Witch For Hire (Witch For Hire 1)

The power radiating off the structure nearly steals the air from my lungs. The closer we get, the more the air becomes thick like taffy. Inside, we’re greeted by a stone hearth with a cauldron over the fire. It should be sweltering, but the air remains cool and refreshing. The massive mantle above the fire place is adorned with fresh herbs are hung around the room, upside down as they dry out. Stones, trinkets, and magical tools line shelves, and the tops of tables are covered with pretty scarves.

Bangles clink together as a beautiful woman with flawless nutty brown skin and black eyes emerges from the back. A black turban hides her hair from view. Sabine is nothing like I imagined. She could be forty or four-hundred with her nearly wrinkle-free angular face. With sharp cheekbones, full lips, and a pointy jaw, she has an elegance about her.

“What have I done to gain an audience with royalty?” Sabine asks as she crosses the floor. Her floor-length brown skirt gives the appearance of floating more than walking.

“Royalty?” I repeat.

“You’re the only princess in waiting I see. Heir to more than one throne. Impressive.”

Her words startle me. How could she know?

“My spirits talk to me, girl. You have questions?”

I nod my head. “Yes.”

“I have answers, for a price.” Her lips spread to reveal straight, white teeth. Polished, savvy, and beautiful, she’s not what I expected. “Catch more flies with honey than vinegar, girl.”

“Are you reading my mind?”

She chuckles. “Don’t need to when it’s written all over your face.” It doesn’t escape my attention that she never denied having the ability.

“What kind of prices are you charging for information these days?” I ask. Sacha and Fel draw closer, but hold their tongue.

“I want a marker, like the olden days, for a favor.”

What can I possibly give her that she can’t acquire herself? “What kind?”

“Of my choosing, to be determined at a later date.”

“And give you all the leverage? I’m young, not naïve,” I counter. The air in the building turns stale as tension mounts.

Her black gaze sparkles like a star-filled night. She laughs. The husky sound is velveteen as it breaks the mood.

“Name your terms.”

“We bargain for the favor. I won’t blindly agree. I want to know what you’d give me in return to make it worth my while.”

“I’ll tell you what I can and send you off in the right direction. It’s more than you have now and a little more.”

“Done.”

I ignore the murmurs of protest from Fel and Sacha. They’ve no clue what’s at stake.

“Let us make a witch’s promise then.” She extends her hand. I do the same, feeling like I’m making a deal with the devil as our powers bind us, holding us to the promises we’ve made. We clasp each other’s wrists. Swirls of energy travel the length of our connected arms. Her magic is slimy. Oily, thick, and unnatural, it moves over me like snails leaving a trail. A glowing X appears on our wrists.

The Gebo Rune symbolizes the contract we made. The glyph would be invisible unless the contract was called into question, or one of us tried to break the terms. Then it would appear for all to see and grow larger and more painful if we tried to shirk our duties. I stumble back. Having touched her power, her disguise has melted away. There’s nothing kind of regal about her. Starved for power, she’s held together by magic and grit. The years she’s lived far surpass the amount the three of us have combined.

There’s something terrifying about that. That kind of magic requires extreme sacrifice and the darkest kind of magic. She plays at being helpful and caring, but she’d rip a heart out without batting an eyelash if it meant her own gain. She’s the most dangerous type of advers

ary.

“I gave you what you wanted. Now I need what I came here for.”

“The one you seek hides in plain sight. A wolf in sheep’s clothing if you will. I must honor the terms of the deal I made, so I must be vague. But you are a very clever girl. The weakest seek to be strong, and the righteousness is a shield they choose to hide behind. They’re good at covering their tracks, but no novice could be perfect.” She pauses and tilts her head slightly as if she hears something we don’t. “In a ring at the heart of darkness is a place where those willing to offer a boon might find power beyond their capability. That’s all I have for you.”

“Thank you, Sabine.” Giving her my back makes me nervous, but walking out backward isn’t an option. We’re silent until we’re out of her lair.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Fel bumps me with her shoulder.