“Well, if you ever find someone, you’ll have my support as High Queen.”
He blinks. “Now, that might help.”
“Just let me know. I’m happy to help.” I motion for the basket, and he hands it to me.
“Do you already have a partner?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, but what about you? How are you feeling about everyone? August and Koa said their dates with you were great.”
“Oh yeah? What else did they say?” I ask, unable to stop the smile that spreads across my face.
“They would never kiss and tell. They’re gentlemen.”
“But they told you we kissed?” I ask, arching one eyebrow.
“No, I was just fishing. That was too easy.”
I laugh and give him a playful shove. “Well, I’m glad they said they had a good time. I did, too.” I smile, but then my face falls and I groan. “Someone’s bound to get hurt, Barrett. I hate this.”
“We knew what we were signing up for. Everyone knew the risk.”
They might have signed up for this, but I didn’t. I can’t help but worry how badly my own heart will break at the end of this.
“I think it’s certainly possible, but I just don’t know what information that gives us,” Luca says, rubbing his face with his hands. He looks exhausted. Rare stubble lines his jaw, and puffy bags sit beneath his eyes. Ivan doesn’t look much better.
Ironically, last night was the best I’ve slept since I’ve gotten here. My date with Barrett left me feeling lighter at the relief of not having to add yet another relationship to my already complicated mess of relationships.
I popped out of bed this morning, dashed outside for a run, and was bright-eyed and ready for my morning meeting with the Herd. In fact, I was the first one inside the meeting room this morning, shocking a sleepy Ivan.
We’ve been discussing the potential connection of the witches, cambions, and the royal family all morning. Luca has been grilling me all morning, pressing me for details of the potential witch and the attack on Marik. I don’t mention what he told me about Asmo’s history of practicing dark magic.
“We’re missing something,” Luca mutters.
“Have there been any other updates on the investigation?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. The witch is the only lead we have right now, and it’s a terrible one.
Nobody’s been able to find the female I spoke to in the greenhouse. Ivan and Luca think it’s almost guaranteed that she is a witch. Even though they’ve increased the number of guards present and patrolling the grounds, they’ve also been patrolling the grounds constantly, looking for anything that they may have missed.
If there was a witch here, she’s long gone.
“Why would a witch want the royal family dead?” I ask.
Ivan rubs his jaw and says, “I don’t know. My obvious hypothesis is that they’re no longer satisfied just ruling Adenahall, and they wanted the family out of the way so they could take over our kingdom next. They probably had no idea that Silas had another daughter and that the kingdom would be left without a High King or Queen for some time, leaving us vulnerable.”
Luca says, “Something isn’t sitting right with me regarding the attack on you and Marik the other night, Mae.” I tilt my head, and he continues, “Why only three? Whoever invited the witch here, whomever the witch is working with—”
Elle holds a hand up, cutting him off. “Hang on. We have no idea if someone invited the witch onto the grounds. That’s how we’re assuming the witch was able to get in, but we have no idea.”
“I just can’t figure it out,” Luca groans. He stands and begins pacing the length of the room.
“We should also consider that it could have been just really great luck that the witch decided to be there when she was,” Elle says, watching Luca.
“It can’t be that easy,” he says, not glancing up from the floor.
I speak up. “What’s in the greenhouse? Is there something in there that maybe she was looking for? It’s possible she was there for a reason, and I came along at the right time. Maybe I caught her off guard, so that’s why she didn’t attack.”
“Good question…” Holly says, trailing off in thought. “I think it’s just herbs and vegetables, though. I can’t possibly think of what she could be looking for in there. Unless she’s working on a spell that requires something that can only be found in our garden?”
