Page 80 of Discovered Magic
“I can walk.”
“You can limp,” he retorted with a smirk.
“Just show me where it is from here,” she ordered, dropping her arms to her sides. “I’ll manage.”
“Sorry, but Silas doesn’t trust you not to run.”
“For real?” she scoffed. “He believes I’m able to walk the distance from here to Perdition? I don’t even know where the fuck we are.”
And it was the god’s honest truth, too. Sometime in the wee hours before dawn, they’d blindfolded her and set out for this cabin. They’d only just arrived, but she was hot and sweaty, with her bladder twenty seconds from bursting.
Compassion flashed in Royal’s mossy eyes. “He remembered you from the mountain run. Your skills were legendary, Abbie Monroe.”
“So you know who I am?”
“It took us a minute, but yeah, we do.”
“I’m not so legendary anymore.” She hated the mournful note in her voice, but the truth was, the Hastings brothers were out of their minds if they believed she had the strength or stamina to escape with her old skill set.
He tilted up her chin and met her gaze. “If we ever get back to our time, you will be again. I have faith in you. Come on. Let me show you what serves as a bathroom in these parts.”
“I suspect I already know,” she replied dryly.
“Yeah, I sure do miss the comforts of a hot shower and a quality mattress.”
“And cookies from a package.”
He chuckled. “Moose Tracks ice cream.”
“God, yes! If I were any kind of witch worth her salt, I’d conjure?—”
“Witch!”
Neither of them had heard Silas approach.
His visage was downright frightening. “You’re a witch?”
“N-n-no!” she stammered, seeking Royal’s support and not getting it. “I just meant if I were one, I’d?—”
“Don’t you fucking lie to me, lady,” Silas growled, reaching for her.
Royal stepped between them. Lowering his voice, he said, “Si, calm down, bro. She’s not what you think. If she were, do you really believe she’d have allowed herself to be captured by this crew?” He glanced back toward the yard where the others were working on tack and grooming the horses. “That she wouldn’t have already healed herself?”
Though his anger didn’t dissipate, Silas eyed her with less suspicion. “Being a witch didn’t help Julia. She’s still dead.”
“I know. But we were talking about the conveniences we miss from our timeline. That’s all,” Royal said.
“Morcant thinks she’s something more. What do you have to say to that?”
“That creepy dickhead can go fuck himself,” he growled. “Why are you letting him stick around, Si?”
“He keeps the others on their toes.”
“So do you. You don’t need him.”
Silas ignored him, keeping his narrow-eyed gaze on Abbie. “You’d better be telling the truth, Abbie Monroe, or I swear you’ll wish you had.” After another long stare, he strode into the nearby brush.
“I know he’s your brother and all, but he’s?—”
