Page 51 of A Witch Out of Time
Nox wore a shattered expression as he watched them walk away. “Ileftthe Domo here, Vasi. I didn’t know it was real…”
“It’s all right, Nox,” I stopped before him and placed my hands on his chest, feeling his heart beating under my fingertips. “You didn’t know any of this was real, but it is.”
What we have is real.
He silently met my gaze for a moment before lifting me up to kiss me. “Thank you, Vashka. I don’t even have the words to tell you how much this means to me.” He sighed as I wrapped my legs around his waist and he placed his palms under my ass, purely to support my weight. “Ace was right. I really don’t deserve you.”
“Yes. You do,” I replied, running my claws through his long hair and allowing him to transport me back to myizba,like the queen I was.
Chapter 41
Vasilisa
Iinstructed theizbato take us to the new swan settlement so I could check on Anthia and see how the clan leaders’ meeting had gone. No doubt alerted to our approach by his spies in the sky, Gerard was already waiting outside of hisvardowagon as we climbed off the porch. Unlike the wolf and bear shifters who preferred to live in caves and dens in their animal forms, the swans existed like nomadic humans, often traveling close to civilization in what appeared to be gypsy caravans.
It explains why Anthia’s always been so in touch with the outside world.
“How is she?” I hesitantly asked, bracing for the worst.
Gerard frowned, although he didn’t look overly upset. “Anthia is almost back to her old self, for better or worse. She was sure to let me know how displeased she was that I almost didn’t tell you where we were migrating to. I assume she’ll want to see you after our meeting today.”
I stifled a smile, glad to hear my friend was feeling well enough to give her father a hard time. Motioning for my men to join me, we followed the shifter into the forest, weaving our way through a maze of young birch until we reached a small clearing. A collection of stumps were arranged in a circle and the elders were already waiting for us there, each seated by rank so only the head stump remained unoccupied.
Gerard indicated I should sit, which shocked me. While I regularly interacted with clan leaders and elders during my rounds as Yaga, I’d never been invited to partake in their official meetings. And I’d certainly never led the discussion. Gingerly sitting on the stump, I cleared my throat and relayed everything we’d learned during our time in the Nav. I ended with the revelation that the last Yaga was to blame for the Devouring, hearing the gasps of horror and feeling my own claws twitch at the thought.
The swans’ second-in-command spoke next, and we learned that many of the clan leaders—including Luperca—had declared war on humans for their crimes against shifters. It was only thanks to Gerard and a few others that they hadn’t attacked while we were away. I shuddered to think about what could have happened if they’d approached the Facility without us.
As the shifter finished his report, I felt Asa gently tug on our bond, and I realized he wished to speak. Gerard noticed our exchange and graciously gave my Beautiful Sun permission to address the elders. This was even more notable than my invitation, since the swan leader probably believed my Rider was only human.
You’ve come a long way, Gerard.
“I understand the need for revenge,” Asa began, in that smooth voice of his, quietly commanding attention. “How it becomes a living thing inside you, gnawing to get out and spill the blood of anyone who gets in your way...whether or not they deserve it. We will help the shifter community win this war,” He glanced at Nox and Tan, who both nodded encouragingly at him. “But only against the Facility and those associated with it. If we can agree on that, we’d be more than happy to share all we know, because you’re dealing with a much larger organization than you may be aware.”
Gerard shrewdly observed Asa before curtly nodding his approval. “Well said, Rider, and a most generous offer. While humans have certainly harmed the earth over the years, what the Facility has done is unprecedented and must be dealt with in a focused, calculated way. I can have Luperca and the other leaders here within the hour so we can share resources and begin planning our attack.”
I suddenly spotted Anthia leaning against a tree at the edge of the clearing, close enough to listen in, but still detached from the proceedings. As Gerard’s only heir, she was technically entitled to become leader herself one day, but I’d never seen her take an interest in her clan’s politics or wartime strategy.
Until now.
Rising, I gestured for Asa to take my seat and ran to greet my friend. As we embraced, my stress bled out of me and I allowed tears to freely roll down my cheeks, no longer ashamed of my emotions. Anthia was like family to me, and knowing I’d almost lost her made that animalistic need for vengeance scratch under my skin as well.
“Shit really must have hit the fan if my black-hearted witch is crying!” Anthia laughed, which only made me cry harder—although my tears were now in relief at hearing her signature humor.
Tan appeared at my side, giving Anthia’s shoulder a friendly rub. “Ya, well, we’ve been doing our best to educate Vasi in the ways of love, but she’s an extremely stubborn student.”
“Mmm, good luck with that,” Anthia scoffed before digging into her pocket to produce a small scrap of paper, which she handed to him. “Here’s the address of where your mother took your younger brothers to hide out. We offered her sanctuary, but she said she already had a safe house.”
My Bright Dawn furrowed his brow as he looked at the address. “Interesting,” he murmured before stuffing the paper in his pocket and smiling gratefully at the swan. “Thank you, Anthia. I owe you one.”
She smiled in return and hooked her arm through mine, leading me away from the meeting grove and toward her lavishly paintedvardo.Once inside, I climbed into the sleeping area in the wagon's rear, the satin blankets and plush feather pillows a familiar sanctuary. As I got settled, Anthia busied herself with making peppermint tea and gossiping about her fellow shifters. Despite her cheerful demeanor, I caught her reflection in the gilded mirror over the stove and couldn’t miss the hollowness of her expression.
Please don’t shut me out.
“I won’t ask if you’re all right,” I carefully spoke during a lull in her chatter. “But I’m here if you want to talk.”
Anthia chewed her lip as she poured boiling water into her favorite set of rose cups, considering my offer. Carrying the cups over on a lacquered tray, she placed everything on the bed before climbing up to join me.
“Sometimes I think I’m all right, but then I’m not,” she sighed, leaning back against an oversized pillow with her teacup. “Even though I knew it was a stupid idea, I went looking for Harbison one night, by myself. Those bastards shot me down with a tranquilizer, and when I woke up, I was stuffed in a cage wearing one of those horrible harnesses that stopped my shift. There were so many others packed in alongside me, I couldn’t even count them. They were all solifeless.Not because they were drugged or dead, but because they’d given up.”
