Page 121 of The Witch's Pet


Font Size:

“Yes…” He sends me a sideways glance. “If she will allow me, that is.”

I turn questioning eyes on Vera.

“She’s surprised because the triskelion is usually placed by parents to a child,” Sitri interjects.

“It’s not just that, Sitri,” Vera chimes.

He directs an annoyed look her way that seems to sayshut up, you’re not helping my case.His expression clears before he turns back to me. “It’s just a protection charm. It gives good luck.”

My eyes narrow. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He sighs, tossing Vera another brisk look. She lifts her chin in challenge. “All magic comes at a cost. This would take some of my luck and gift it to you.”

Surprise ripples through me. “You want to give me…your luck? How can you tell something like that even works? Sounds like bullshit.”

“It works. It’s almost uncanny how well it can work,” he says, his voice low, as he and Vera share another grave moment.

When Vera regards me again,she appears almost smug, and I interpret that into asee what he’s willing to do for you?

I scrub at my face with a groan, feeling slightly outnumbered. “The triquetra will signal to me when you are in danger, the triskelion for luck, and…I’ll invoke the protection of the triple goddess. That’s it,” he says, slapping his hands against his thighs.

Vera’s eyes grow round and wide, jaw hanging slack for the second time.

“Vera,” Sitri hisses, no longer trying to hide his irritation. “You are not helping.”

“Sorry, I…I’m surprised, is all.”

“You’re making it seem like a much bigger deal than it is,” he hisses.

“Well, of course, it’s a big deal! You’re minimizing it.”

“I’m not. But I know she’s never going to agree if you keep acting like I’m giving her my left fucking nut.” Vera muffles a laugh under her hand. “I thought you would help me convince her—that’s why I put up the sound ward so I could have this conversation here.”

“She should know the weight of what you’re giving her, Sitri.”

He sends her a long, hard stare before he finally turns back to me. “Invoking the protection of the triple goddess is something I, or other descendants of the Horned God, can gift only once.” I raise my brows.

“And it’s usually reserved for Queens,” Vera blurts out. “There’s a ceremony for it and everything.”

Sitri purses his lips. “It’s not like I’ll ever be King anyway. And no one will ever need it more than you.”

I shift uncomfortably in my stool, annoyed by the blood that’s shifting up to my cheeks. “Maybe you should think about it for a while…”

“I wouldn’t have brought it up if I hadn’t thought about it,” he retorts. “I’ve been thinking about it since the Ettin Woods.”

“But what if you change your mind?”

“I’m not going to change my mind. No one will ever need it more than you do.”

“But what if you take a second wife someday and decide you’d rather give it to her?”

“I’m not taking a second wife,” he snaps.

“You can’t really know that though…” I say quietly.

“I’m not taking a fucking second wife,” he reiterates, irritation giving rise to full-bred anger. “I can and do know that.”

I suck in a sharp breath, shifting my attention down to the table, unable to find any more angles to argue with. The last time someone discovered the daemon, it cost me years of torture, nearly my life. Maybe if I drown it in alcohol, I can dull it…decrease my chances. “Pandora.”