Inquisitor Callum arched an eyebrow. “I can attest to his guilt myself. I witnessed Tribunal Torqedan’s last moments; I heardhis last words. At the time of his death, he was erratic, confused even, but I clearly heard him ramble on about icy blue eyes. About how he knew he would die one day because of them.” The recollection of his master’s last words didn’t seem to faze the half-fey. His stare remained blank and impenetrable. “He repeatedly complained of stomach pain too, saying that this was not what he wanted and not what he had been told. I understood quickly he was referring to his medical prescription. And, of course, to Estevan.”
The witch chewed on her lip. Inquisitor Callum had been wrong about which pair of eyes the tribunal had referred to. At least, it seemed like Leyevna was safe from his scheming. Perhaps he didn’t even know about her?
Or if he did, then maybe the Seelie hadn’t found the warwitch’s letter either, and now had nothing to accuse her with—that might explain why he had changed his plans.
“I followed that lead,” the inquisitor continued, “and discovered Estevan had dropped a package of medicine shortly before my visit. My leading theory is that he intercepted it, then tampered with its content before delivering it himself.”
Semras bit her lip until her teeth broke skin. “This alone is no proof.”
Blood pearled out of her wound. Hungry, dark green eyes flitted to it, and she recoiled, heart jumping to her throat.
The half-fey ripped his gaze away. “It is not indeed, but his following actions were suspicious, so I sent Callhijo to infiltrate his inner circle.” Callum resumed circling around her, giving her a wider berth this time. “He reported that my brother had requisitioned your services as an herbalist. It made me curious, and I used his official summons to meet with you.” His eyes stuck once more to her bloody lips.
Unnerved, Semras wiped her mouth on her shoulder. The Seelie craved her blood; she could tell.
Behind her, Alaran shifted on his feet. “We found out too late what he wanted out of you, Semras. I understood his motive only when you gave us your message.” He exhaled deeply. “I turned Velten’s home upside down for almost a week trying to find out about his plan, and you knew it all along. You know, I could have protected you if you had trusted me with—”
Jaw clenched, Semras spun to face the spy. “Trustedyou?” she said, fighting the binds holding her arms behind her back. “You shackled me the second you had the chance, and you speak of protection? You hypocrite!”
“I didn’t look forward to it, trust me. I knew what these did to you the first time you had them on, but you forced my hand when you made a deal with Velten.” Alaran creased his brow, displeasure painted all over his face. “Even if you were desperate, that’s bloody low of you to sacrifice another witch to get your hands and freedom back.”
Semras paled.
That was what they thought she did? It explained the quiet distaste of Inquisitor Callum and what he meant by her ‘choosing his brother.’ He thought she had betrayed her Coven for Estevan.
But it still made no sense why Callum would try so hard to convince her of her Wyrdtwined’s guilt. Either his Seelie obsession with a perfectly organized world couldn’t stand Estevan’s presence marring it any longer … or he knew he was a witch too and meant to fix both flaws at once.
That made her blanch even further.
Inquisitor Callum tutted at his agent. “Callhijo, be kinder. It is a shame she did not wait for the freedom I owed her, but it is understandable.” His gaze slid to the shackles behind her back. “She did everything she could to escape; such is the nature of wild things caught in cages. We must not blame her for securingher return to where she rightfully belongs. Only the instinct of survival made her betray her people.”
Semras lifted her chin. “I betrayed no one. You won’t be able to manipulate me. I know the truth, and Estevan—”
“Miss Witch,” Callum said. His bland voice sent shivers of dread down her spine. “You have known my brother for two weeks. Do you know what he did right before you met him?”
She shrank under his gaze. “He … he was in the Anderas … hunting a bleakwitch.”
“So you are aware. Did you also know he burned her at the stake in a brutal, barbaric display of bloodlust? Master Torqedan used to lecture him about his hot temper in our younger days, and I went that fateful night to talk with him about doing it once more.” Crossing his arms, the inquisitor leaned against his desk. “Instead, I discovered Estevan had killed the last thing restraining his conscience. I fear he will turn the crime into a catalyst for a new witch purge, one in which he may further indulge his madness. Do you understand what kind of man my brother is now, Miss Witch? He used you.”
So Callum was trying to shed the blame onto Estevan. Somethingmusthave gone wrong with his initial plans—but what?
“You’ve turned your lies into a convincing tale,” Semras said. “I commend you for the effort. Anyone else would have believed it.”
“I have been nothing but truthful. It is he who deceived you, not me. But I do not blame your ire; I have seen it before in other victims of what you endured. Some developed a curious attachment to their captors as a coping mechanism,” Inquisitor Callum said. “When I learned of your captivity, I feared my brother would warp your perception of reality in order to use you. That is why I told Callhijo to keep you safe from Estevan’s guile while he spied on him. I regret to see that he has failed.”
Semras glared at the spy. “So that’s why you tried to seduce me? To keep me away from Estevan?”
The inquisitor furrowed his brow at his agent. “You tried to seduce her?”
“Hey, let’s keep that out of the investigation,” Alaran said, raising his hands in surrender. “That was not about work. I lied about who I was, Semras, but that’s it. Besides, I knew I didn’t have a chance next to Velten anyway. I get it too, you know.”
“Get what?”
“Velten’s appeal. He’s an asshole, but he’s bloody hot.” Alaran grinned at her. “And he’s a biter, isn’t he?”
“This,” Semras replied, blood seething, “is none of your affair.”
“Dear, when you display your love bites to the world, it becomes everyone’s affair.” Glancing at Inquisitor Callum, he sighed. “Don’t look at me like that. I know he’s off limits, being your brother and all.”
