Page 52 of Speak No Evil

“It’s a long story. Anyway, I left my coven about ten years ago, and now I’m back to change the barbaric practices of blood purity tests and breeding quotas. Oh, and I killed the leader of your Demonic Bloodline Coven.”

The tiny witch sighs and plops back into her chair. “Tea?” she asks, summoning a fresh pot to hover between us.

“No. I’m OK. You seem…” I don’t have the words to express how strangely unbothered the witch appeared.

“Right, well, first things first, I’m Emilia Corvus.” She holds out a delicate hand as the teapot pours her a cup of steamy brew.

My demoness hand engulfs hers entirely. “Jade. Jade Greenly.”

“Ah, yes. The witch who absconded with her sister to Blackwood because she didn’t want to make little witch babies.”

“Essentially.” I’ll give that to her. No need to explain the nuance of the situation.

“Killing a witch is a serious offense, Jade. But since you’ve come to me on your own and admitted your crime, that can only affect your sentencing positively.”

Her keen eyes dart to my teeth. “Tell me, have you had your teeth shaved by one of those barbaric human dentists? Or are the blunted edges a side effect of your…” She thinks long and hard about her phrasing. “Your new appearance.”

“Actually, Emilia, I was fully justified in taking Kayla’s life, as granted by witch law.”

Her brow furrows, and she summons a stack of loose papers to her lap. “Oh? Because according to Kayla’s coven, you snuffed out her life unprovoked.”

“Let me see that.” I reach for the papers, but Emilia snatches them away. All but one remains in her lap. Before my eyes, two large block-letter words appear on the page.

PLAY ALONG

When I blink, the writing is gone. I meet Emilia’s gaze, about to ask what the hell I’m playing along with, but she slides a finger across her lips as she brings her teacup up for a sip.

She widens her eyes the barest fraction, and I take it to mean I shouldn’t talk about what I just read.

Obviously.

But I don’t have time to play “dance around the questions”.

Is someone monitoring you? Watching the house?I whisper the question to her mind, hoping that’s just a new thing I can do to anyone, instead of the more likely option that it’s a thing I do with my mates and my best friend only when under extreme duress.

Emilia goes rigid, teacup rattling in the saucer, but she pulls herself together quickly.

“How silly of me. Let me get some cookies.” She rises, putting her cup on the table between us where it can’t rattle. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like some tea?”

I catch on to her ruse and agree. “Actually, yes. I would like some.”

She heads off to the kitchen, and I pretend to look at the things in her sitting room. Things I’ve seen countless times when I was sent here to speak with Claudia.

How are you in my mind, demon?Emilia asks from the kitchen, which, I gotta hand it to her, is pretty quick thinking. If she—er, we—are being watched, it’s easier to not let on we’re having a psychic conversation if we’re in two different rooms doing two different things.

Although the tea and cookies cover might not have been the best choice, since she’s clearly capable of summoning anything she needs.

I told you, I’m not a demon. And I don’t know how I can do this, just that I can. So I take it we are being watched?

Very closely. The walls have ears and eyes.

Who?

The branch of witches who want to keep everything as it’s always been.

Well, that doesn’t narrow it down much, Emilia.

It doesn’t matter. This isn’t your battle. I know you acted within the bounds of our law. I know Kayla trapped you in her temple and tried to steal your… seemingly quite substantial power.

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