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crystal supply they were working from.
    Desperate, Bronwy witches had been sneaking onto Vespera’s territory and harvesting the crystals. It was dangerous. If caught, they could be killed.
    “That’s not good.” Tessa folded her arms tightly around her waist in an effort to settle the apprehension in her gut. “We’ll need to send another harvesting party. And bring more weapons and men.” The last time, they’d almost been found. She’d hoped to avoid another trip for a few more months, at least.
    “Our ward witches are working on stronger spells to guard us as we move closer to Vespera.” Hallon frowned. “We can’t take too large of a group. That’ll draw their attention for sure.”
    Winston grabbed a handful of nuts from a bowl on the table next to him. “Take the demon.” He tossed the nuts into his mouth.
    “What?” Tessa gaped. “Let him out? Are you crazy?”
    “May as well put him to use while we have him.” Winston spoke around a mouthful of nuts, as if he hadn’t suggested the craziest thing ever.
    “He’s a killer. He doesn’t get to go on outings.” Tessa glared and shot her dad a questioning look.
    But the thoughtfulness in his eyes gave him away. He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Lash demons have excellent olfactory ability, hearing, sight—much better than ours. He would know if any of the Vespera were near.”
    “What if he betrays us to them?” Tessa couldn’t believe her dad was considering this. “He could alert them. They’d probably throw a freaking banquet for him, and capture us, or worse.”
    “Lash Watchers are honorable. It’s in their code, their oath, their blood,” Winston said.
    No way. I can’t be hearing this correctly. Tessa opened her mouth, but Hallon held up a hand.
    “He wasn’t a Watcher when he killed Pennar.”
    Right. He had worked for someone else. Tessa didn’t care who and didn’t want to learn more about their formidable prisoner. Formidable, muscular, confusing—and apparently—loved by her cat. She rubbed her temple as frustration built.
    “He can be contained,” Hallon went on. “Magic rope, spelled cuffs, and a collar. Tessa, you can create them today.”
    She could. Manacles from which he couldn’t escape. A collar that could weaken his muscles. He would also be given gloves that would prevent him from using his demonfire. But letting him out? No matter what she had observed in his aura today, it was too soon. Too outlandish. “I don’t know, Dad. I mean, yeah, I can do those things. But I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
    “He’s a protector,” the chief murmured.
    “We’ve thrown him into a cell and used magic against him. Why would he feel the need to protect us?”
    “Because his soul hasn’t gone cold,” Winston said. “I sense no malice toward us.”
    Winston, like Tessa and some of the witches, could pick up on a creature’s basic intent and purpose, commonly known as an aura. He fixed his coffee-brown eyes on Tessa. “And child, neither do you sense enmity in him.”
    Damn the Elder’s perception. Winston picked up on more than anyone, as he was so old. “That doesn’t mean he should be let out.” Tessa’s words came out too fast, too defensively.
    Hallon arched a brow. “Do you think he’ll turn on us?”
    “I don’t know.” Too many emotions jumbled through her mind. The guy already unsettled her. Now her dad was open to not only letting him off the hook, but to go along as they gathered items needed for spells? “I just don’t trust him. I-I can’t.”
    “Duly noted.” Her dad approached and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I won’t do anything to put us in harm’s way, Tess. But I need to weigh all the options here.”
    “I know.” Just as she had weighed her own options and decided to abandon her personal happiness for the greater good of her people. If her dad decided to involve Scorpio in the harvesting party, she wouldn’t argue against him. She’d said her piece.