Page 50 of The Witch Queen of Halloween (Immortals After Dark 20)

“IthinkImight be able to ward off curses or to mute them.”Mariketahad also mentioned a prize; she must’ve meant this ability.Butthen, who could steal it fromPoppy? “We’llfigure everything out in time.Fornow, concentrate on shaking off the toxin.”

“I’llbe back to normal soon.”

Notlikely. “Canyou drink some tea?”

“Pumpkinspice?Hadmy fill of pumpkin for the night.”Hefrowned. “Whydo you look so pensive?Shouldn’twe be celebrating?”

Sheforced a smile. “Justtired.Ihad to fuel a lot of visitors.”Evenas she said the words, her earlier sense of foreboding returned.Thoughtsof the missing explorers floated into her consciousness.

“You’rethe worst liarI’veever met.Tellme what’s going on.”

Sighing, she admitted, “Isense more danger coming.”

Helooked increasingly alert, his attention landing on his sword across the ballroom. “Imminentdanger?”

“Notimminent.Nothingis on its way, butIget the feeling the other explorers might have met a bad fate and that we might too.It’slikeI’vegot all the clues yet can’t see the pattern.”

Hecaught her gaze. “Youwant to know whatIsee?Mymate before me.Together, we can do anything.Thetwo of us as a team will be unstoppable.”Hereached for her face with both hands, surprising them both.

“Thattoxin should’ve lasted hours more!”

“Feeling’sreturning all over.I’ma mated demon, remember?Allmy new strength is meant to protect you.”Heglanced down; blood rushed back to one area especially. “Andto pleasure you.”

Thatsight made her melt. “Ithought demons only got strongerafterclaiming their mate.”

“Ah,Ilike how your merc mind works.Youwant me to claim you soI’llbe a better asset in our future battles.IfImust . . .”

“Don’tput words into my mouth.”

“Gods, don’t remind me of putting things into your mouth.”Hiserection strained in his jeans.

Sheabsently asked, “Areyou trying to distract me from my concerns?”

“You’restaring at my cock like a vampire eyeing an artery, soI’dsay it’s working.”

“Wedo have unfinished business.”Shedragged her gaze away from his crotch. “Butyour injuries . . .”

“Forgotten.”Hisemphatic tone made her grin.Hemanaged to swing his legs around. “Areyou sure the visitors are done?”

Shenodded. “Fornow.”

Rökstood, testing his muscles and stretching his limbs.Withlong, surefooted strides, he retrieved his sword and sheathed it with one try.

Ashe returned to her with his shoulders back and his blue gaze focused on her face, she regarded him with a new eye.Wasthat magnificent demon truly . . . hers?

Sittingbeside her on the divan, he grew serious as he said, “Ionly stayed away from you becauseIwanted what’s best for you.”

“Andyou suffered for that.”

Hedidn’t deny it.

“Youtold me you knewIwas yours during our date,” she said. “How?”

“I’dsensed something different about you even before then.Yourscent got me strung tight, and competing on jobs against you felt wrong.Firsttime in my lifeIwas pulling for a competitor to win.ThenIrealized that seeing you was the only highlight in my life, the one thing that got me going,” he said, making her heart clench and filling her with elation. “Duringour date, suspicion turned to confidence.”Hecanted his head. “Whendid you know about me?”

Sheblinked. “Know?”

“Smart-ass.”Lightningflashed, the storm still raging.Heglanced around the eerie ballroom then back to her. “Ithought we were done for.Ireally did.AndIhad so many regrets.IwishedI’dbeen spending the last two years with you.Idon’t want to waste another minute.”

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