“I cannot, even if I wanted to, sweet demon. There has been an altercation and I am helping poor Indi through it, that’s all I am at liberty to say.”
Raxx cocked a brow. “Out of the goodness of your heart?”
“Goodness me, no. She’s paying me.”
Raxx shook his head. “How is she able to pay you? I didn’t see her with any money.”
“I take payment in many forms, Raxx. You should know this by now.”
Tabitha reappeared, dressed now in a floor length black silk gown. Unlike the revealing smock, this dress covered every square inch of skin, even her neck, leaving only Indi’s striking face and her hands on show. The faerie’s dark wavy hair was pinned up into an elaborate twisted bun and Tabitha’s yellow serpent eyes shone bright from behind dark, heavy eye paint.
“Going somewhere?” Raxx asked.
The witch grinned. “I need no excuse to dress up. Now tell me, how is Faye?”
“Surviving as well as anyone could be expected given her situation,” the demon replied.
Tabitha moved to stand beside the fire, staring into its flames thoughtfully.
“Have you given any more thought to your predicament?”
“No.” Raxx frowned. “Perseverance wasn’t exactly the kind of helpful insight I had hoped to get from you.”
“I take that to mean you have at leastattemptedto persevere with her?”
Raxx didn’t reply, just groaned and rolled his eyes.
“Hm, best not to run before you can walk, I suppose.” A sly smile crept onto the witch’s face. “I know this is something delicate little male egosdreadto hear, but physical penetration really isn’t the be all and end all of—”
“Yes, yes. I know.” Raxx shook his head in despair, scrubbing a hand down his face.
“Though it would be nice for her if you were able to kiss her some, I suppose.” Tabitha tapped a long, crimson fingernail against her chin thoughtfully.
Raxx pinched his nose. “Tab, I really don’t—”
A crack of sharp, powerful majick exploded in the room. Raxx startled, his heart leaping into his mouth as he jumped to his feet. The crimson flames around the room flickered, burning brighter and brighter.
Raxx stared at Tabitha. She was grasping the mantle tightly with both hands, her knuckles white and long fingernails digging into the wood.
“Tabitha?” Raxx shouted over the roar of majick. He fought against the howling winds that circled the room faster and faster, attempting to reach the witch at its epicentre.
As he grew closer, he noticed Tabitha’s yellow eyes were missing, replaced entirely by a blank, white sclera. The witch bared her teeth, hissing in pain. Indi’s hair whipped free from its binding, swirling and dancing in the air around her.
Raxx fought towards the witch. Majick sliced at him, but he pushed on, stretching out further and further until at last, his hand wrapped around Indi’s wrist.
The bedroom fell instantly dark and silent. Only Raxx and Tabitha’s harsh breaths could be heard. Raxx’s keen night sight allowed him to locate the witch as she fell to her knees and grasped her head, groaning with pain.
“Come, let me get you to the bed. What was—”
As he reached out for Tabitha, her hand flew to his forearm and squeezed him tightly.
“The king,” she panted. “He’s in trouble.”
Raxx’s blood ran cold. “What? How?”
“A vision, no time to explain,” Tabitha groaned. “You need to find Oriel,now.”
Raxx was on his feet and at the door in a split second, his hand already wrapped around the doorknob.
