High Witch (High Witch Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

It’s what binds her to him. It’s part of the dark magic.”
    Ariel sighed loudly. “So I have a deranged devil coming after me, and his High Witch! I have to battle her, and him?”
    Brayden held her face in his hands. “You won’t battle anyone. We’ll run. We’ll run, and I’ll teach you to hide us. He’ll never find you.”
    Ariel gazed at him. “Nothing can stop a High Witch.”
    He rested his forehead against hers. “Ariel, I care about you so much. I don’t want him to hurt you.”
    He shut his eyes, feeling tears welling up behind his lids. She moved his hands and kissed him, hard, wrapping her arms around his neck. He kissed her back deeply, holding her tightly. His pain and anguish mixed with his passion for her. He felt sorrow and joy. Sadness and ecstasy. He became lost in the feeling. Brayden felt it was the last moment of joy he’d ever have.

    ***
    “Bring as little as possible. Only what you really need.”
    Brayden helped Ariel pack some of her things into one of her satchels. They had to leave most of her belongings behind. He couldn’t bring his things either — he would just pack some clothes, some food, and what little money he had. He was filled with anxiety as they finished. He took some deep breaths, trying to calm down. He turned to Ariel.
    “I’ll just go to my room. I’ll be back soon.”
    “Wait!” she called, clutching his arm. “There’s so much I don’t understand. What did you mean when you said ‘he’s doing it all on purpose’? What did you mean?”
    Brayden kissed her roughly. “I can’t explain it now. I’ll tell you everything, but we have to get out of here. Fast.”
    He left the room, running up two flights of stairs to the attic. He hurriedly packed what he could, then took a last look at his room. It had been his home for three years. His life had been there, at the inn, for so long. Now he had to go and never come back. But it wasn’t the inn he’d really miss — if he left with Ariel, he could never go home to see his family. They could never go anywhere they could be found. They’d have to run. Forever.
    A new wave of anxiety ran through him, as he realized how serious this was. He and Ariel would be locked together for the rest of their lives. He definitely had feelings for her, but everything was so sudden. It was no way to get to know someone. He didn’t even know how Ariel felt about him, really. Did she care about him? Did she want to be with him? He didn’t want her to grow to resent him. He took deep breaths. They didn’t have time to waste with his worries. They just had to get moving.
    He went back to Ariel’s room, then they ran downstairs to the front area. Brayden couldn’t face Alistair — he quickly wrote a note for him, leaving it on the front counter. He only said he had to leave — nothing more. Ariel left some money for the few days she’d stayed there. Brayden was owed two weeks wages — he hoped that would cover him leaving with no warning. He couldn’t really cover the cost of the horses they were going to take. He squeezed Ariel’s hand, looking at her.
    “Are you ready?” he asked. Her blue eyes were filled with worry and concern, but she nodded. He felt the anxiety again, but tried to ignore it. They picked up their satchels and walked out the door.
    “Transport us to the stables,” he said. “It’s faster, and you need to practice using your magic as much as possible.”
    Ariel held onto him, then they were spinning, before arriving in front of the large brown building. Brayden walked in and saddled two horses, bringing one out for Ariel, then another for himself. He went to help her up, but she did it herself.
    “I can ride,” she said, atop the horse.
    Brayden was glad. He mounted his horse also, then went ahead of her, leading the way down the road. They rode quickly, focused, determined. They had to get as far away from everything they knew, as quickly as possible. They had no time to waste. They had