hear what I was about to say made me falter, but I doggedly continued, realizing it was time to stop running from the truth. “We were fated to meet each other,” I whispered, allowing the words to hang in the air, like the sound of nails in a coffin.
Chapter 26
