Witch Fury

FOURTEEN

“THEO!” SHE YELLED AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS.

Sure, she’d trained in defensive measures, but this was a demon standing in front of her. All six and a half enraged feet of him. She wasn’t dumb enough not to want backup.

Her power rose in response to the acrid scent of the daaeman in front of her. She parsed out a thread and threw it at him, twisting it just right in order to get it past Bai’s natural elemental shields. It popped in his face like a firecracker and she took the opportunity to run like hell.

Bai made a low, animal-like sound of anguish and followed her. The tromp of his massive feet on the floor of the Coven echoed behind her. She careened around the corner and nearly collided with a couch. Sarafina knew she had to prevent him from touching her. If he touched her, he could jump her anywhere on the planet.

She so, so didn’t want that.

Feeling like she was playing a game of life-or-death tag, she pounded down some stairs with Bai close behind and raced down an unknown corridor. Good God, this place was huge and she had no idea where she was running. At any moment she could be trapping herself in a corner. Doorways on either side of her led to parts unknown. Every single one was a question mark and a potential pathway to death.

Sarafina came to a set of double doors that appeared to open into a large room. She rolled the dice, hoping there was an exit on the other side or at least a good place to hide.

She careened into the room and skidded to a stop, closing the door behind her. In the half light shining through the windows, it appeared she’d entered some kind of ballroom. Of course, owing to her recent trend of bad luck, it was completely naked of furniture.

And there was no exit.

Behind her, a roar shook the floor beneath her feet.

Sarafina did the only thing she could do; she turned and made a stand. Raising as much power as she could, she waited, balancing on the balls of her feet for the daaeman to come through the doors. She screamed when he jumped in behind her instead.

She moved from pure instinct, bringing her elbow back hard into his solar plexus. He grunted in pain, releasing her, and she scrambled away from him. As she went, she ripped power from the center of her chest and held it loosely, ready to wield.

“What the hell do you want from me?” she snarled.

“I want nothing from you, Sarafina. I simply want you. You will be mine soon. It’s been arranged.” The double doors crashed open and Theo walked in, the scent of earth magick filling the air. “You can’t have her, daaeman. She’s already mine.” Bai’s lips peeled back from his pointed teeth. “Do you think you’re a match for me, aeamon? I will come for her when this is over, and you won’t be able to stop me.” “Screw you both,” Sarafina yelled. She wasn’t about to be claimed as anyone’s property.

She unleashed the huge amount of magick she’d pulled from her seat at Bai. White-hot fire exploded around him in a magnificent flash that nearly blinded her. The hard and fast use of her power drove her to her knees, gasping. She gripped her chest, every breath an agony.

Theo let loose with a string of swear words. The air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth, vanquishing the hot scent of fire. What had been searing hot now went cool and dark as the deepest part of the Earth.

Sarafina forced her head up and saw that Bai had disappeared. Where he’d stood was now a scorched circle and a pile of dirt.

Theo’s hands gripped under her arms and he pulled her up and against him. “Damn it, Sarafina, what did you do?” She gasped, pressing her hand to the center of her chest as if she could chase away the pain. “I pulled. . as much. . as I could.” Theo scooped her into his arms. The action surprised the hell out of her, but she had no energy left to protest. All she could do was hold on as he bore her out of the ballroom and up to his apartment. Once inside, he laid her on the couch. Grosset hopped into her lap and wildly licked her face, perhaps sensing she was in great pain.

Theo stood back and gazed down at her. “You have to take care of your seat, Sarafina. You can’t rip out massive amounts of magick the way you did.” She glared up at him. “There was a daaeman standing in front of me.” The words sounded choked.

“Do not speak!”

Anger, even more acute than her pain, made her straighten her spine and try to shout at him, even though it came out more a harsh murmur, “Don’t tell me what to do!” She collapsed back against the cushions and closed her eyes, drawing a ragged breath and fighting unconsciousness.

He gestured inarticulately for a moment before seeming to gather his thoughts. He took a deep breath before speaking. “Look, Sarafina, you can’t just yank out huge chunks of power from your seat. If Bai were to show up again right now, you’d be completely defenseless.” “You’re right.” She nodded. “I know. . you’re right.” “Don’t speak.” This time he said it in a gentler tone. Theo held up a hand to stop her from continuing. “You’ll injure yourself further. I understand what happened. You were faced with all that daaeman in front of you, and you panicked. You yanked out a big chunk of power to throw at him, as much as you could.” She nodded. God, her throat and chest hurt.

“It’s a rookie mistake, right? Can you see that? We’ve talked about this.” Sarafina closed her eyes for a moment and nodded again. Yes, she saw that. She’d screwed up.

He knelt on the floor by the side of the couch. “I understand why you did it, but that has to be the last time. Pulling that shit in the middle of a battle can get you killed. You dole out power little by little, using it to best advantage. Don’t gamble it all away in one go.” “I see what you’re saying,” she whispered.

“Good. Now what can I do to help you feel better? You won’t have enough power to heal yourself for a while.” Sarafina blinked. The man was actually having a normal-type conversation with her, with eye contact and everything. It was jarring.

“Hot tea with lemon.” Her voice came out in a low rasp. He rose to go into the kitchen, but she laid a hand on his arm. “Let me.” “No way. Sit here and rest.”

Sarafina leaned her head on the armrest of the couch and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she was really glad that he’d insisted on getting the drink for her. Her head was pounding.

Soon she felt the press of a warm ceramic mug into her hand. She opened her eyes and saw Theo sinking into a nearby chair. “That’s lemon verbena tea. Mira is always dropping it off for me even though I never drink it.” She took a sip and let the warmth fill the aching empty place in the center of her.

It was funny how before she’d known she possessed magick, that place between her breasts had seemed like any other part of her body. She’d never given it much thought. But now that she knew she was a witch, when the seat of her power was damaged, it was the only part of her body that mattered.

“There are two pieces of good news. First is that you’ve learned your lesson and won’t ever do this again.” Sarafina rolled her eyes at his high-handed comment and the tone he’d delivered it in. God, she couldn’t wait until she could speak freely again; she had a lot to say. Did he even know how infuriating he could be? He seemed completely oblivious.

“Second is that you’re a strong witch and should recover quickly.” Well, now, that was good news.

Once her tea was mostly gone, she let her eyelids drift closed once more. Theo groaned in the chair next to her, an oddly sexual sound that made her come out of her half sleep with a spike of awareness. One day she’d love to make him groan that way using her hands, tongue, and teeth. The thought made her shiver.

It was incredible how one minute the man was pissing her off and the next she wanted to jump his bones.

There was something about him that flipped her switches, that was for sure. Maybe it was simply the challenge of bringing a man that big and that bad to his knees sexually. Maybe if she ever scratched that particular itch, she wouldn’t be so attracted to him anymore.

Nah, he’d be like crack. One taste and she’d be addicted.

There was also something nice about having a man as big and as bad as Theo watching over her while she drowsed, vulnerable and injured, on the couch. The knowledge that Theo would protect her if Bai decided to return warmed her inside as surely as the tea.

In his presence, she felt safe. Despite everything, she trusted Theo completely, no matter how annoying he could be sometimes.

He slipped the cup from her grasp, dropped a blanket over her, and soon she drifted to sleep with Grosset at her side.

WHEN SARAFINA WOKE IN THE MORNING, THEO WAS still in the chair near her. He looked uncomfortable — slumped down with one arm thrown over the armrest. His head had lolled back and his dark hair trailed over the side of the chair. He still managed to look luscious, though. The hem of his black T-shirt had ridden up, exposing his washboard stomach and the enticing button fly of his jeans.

She swallowed experimentally and when pain didn’t shoot through her body, she sat up a little. The seat of her power was flushed and full once more, like a battery recharged. She closed her eyes, dragging in air through her nose and letting it out slowly. Ah, much better.

“Okay?” That was Theo’s gravelly morning voice. It sent goose bumps all over her body.

She looked over at him and smiled. “Worlds better.” Her stomach growled. “I feel so good I could eat a stack of pancakes, but since we don’t have those, I’ll go make coffee.” He moved a little and winced, instantly making her feel guilty. He’d slept in the chair because of her. “I’m going to shower,” he mumbled, pushing a hand through his hair.

Later, while she sipped coffee at the kitchen table, Theo walked in. . with just a white towel around his waist. Again.

Sarafina almost dropped her mug.

Apparently, he had no idea how good he looked like that. If he knew the thoughts that went through her mind every time he traipsed around the apartment that way, he’d put on some clothes.

Theo walked to the coffeemaker and poured himself a cup. She watched his rippling back muscles where she could see them through his damp dark hair. The man was a menace to any woman within a thirty-foot range, and he had absolutely no clue.

She directed her gaze down to her coffee cup. “Shouldn’t we be notifying Thomas about what happened last night?” He turned, cup in hand. “Already done. I called him as soon as I knew you’d be okay last night, once you’d fallen asleep.” She nodded. “What did he say?”

“Nothing I didn’t know already. He said stay on you. We’re mated, you and I. Inseparable from here on out.” Great. She had catnip just out of her reach 24/7 now.

“Mated, huh. Wow, and here I never really wanted to get married.” She set the coffee cup down. “Can I pee by myself?” “Please do.”

“How about shower?”

“Yeah. We’re not getting ridiculous about it.” She set her empty cup down and pushed up from the table. “My turn.” Her knees went weak, and he was there in a second, steadying her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded. “I’m fine. Just got up too fast.” She shook her head, walking to the bathroom. “I hope Bai stays away today, though.” “I hope Bai stays away forever.”

She looked up at him, a weak smile passing over her lips. “Not much chance of that.” I simply want you. That’s what Bai had said. The words hung heavily between herself and Theo, unspoken.

So when did an Atrika ever not get what he wanted?

SHE CAME OUT OF THE BATHROOM RIGHT WHEN Theo was walking down the hall to his bedroom. “Oh, sorry.” He crowded her a little against the wall and Sarafina didn’t have time to wonder if it was on purpose before all the saliva in her mouth dried up. His breath eased over her shoulder and his chest rubbed against hers. Under her shirt, her nipples hardened.

He stayed that way. Right. Up. Against. Her.

“Uh, listen, Theo. I know you said we had to stay close, but does it have to be this close?” Her gaze flicked down to his towel.

“Does my state of dress bother you?” His voice rumbled out of him and reverberated deep within her.

She tried really hard not to stare at his chest. “I think you mean your state of undress, and let’s just say that you walking around like that might give me a heart attack. If you wanted, you could save Bai all the work.” “That would be a pity, but I’m happy to know I affect you that way.” She snorted. “You’d affect any woman that way. The charming thing about you, Theo, is you don’t know it.” He reached out and took a strand of her hair between his fingers. She had no nerve endings in her hair, but that didn’t matter. Sarafina felt that touch straight down to her toes. “You scared me last night. Bad. You take risks that I don’t like, Sarafina.” “Why do you care what risks I take? You barely know me.” “Maybe I know you better than you think.” A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Maybe I’m starting to like you, too.” Her heart rate kicked up a bit. “I didn’t think you liked anyone.” “You thought wrong.” His gaze was intense, like every part of Theodosius Winters. He said nothing more, but his eyes had gone dark and that said everything. His pupils were dilated, which meant he was turned on.

She glanced down and hooked her freshly dried hair behind her ear. “Listen—” He pulled her up against his chest and kissed her. His mouth slanted over hers and consumed her gasp of surprise. There was no sweet tasting like there had been last time, this was all taking. Her hand pressed against his chest as he parted her lips and slid his tongue in to brush against hers. Sarafina’s knees went a little weak at the hot taste of him.

Theo broke the kiss after a moment, but kept her there, pressed against him.

“We have to stop doing this.” Her voice came out a little breathless.

“Yeah, but I don’t think we can.”

How right he was. A laugh bubbled up from somewhere inside her, but what he did next stopped her from voicing it. He pulled her into his bedroom.

Straight to his bed.

She landed on his mattress, and he came down on top of her. His mouth came back down on hers for round two.

The man didn’t do anything halfway and that included kissing.

She wiggled beneath him and made a sound deep in her throat. Theo lifted his head and stared down at her. “I can’t think of a reason to stop right now, but I’ve been trying not to do this,” he murmured.

“I like this.” “You’re willing to take your chances, then?” He nipped at her lower lip, sucking it into the hot recesses of his mouth and then dragging it through his teeth.

Oh. That wasn’t what she’d expected him to say. It was hard to form words, but she had to try. This was important. “Just one woman isn’t women, Theo.” She was thinking of Ingrid. “And it wasn’t your fault.” “Ingrid wasn’t the first. Neither of them were my fault, but they both turned up dead, anyway.” He nibbled the tender place where her shoulder met her throat, then dragged the flat of his tongue over the tiny bite mark he’d left.

She gasped, then moaned. “Coincidence. Superstition.” His kiss left her sex feeling warm and wet. She wanted more, would do anything to get it. “Please, don’t stop, Theo.” He ran his hand from her collarbone down over her breast and cupped it. Her nipple went hard and tight against his palm, stabbing up through the material of her shirt. Staring into her eyes, he stroked it, teasing along every ridge and valley until she bucked beneath him and sank her teeth into her lower lip.

“How do you like to be touched, Sarafina?” he murmured. “Do you like it when a man strokes your breasts and sucks on your nipples?” “Ah,” she breathed. “All of the above.” Theo grinned wickedly. “Okay, then.” He pushed the hem of her shirt upward and pulled it over her head. Her bra was gone in an instant, leaving her bare from the waist up, exposed to Theo’s hungry, roving gaze.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, Sarafina,” he murmured.

Then his mouth descended on her breasts and he showed her just how much he believed what he’d just said.