Page 14 of Rise of the Witch
I raised an eyebrow. “12or13?”
“We’re still not sure about Sanj. He kinda looks like the milkman,” he whispered conspiratorially, biting his bottom lip in anticipation of my reaction.
He’s like a pup who wants to play!
Again, I felt as if I were basking in the warm light of day as his attentive gaze swept over me, drinking me in. Observing him in return, I felt an insistent tug on my soul, reminding me these were no ordinary travelers wandering across my path. I rewarded him with the reaction he was surely hoping for, smiling so wildly my cheeks hurt. It had been a long time since anyone had made me smile like that—since I’d evenwantedto.
I want more of this.
This surprising thought came with the realization that I didn’t know how to express what I was feeling, especially to a human I’d only recently met. Even when Tan hesitantly draped his arm over my shoulders—even when he continued to bathe me in that sunlight he exuded—I couldn’t find the words.
Chapter 12
Nox
Hanging around this ramshackle cabin for weeks on end was as much fun as a fucking hole in the head. And don’t even get me started on the way the guys were acting. Tan siding with the enemy simply because she was a wet hole to fill was to be expected, but I didn’t know what the hell had come over Ace. Of all the times for awomanto turn his head, he chose this witch, and Tan seemed to be encouraging it! If I didn’t love the two of them like brothers, I would’ve already left these idiots out here to fend for themselves.
But I had no intention of abandoning them. As much as Vasi’s presence bothered me, I would bide my time until we could all escape together, which would hopefully be sooner than later.
Although the guys don’t seem to think returning to base is an option.
I had to admit, their questions about why the three of us had been sent out on this mission alone—with what appeared to be faulty equipment—were valid and worth considering. But that would mean the only other person on earth I thought of as family might have something to do with our current situation, and I wasn’t interested in even humoring that idea.
Besides, my father probably already has a search party out looking for us.
Like Tan, I was a military brat, through and through. This was my entire life. It had been my father’s life ever since he left his backwoods peasant parents in search of something better than ignorance and superstition. He was one of the founders of the Facility that employed us, and while I was yet to be included in the classified details of the groundbreaking work he was involved in, I was determined to follow in his footsteps. To prove to him that nothing of our ancestors’ foolishness was to be found in me—that I was purely my father’s son.
But instead, I’m stuck out here in a never-ending episode of Little Hut in the Fucked Up Woods.
Turning my attention back to the breakfast conversation, I caught the tail end of whatever Vasi was babbling about. “...as I’ll be out for most of the day, you men can do whatever you’d like. The sauna is fully functional, and the stable could always use cleaning…”
“Stable?” I interrupted, immediately perking up. Of course, I’d noticed the various outbuildings around the clearing, but they all looked like hoarder storage sheds to me. If Vasi had a stable, it meant she had horses, which gave us the means to cover more ground once we figured out which way pointed toward civilization.
“Yes,” Vasi coldly replied, brilliant eyes flashing as she scornfully raked her gaze over me. “Coincidentally withthreehorses—one for each of you to ride off to freedom. However, they only answer to me, so you won’t get very far.”
This bitch.
“I haven’t ridden a horse in years,” Asa murmured, gaze distant as he was no doubt recalling his youth of fancy southern decadence and backstabbing politics. As much as Ace tried to hide his wealthy upbringing,no onein our world had the natural grace and politeness he did. However, from the horror stories he told of his senator father and politician friends, it was lucky all he inherited were his manners.
“AndI’veonly ridden a camel and an elephant! No horses and no witches...yet,” Tan added, winking in Vasi’s direction for the millionth time that morning and being rewarded with a dazzling smile in return. It didn’t make any sense that a creature like her—whatever shewas—would find his terrible jokes amusing. But the two of them seemed to have a natural rapport that just rubbed me the wrong way.
It’s really fucking annoying, is what it is.
“Would it be possible for us to join you, Vasi?” Asa earnestly asked, returning from whatever trip down memory lane he’d been on to gaze at her hopefully. “Maybe we could be of assistance?”
I was sure Vasi would immediately shut him down, but she slowly nodded, considering. “Perhaps,” she mused, causing me to inwardly groan at the idea. “It’s really more of a routine patrol than anything, but I suppose you three are used to that. Although you should know, we’ll be on foot today.”
“Ooh, an adventure!” Tan exclaimed, clapping his hands together like a little kid excited to get out of the house as he ran for our packs. I couldn’t say I blamed him. Theizbafelt like it was closing in on me in more ways than one, and this could be an opportunity to get a good look at the surrounding territory through the eyes of someone familiar with it.
We might find a way out of here yet.
Twenty minutes later, we were already deep in the surrounding forest, trailing Vasi as she wove her way through the terrain in seemingly random trajectories. It took me a while to realize she was strictly following the trails created by wildlife. It seemed silly to allow an animal to determine your patrol route, and after being forced to double back several times, I’d had enough.
“What exactly are you looking for out here?” I called, watching with irritation as she went out of her way to avoid stepping on some random moss that looked the same as all the moss I’d been walking over.
“I want to see what the animals are seeing,” she murmured before scowling at me. “Don’t step on the moss, Nox.”
“Why the fuck not?” I snapped, questioning why I hadn’t chosen to enjoy some alone time in the sauna instead of joining this gypsy caravan.
