I hesitated, but followed, peeking around the shelter to watch him push one of the boats into the water and jump in expertly. He swept through the water with the aid of an oar, using long, confident strokes. Maybe he wasn’tcompletelyuseless.
I returned to the fire and Freya.
“He seems nice,” Therese said.
“No one asked you,” I said, frowning down my shirt at her frog face. “And there’s something off about him.”
“He’s lying,” Freya agreed.
“Oh, yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s making a run for it in that boat.” I lay down, shutting my eyes. “But if he comes back with the Ice Queen, you have to be the one to teleport him into the middle of the ocean, pretty blue eyes and all.”
Freya didn’t hesitate. “It would be an absolute pleasure.”
“I mean, what an act. Do you even think he’s a witch? Or is he just bluffing because he’s scared of us?”
“The idea hadn’t crossed my mind,” Freya said, shrugging.
“Why do you think it’s an act?” Therese interjected. “Maybe he’s nice but scared. Some people are actually just genuine. Like Auggie.”
“And you’re too gullible,” I told her, lifting an eyelid. “Plus, Auggie has demonstrated his character through his actions. He’s earned my esteem.”
“You?” Freya said, putting a hand to her heart in mock surprise. “Admire a human? I’m sorry, am I speaking with Callum right now?”
I rolled my eyes. “You haven’t been entirely truthful either.”
Freya sat back, watching me. “What does that mean?”
I smiled knowingly. “You really expect me to believe you’re here, helping to keep Auggie safe, out of the kindness of your heart?”
She sputtered. “I owe you. You freed me from over a decade of—”
“Yes, yes,” I waved her words away. “But anyone else working for the Council of Witches would have immediately returned to them, to report back in.” I locked eyes with her. “So, why?”
A muscle in Freya’s jaw twitched. “Very well. Something about Auggie’s situation is … intriguing.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Auggie’s situation?”
“He’s allied with alchemists, clearly. And he has an impressive knowledge of herbalism himself. But the fact that Lucifer wants to ensure his safety … and that witches would defy the Devil to snatch him for another individual waiting in the wings …” She shook her head. “He’s significant somehow. And I want to know why.”
“Ah.” I nodded as it clicked for me. “If you can bring important information back to the Council, you might prove yourself. You wouldn’t have to be a glorified coach any longer.”
Freya cast her eyes downward.
“Is that true, Miss Witch?” Therese asked softly.
Freya grimaced. “Yes.” She lifted her eyes to mine again. “But I would make sure the boy isn’t hurt, whatever truths I uncover.”
“Yeah? Tell me, how would you stop the Council?”
“Easy. They have no jurisdiction in the Americas. Once you deliver him, he’s out of their grasp.”
Oh. That was actually brilliant. “That was your intention all along?”
Freya smiled back. “Nearlyall along.”
Forty minutes later, Erik returned with fish in hand, and Freya began to clean them. I studied Erik, who seemed to glow from his time outdoors, his cheeks flushed, his eyes bright, as if reinvigorated. I wished I could feel rejuvenated just now. Instead, I was without my cloak of ingredients, with less than a third of energy remaining in my pod. Even if I wanted to refill it just now, I wouldn’t be able to do anything with this icy, hard-packed earth. I needed somewhere green, somewherealive, to refill my stores.
I sighed. Maybe I was being biased against Erik because my first impression hadn’t been great, but I still suspected that he would sell us out to the Ice Queen in an instant if it meant saving his own hide. My eyes shifted to Freya then, and I realized that perhaps I wasn’t the best judge of character. I would need to be more watchful in the future.
