identity. She seemed young and had chestnut-colored hair.” I shrug. “Could be anyone.”
“So.” Her face blanches, and the wheels behind her eyes are spinning. Even the small mannerism of lowering her eyes, her shoulders curving forward, shows she’s trying to convince herself it’s not real.
“So?” I ask. Her hope, even in this shitty world, floors me.
Her head lifts. “Doesn’t mean it was Kaira.”
“No, it doesn’t, but I wanted to mention it, as we couldn’t find her.”
Something flashes in her eyes as they hold onto mine, but she never says a word. Instead, she draws her bottom lip between her teeth, gnawing on the flesh gently like she’s suddenly miles away. Narah silently steps away from me and opens the door before going inside, shutting me out.
I stand there for a few moments, staring at the door, not needing to make this my problem. I’m no fool. I know she will go and search for her other sister herself, and she’s welcome to, but not before she completes my end of the bargain. I hate half completing jobs myself, but one of my men has an ability to track down people, and Kaira was non-existent in our search. Most likely she is dead, but I won’t push that point with Narah and take away what hope she has left.
The sound of whispers and muffled cries reaches me from inside the room. I’ve got enough trouble in my own life to drown the world in, yet I struggle to get her scent out of my nostrils or to step away. I’ve got to get her out of my system. Now.
I move down the stairs, needing fresh air and a big night of drinks and food to prepare for our mission. Rai is downstairs at the main entrance, keeping guard.
“Neither of them are to leave until I come to collect Narah in the morning.”
He nods.
I march across the dusty road and back into the tavern, needing to get Narah out of my fucking mind before I decide she is mine to keep, mine to hide from the world, mine to rut until I lose myself completely.
3
Stone
“Can we trust Narah?” Nikos asks, lounging in the chair in the tavern. His gaze travels around the table from me to Ragnar, finally landing on Crius. There’s a darkness behind his green eyes like there always is, and I hate how I can never tell what he’s thinking by his expression. I’ve always felt he wears a broody demeanor as a guise, appearing content, his words and smile just a mask. But who am I to question Ragnar’s second in command?
“The way I see it,” he continues, “she’s got her sister back, so what’s to stop her from leading us into a trap?”
“Are you afraid of a little girl?” Crius mutters before taking another swing of the beer from his flask. “Last time I looked, she wasn’t a full witch, she was one against us, and hmm, let me see, she’s still looking for her other sister, which we can say we’ll continue searching for after our mission.”
“Or better yet,” Ragnar adds, “if she returns to collect Jae without us during our mission, Rai will slice both their throats. She is not leaving our side until we complete our task.”
“That’s fair.” I raise my flask, because no matter how much I want to bend the Omega over and fuck her, she is a vessel for us to use for our benefit. “Skål,” I repeat three times.
They all chant with cheer and we smash our cups together, beer sloshing over the rims and running down our hands. I drink back the whole cup in a few mouthfuls, then bang it on the table. “More.”
I catch Nikos’s twisted expression like he hasn’t finished his point, and he proves me right when he says, “We’ve all heard tales of witches, of the lives they’ve stolen with their magic. All I’m saying is we must be cautious since we don’t know the full extent of her ability.”
“Good point,” Ragnar admits. “But the little fox isn’t the only one with abilities among us.” He glances my way, and I steel myself. The small power I hold is not even comparable to that of a witch, or even a Cursed. “And she will be the least of our worries once we reach the real danger in the forest. If anything, maybe she’ll make a good ally.” He smirks and finishes his beer.
Crius leans forward, pressing his stomach to the edge of the table.