Page 61 of Rogue Witch

“What kind of deal?” I say warily.

“Sit your arse down and maybe we’ll tell you,” Blade says.

I cast another glance at the door, then reluctantly sit. They fill me on the blood pact. I’m not thrilled with what appears to be trickery, but I have to admit, with Leilah sneaking out of The Academy and an attempt on her life, I might have gone along with the blood pact had I been here. The time I spent with her in the Reaping taught me that she’s a proud, headstrong woman who doesn’t always listen to sense. She’s also brave.

“I feel certain if she were in danger, we would sense it,” Blade says.

I regard him, then Raith, who has been silent through the telling of the story.

“How about you, Raith?” I ask. “Would you sense it if she were in danger?”

“I signed the blood pact,” he replies.

“Would you tell us, if you thought something was wrong?”

“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “My feelings toward Leilah won’t stop me from ensuring her safety.”

I believe him. He was kind when he spoke with her about the Reaping, as well as when he delivered the news about her friend.

“Once she learns that we found her would-be killer, she’ll want to nullify the pact,” Blade says.

“No way,” Raith says.

Ethan and Blade look at him in surprise.

“You weren’t keen on the idea to begin with,” Blade says. “I would think you’d be happy to void the contract.”

“I owe her six months of tutoring,” he replies.

Blade whoops and slaps his leg. “I should have known.”

I shoot Ethan a questioning look and he says, “Leilah was…persnickety when the time came to sign the blood pact. She goaded Raith and he demanded the lessons in magic so that she would learn some discipline.”

“I can’t blame him there,” I say.

Raith’s gaze sharpens. “She tested your patience in the Reaping.”

“There was a time or two I wanted to paddle her ass,” I say.

“The fun stuff,” Blade says with a laugh.

“She has courage,” I say. “Misplaced courage, but courage. She thought she had to save me from the Reaping wolves.”

Blade’s amusement vanishes. “That was foolish of her.”

“She put up a good fight against the Shadows that were present at the hanging,” I say.

“She didn’t mention that.” Raith scowls. “What happened?”

“She conjured these swirling black balls and—”

“Swirling black balls?” they say in unison.

I look at each of them. “Yeah, why?”

Ethan leans forward in his chair. “Matthias said she used swirling black balls to fight the Thol’guk that attacked her at the potionary.”

“Thol’guk?” I repeat.