Page 56 of A Fate of Wings

Cryptic as always, she didn’t offer me more of an explanation. Instead, she slid her hand under her black robe, withdrew a round pouch of burlap tied with an ochre string, and nodded at the two guards. The guards stepped closer with small steps as though they, too, were frightened. Shadows and light flickered over their stern faces, familiar faces that scratched at the back of my consciousness.

I turned my attention back to Saltine. She was the biggest threat. Sirens I could kill with ease. This seer witch had proven she could incapacitate me. I wouldn’t fall for her spells a second time. “What have you got there? Another potion to knock me out?”

She threw her head back and cackled. The sound echoed through the cells and down the corridor.

Damn witches and their cackling set my senses tingling and my ears ringing.

“A potion to break you out of here more like it.”

“What trick are you playing now?”

“No trick.”

I dropped my arms and stepped up to the side of the cage. “And what, you two are going to let her?”

The guard stepped forward until her face was lit by the torches instead of being in the shadows. Now I remembered her. Arine, Thea’s personal guard, said, “We’re Thea’s personal guards, except…”

“What she’s trying to say,” Raefa said, stepping forward. “We believe you now.”

“Oh, how kind of you both. You believe me. Thea’s mate.” I thumped my chest. “I should rip out both of your hearts.”

Saltine cackled again.

I narrowed my eyes at the witch. Maybe I’d rip her heart out, too. She stepped forward as though she didn’t fear me. Her black boots hit mine. She stood toe to toe with me through the bars. Not one ounce of fear emanated from the witch. Damn, she boasted balls bigger than some demons I knew.

“Now, Beast, you need to promise not to kill us when we let you out or I won’t let you out.”

“Damn you.” I bared my teeth.

Her grin widened. She knew I had no other choice.

I nodded. “Let me out. I promise not to kill you.”

She lifted the small burlap pouch. The fabric swung between her fingers like a hypnotizing pendulum in the torchlight. “Step back. This packs a punch.”

I took one step back and raised my brow.

She gathered the material in her palm, blew on the burlap, then threw the pouch at the bars. The fabric burst, sending a blinding white light flash throughout the dungeon. I shielded my eyes from the sudden brightness after being in the gloom for so long. My head ached. An invisible force thrust the bars, groaning inward from the explosion, and created a hole large enough forme to squeeze through. I dove through and grabbed Saltine by her hair.

She smiled in her creepy way, which sent a chill down my spine.

“Let her out too.” I nodded at Thea’s handmaiden. “You two, protect her until I get back with Thea.”

Saltine rustled under her robes, extracted another pouch as though she’d been planning to the entire time, and tossed the pouch at the bars on the cell beside mine. A flash of bright white light burst before my eyes, blinding me for another minute. Somehow, Saltine slipped out of my grip during the explosion.

Saltine stepped backward, still smiling.

I advanced on her. My strides were longer than hers.

She held up a halting hand. “Wait. I did what was necessary. You’ll thank me one day.”

I cocked an eyebrow.

“Your mate is on Earth.”

My footsteps faltered to a stop. “Earth? Where?”

She shrugged. “A little seaside village is all I saw in my vision.”