Page 45 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

Whenthey’d gained a small lead,Poppyasked, “Howdid you stay away from me?”

Heglanced back at her as they charged on. “Wedoing this now?”

“Mightnot get another chance.Letme guess, you buried yourself in other women to forget about your mate.Rackingup the swimbos!”Hereyes glowed from more than a power outlay.

Inany other circumstance, he would’ve relished her jealousy. “Ihaven’t been with anyone since before our date.”

“Celibatefor years?Tellme another whopper, smoke and mirrors.”

“Ilet every summoner knowIthoughtIwas mated, which was as awkward as you can imagine.”

Ina stunned tone, she said, “Ibelieve you.ShouldIbe astounded or insulted that you’re the onlyLoreanwhoavoidedhis fated female?”

“Youdidn’t want to be near me!Notexactly encouraging.”

“Othermales get crazed, and you just held back.Ihear about these guys all the time.”

“Ihear about them too!ButIknow you.Youwouldn’t have put up with that shit for a nanosecond.AmIa crazed smoke demon who’s obsessed with you?Yeah.Didyou need to see that?No.”

“You’re. . . obsessed with me?”

Withweary acceptance, he said, “Thedefinition of it.”

“Oh, gods, that’s why you keep booking deadly jobs.Fora distraction!Howlong would you have waited?”

“Youwere dating that warlock, remember.Ithought you needed to be with him to unlock your powers.Nomale wants to be the reason his mate doesn’t thrive.Iwanted what’s bestfor you.Evenif that’snot me.”

Herexpression softened at his words, yet then her eyes widened. “Leagot to you!”

Heraised his chin a notch.Unwillingconcession.

* * *

“When?”Poppydemanded, planning to throttle her oldest sister.

“Lea’smy sister by fate.Idon’t want to throw her under the bus.”

“Shehad no right to interfere with my life!”

“Doesn’tshe have a point though?Oneof the reasonsIstayed away is becauseIthought you wanted a relationship like your parents have.”

ThestorybookWiccans. “Itried it their way.”

AndwhilePoppyhad been burying her feelings for this demon,Rökhad been risking his life on jobs.Suffering.Tryingto do right by her.

Rattlerattle rattle . . . sliiice.Anothercontingent of skeletons chargedupthe steps to meet them.Hekicked the closest one in the sternum, sending it stumbling back to knock the others down. “Comeon!”HepulledPoppyinto his arms to wend around bones, dodging the chomping skulls around his boots.

Whenhe’d cleared the worst, he kept her in his arms—and she kept questioning him. “Whycome here tonight?”Despitethe danger, she wanted answers. “Whatchanged?”

“Yourbreaking up with the warlock was like a crack in the dam for me.Irealized that where you’re concerned, maybeI’vegrown greedy and selfish and as far from decent as a demon can be.IfI’mto be denied, it should be becauseyousay no.NotbecauseIdo.”

Hisconfessions would’ve made her heart stutter if their lives hadn’t been on the line.Feelingshad blindsided this poor, bewildered male.

“Asplit second afterIrealizedIwasn’t strong enough to stay away from you any longer,Iheard your sister threateningDesh.”

Whatwas that saying?Sometimesfate doesn’t bother being subtle.Poppytightened her arms aroundRök’sneck.

Adifferent kind of nightmare, a goblin with a pumpkin head and green-stalk body, lumbered up the stairs carrying an ax.

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