Page 25 of His Hunted Witch

“You can go home. It’s not gonna work.”

Her hand dropped, and he missed the contact with every cell of his skin.

“One teeny tiny fight and you’re giving up?”

He leaned back against the trunk of the tree, and she gasped and put her hand to his throat where they’d also gotten in a good swipe.

Her hand came away bloody, but he could feel the wound sealing. “It’s already closed.”

“Yuck,” she said, looking at her hand like it didn’t belong to her.

“You’re lucky your sister was the healer.”

“Oh, I’d have taken any talent but mine.”

He frowned at the bitterness in her voice. “Why?”

“Never mind. What’s next?”

“I don’t honestly know.”

She glanced into the tree canopy. “Well, this bought us time, if nothing else. And I’m glad they know I’m alive.”

“Me too.”

“Those wards go all around your property?” she asked, à propos of nothing.

He nodded once. “Every inch, why? They won’t keep the teenagers from trying for another witch.”

She shook her head. “They won’t try. They were terrified. That’s why they dumped me at your house to deal with.”

He sat up. “What?”

“They didn’t want anything more to do with witches. That’s why they dumped me at your place.”

He shook his head in wonder. “They agreed to stay away from the witches, and then they kidnapped a witch.”

“Well, they kidnapped a witch. Then they actually fought a witch. Then they agreed to stay away from the witches. And then they dumped the witch to pretend like that hadn’t happened.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t sign them up for West Point anytime soon.”

He took a breath. If his side kept to pack lands and he still had Goldie, he could try talking with her family again.

They had to put a treaty back in place, or they’d all be watching their backs forever. Her family would never let it rest; they’d take the first opportunity to attack again.

“They were a little provoked,” Goldie said, answering his unspoken thought. “I’ve never seen them try to eat anyone before.”

“We started it,” he said, which meant he had to finish it.

He heard a nicker, and his heart seized. He’d forgotten the horse.

“Oh my god, Bonanza.” He whistled softly, and the animal came trotting up.

He tried to stand and then curled against the tree. “I don’t suppose you can find my jeans back in the clearing?”

She looked down the length of him before jogging away. “Pity.”

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