Witch Bound

Raquel.”

She snorted. “I am sick to death of waiting.”

“He needs to make up his own mind.”

Christian drew her aside as another group arrived. He nodded at the pair of women. Raquel knew she’d met them before but wouldn’t have been able to name them if her life depended on it.

“I talked to Aiden about the possibility of changing the terms of the contract. He’s willing to release you from the marriage, if you decide that’s what you want.” He paused, blue eyes calm and clear. When she nodded, he blinked once and continued, “We’ll need to convince our parents to agree to that, but Aiden won’t release you from the terms of service.”

“You mean—”

“Either way, you’re the clan witch.”

She swallowed and stared at the closed door. “So Aiden knows.”

“Not about Fen. That part is between you and him. By the time I reached Carly’s last night, Fen was already gone.”

“He said...” She wondered if she should really be discussing this with Christian, but he didn’t seem heartbroken.

“That he’s not bound? That’s what Carly said too, but I don’t know that it changes anything for you. I want to...I’ll talk to him and tell him how I feel about it.”

“How do you feel about it?”

Christian’s eyes went a little unfocused as he considered his answer. One corner of his mouth turned up and he shook his head. “Like the wall I’ve been leaning against my entire life is gone. I don’t know how to feel about it.”

She touched his chest. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s past time I learned how to stand on my own feet.” His smile widened and he nudged her toward the door. “You figured it out. How hard can it be?”

“You’re really okay with this?”

“I have to be, don’t I?” He held open the door for her. “I wouldn’t gain anything by forcing you to marry me. But if there’s a chance this is just cold feet...”

“It’s not.”

He nodded and they went inside. She grabbed a folding chair from the stack against the wall and found an empty spot in the living room. Christian set up beside her and asked if she wanted anything to drink. She said no, but he still walked purposefully toward the kitchen. Even from out here, she could hear Fen’s angry voice and Aiden’s deeper one.

Really, with all the trouble she caused, she was surprised Aiden wanted to keep her.

Grace sat next to her and winced when a particularly inventive turn of phrase drifted down the hall. Conversation in the room paused briefly and resumed as if no one had heard a thing.

“I’m so very sorry,” Raquel said to Grace. “Fen’s angry with me and taking it out your husband.”

“They’ll figure it out.” Grace pushed a mug into her hands. “Here, take this. Aiden bought me an espresso machine for Christmas. It’s a latte, but it’s a double. You look like you need it more than I do.”

“That bad?”

“Just worn thin.” Grace turned her chair ever so slightly, placing her back to the huntswoman on her other side who’d seemed on the verge of asking questions. Grace, Raquel had noticed, was as subtle as Aiden was direct. Right now, she cast a warm and completely guileless smile in Raquel’s direction. “I imagine you didn’t get much sleep last night. Are you having second thoughts about the crossing? Aiden was surprised you offered.”

She regretted shaking her head in denial when Grace’s warm eyes narrowed. “Did Christian do something?”

“No,” Raquel rushed to reassure her, struck by a sudden certainty that if she didn’t convince her of that truth Grace would beat him into a whimpering puddle of apology. “Christian has been great. It’s not that.”

Grace opened her mouth, closed it and then tried again. “I won’t break a confidence, you know.”

“Not even to Aiden?”

“Not if it doesn’t concern him,” she said. “Though I trust Aiden completely. And he is the clan Odin. This...all of this weighs heavily on him, but he would move worlds to help any one of his people.”

Like Fen and Christian. Despite all the promises and contracts, Raquel wasn’t really a member of this clan yet. And she wouldn’t put Aiden in the position of having to choose between two of his men. “I know that.”

“It’s a shame that this is interfering with your plans for the wedding,” Grace said carefully, holding her gaze. Gently probing. Raquel knew that Grace was still a licensed private investigator. She imagined she was very good at her job and not just because she was Verthandi. “If there’s anything at all that I can do to help, just let me know.”

Raquel stared. Crap. “He told you.”

“Then Christian did speak to you first?”

“Of course he did. I’m the one who—”

“If you think...”

But Raquel missed the rest of whatever Grace said because Fen stormed in, expression thunderous. Without looking at her, he crossed to the far side of the room. He turned his hips and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. It hadn’t gone well then. Good. Someone touched her elbow to draw her attention, but she waited for Fen to look up. He scowled at the fireplace and, very pointedly, did not look at her.

Beside her, Grace made a choking noise.

“Are you okay?” Raquel asked absently, forcing herself to turn her head.

“No,” Grace said in strained voice. “I really don’t think that I am.”

But she looked fine, a little flushed and bright-eyed but not in need of a Heimlich maneuver or anything. Frowning, Grace glanced at Fen and back at Raquel.

Before Raquel could ask her what was wrong, Aiden entered the room. Christian took the seat beside her and the hunt quieted. Everyone turned their attention to focus on the Odin.

“First, for any of you who haven’t met her, this is Raquel.” Aiden pointed in her direction and Raquel straightened in her chair. “She’ll be our clan witch when Lois retires. And she’ll be riding with us.”

“She’s crossing?” Rane glanced her way and, when Aiden nodded, said, “Good. We’ll need a witch to get him out. He did have a message for you though.”

The wry smile on Rane’s face told her it wasn’t a good one. “How does he even know who I am?”

“He felt you blow through the wards and said to...be careful with the portal magic. He seems to think the bridge is more fragile than we suspect.”

Raquel turned cold. She hadn’t done anything to hurt Asbru, had she?

Rane read her expression and shrugged. “Not because of our wards failing. I told him we meant to get him out and he didn’t think that was a good idea.” Hands clasped in front of her as she leaned forward, she returned her gaze to Aiden. “He asked me to kill him again.”

“Again?” Aiden’s voice was lethal as Skimstrok.

“I didn’t—”

“You were warned.” Rane opened her mouth again, and he waved his hand in a cutting motion. “We’ll discuss that later. Raquel is coming to see if we can get him out. Grace was able to contact him without placing herself in danger and from what she learned, he knows more about the bridges than we do.”

“He’s not the most reliable source,” Christian pointed out.

“In this, we listen to him, especially when he advises caution. Especially after Julian’s vision.”

Someone muttered something about Norns, but Aiden continued as if he hadn’t heard. “Julian saw the bridge fall and in the vision, the Vanir witch was dead. Until we understand exactly how those two things are connected, we do our best to keep the Vanir alive. If he’s well enough to avoid Surtr on his own, we simply set him free. If we can get him across, then we do that. We have to act as if it’s a true vision and preserve the witch’s life until we’ve no other choice.”

There was some grumbling but most accepted the unwelcome news in silence. Raquel turned her head to