Kai lifted a single brow at my comment. “It isn’t Tomin that I’m worried about. It is his son, Arwyn.”
A growl built in my throat at the mention of his name upon someone’s tongue. Not only that, but my chest also hurt. No, not my chest but the beating organ within—my traitorous heart. “Arwyn Hopkin is mine too. The Hopkin line will end and my name will be thanked for it. Got it?”
“Oh, I’m sure.” The bite in Kai’s comment burned through me. “Which leads me to my biggest issue. I don’t think you can be trusted to do what is necessary when it comes to Arwyn Hopkin. We have already learned that it was your… connection to the Witch Hunter that led to your failure.”
“It will not happen again,” I sneered.
“That isn’t a risk we can take, Hector.” Kai’s expression softened, and I almost believed his sincerity.
Having my weakness exposed in front of such a crowd of people didn’t piss me off as I expected. What angered me was the suggestion that I wasn’t strong enough to go against Arwyn. And I didn’t mean physical or magical strength.
Kai’s gaze traced my face, then looked to Romy. “I think we all deserve a moment to see a healer, shower and rest after today’s attack. Perhaps we can reconvene at a later time and discuss our next steps. For now, my priority is finding out if we have a means to contact our fellow witches and make sure they are safe—not to mention those who couldn’t escape from the White Tower. I’m under the impression that many have been taken into custody, and I must make sure they are freed and returned to us safely.”
“But we still must?—”
Kai silenced me with a look. “We? Hector, I appreciate your insight into old magic, and I can assure you we will look into it. But you are not a member of the Coven. What we do has little effect by you.”
“What about me then, Kai?” Romy asked, tongue lashing silver. “Am I still a respected member, or will you strip me of my authority because of my involvement with Hector? Because, as I see it, you need the numbers, now more than ever.”
I couldn’t explain it, but whatever lingered between Romy and Kai was painfully clear to me. It was even more obvious in the silence between them. The looks they shared.
“Romy, can we discuss this later? In private.” Kai’s voice softened whenever he spoke with her. “You of all people will understand what I must ensure in the hours to come. Time is precious and if I do not act now, more witches may be rounded up. I will not,cannot, allow that to happen. Not on my watch.”
Romy conceded, backing away and taking my hand. “I will see to Hector’s injuries first. Whilst my Gift persists I can also heal anyone else that requires it. When I’m done, I will speak with you, Kai. And please, before the authority expands your ego anymore than it already has, remember who put you in this position of control. Also remember who has the authority to claim it back.”
Kai paled, then bowed his head. “I remember very well, Romy.”
When he lifted his gaze again, it was to rest on me. “Hector, I understand you have a way of working to your own wants, but please. Regardless of your history with the Coven, you are still a witch and that means you are our responsibility. Do not do anything in the hours to follow that will jeopardise yourself, or those around you.” He looked to Romy again, then turned his back. “Oh, one more thing. Any unauthorised use of the demonyou’ve claimed for yourself, we will see that as a threat and act as necessary.”
“I hope that’s a promise,”Emon sang, delight drawing out his words.“I do enjoy a good time.”
“And just when I thought we were over the threats,” I added. “Believe me, I have no desire to do anything but send the demon back to the pits of hell where he slithered out from.”
“This is how you treat the prince who saved your life, twice may I remind you?”Emon’s voice grated on my soul whenever he spoke into my mind.“And you forget that it was not me who came out of the void willingly, but you dragged me and commanded me. This is your fault, Hector, not mine. Perhaps you tell these witches what darkness awaits within you, or would you like me to tell them?”
“Enough,” I snapped aloud, to the confusion of the watching crowd.
Romy sprang into action, wrapping a hand around my waist and guiding me towards the low-arched stone doorway. “You really must’ve hit your head hard, Hector. I think it’s best I see to it before my Gift buggers off.”
I didn’t refuse her, because Romy was right. My entire body ached; every muscle sang with pain. As if that helicopter had actually crushed me—at least if it had I would’ve not had to deal with this shit storm.
“I trust you remember where the infirmary is, Romy?” Kai called after us.
Her response was blatant silence, as if she didn’t hear him, even though we both knew she did. Once we were out in the dark, damp-smelling tunnels, walking around ruined old tracks away from the room full of witches, I finally was brave enough to ask Romy a question she was likely expecting.
“So, are you going to tell me the history between you and Kai?”
Romy bristled, keeping her focus on the yawning dark mouth of the tunnels before us. “Shut up, Hector.”
“That bad?” I asked.
I could practically hear the roll of her eyes. “You havenoidea.”
10
HECTOR
It turned out the Coven had been preparing the ‘doomsday’ honeycomb of tunnels beneath London foryears. Every Grand High since London was claimed as the hot spot for witches had worked on making a safe place for if the world ever failed them and pyres were built again. Which, as it so happened, was exactly what the news reporter was relaying on the single television in the large mess-hall type room.
