With a smirk, she says, “Correct—to somewhere.”
The entire coven bound their soul to the Dreaming Willow Inn. Neither Petra nor Barrett specified when in Renata’s hallucination, but if it was before Nestor left, does that include Cassia Foxglove? The biggest question remains:why?
I open my mouth again and she holds her hand up, stopping me. “That is a confirmation, not an answer. Consider what you are about to say next.”
Closing my mouth, I tilt my head and say, “I have three more questions. What would the cost of that be?”
“Ask, and I’ll weigh the price.”
With little hesitation, I decide to ask. One is important, the other is curiosity, and the last one is a necessity.
“Why does everoot only grow on your island?”
She lets out a sigh, thinking it over. “I honestly do not know. I never intended to create the herb, and gardening does not come naturally. It’s taken centuries of practice to hone the skills I have now. Many years ago, I killed a group of men who had come to look for me. At that time, I had nothing to offer, so I am sure you can guess what their goal was.”
She gives me a meaningful look, and my stomach sours at the implication. With a history as notorious as hers, I can imagine many reasons why they would hunt her down, and none of them are good.
“I killed them,” she says dryly, an absolute lack of emotions. “All ten of them. In seconds. It was the first time I had ever done so on this planet. I can make a clean kill when I want to.” She lets out that predatory grin again. “The herb sprouted where my dark power and their magical blood touched the ground.”
“That… That’s impossible,” I mutter.
“I thought so at first too,” she shrugs. “So I tried it again. And again.And again.”
Her look is intentional, like she’s trying to convey something very important to me. When I don’t understand soon enough, she lets out a sigh and waves her hand in the air. “Next question. I’m growing rather bored of you.”
Without hesitating, I ask, “Why were you exiled?”
She flinches back, surprised by my curiosity. Her features even soften the slightest bit at my interest. That softness fades into guarded sadness.
“Because I dared to love a male I shouldn’t have. A very high ranking one back in my world. Who was already promised to a princess—at least that is the closest equivalent your world has.” She shrugs as if it doesn’t hurt, but there’s newfound loneliness swimming in her eyes. “He said he wanted me. Males are all the same,” she says again.
“I’m sorry, Calista,” I say earnestly. “To be exiled for falling in love… That shouldn’t be a crime on any planet.”
“Mortals and your knack of staying so hopeful,” she scoffs and shakes her head. “Love does not exist in any universe—obsession does.”
Biting back my words, I don’t push, aware of my lack of understanding of her world.
“My final question…” I start slowly. When she nods once, I ask, “Are you going to let me leave your island today?”
“Yes, Archer Vexley,” she says, amused. “You are allowed to leave my island. I’ll even take you right back to the Dreaming Willow Inn if you so desire.”
“You will? How?” I ask desperately. According to the captain, there’s only one shore that can be reached. “I didn’t see any boats.”
Her head falls back, laughing. “No, nothing sohuman.”
Standing, she gives me a long look before waving her hand in the direction of the fireplace. “Let’s go.”
I get to my feet but hesitate. “What do I owe you? For the answers?”
“You’ll be back, Archer Vexley,” she states. “You owe me a favor.”
“What?” I ask, startled at her demand.
“I provided you with a lot of information—all that you need. Now you owe me.”
Gaping at her, I shake my head. “What could you possibly want that I can’t provide now?”
“Even my powers come with limitations,” she admits. “But there is one thing your coven can provide me with.”
