Book 2: An Unlikely Alliance

Willow

“Bryony never stopped hoping you would come back. And it’s because of her, I will listen to what you have to say,” Ivy declares. “We will speak alone in my home.”

Relief washes over me. “Thank you, Ivy.”

She raises a hand to stop me. “Only you. He can’t come into the village.”

Glancing down my intertwined hand with Rainer’s, I give him an apologetic look. He whispers in my ear, “I don’t like this. If you’re in danger, yell for me, and I’ll fight off the hoard to get to you.”

“I’ll be fine,” I assure him. “Try not to piss off the witches any more than they already are.”

His blue eyes bore into me. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

I squeeze his hand reassuringly before moving away from him. I feel the weight of dozens of stares as I follow Ivy into the village. We walk past buildings until we reach the largest house. It’s a two-story limestone building covered in foliage. Vines wrap around the metal railing of the balcony