Page 38 of Warrior Witch

“Harlow and Bruin were hate-fucking on the cliff before. Maybe they went for round two?”

Kylen’s face screwed up into a bewildered look, but before he could ask what the hell I was talking about, the sound came again.

“Okay, that was close. In town, maybe?” I said, trying to pinpoint where the noise could have come from.

Ranto and Kylen shared a look.

“Addie.”

They bolted toward town, legs pumping hard as I stood alone among the trees. Whoever Addie was, it wasn’t my business. I could just go back to my treasure hunt and enjoy the space the emergency would grant me. Away from everyone else.

Without making a conscious decision, I trailed after the men I’d voluntarily shared the afternoon with.

To…help?

Harlow

“Addie!”

Panic flooded through me, and I pumped my legs harder. My lungs burned, and my calves screamed for me to slow, but that wasn’t an option. I’d get to her, even if it killed me. She’d be safe. She had to be.

I’m the one who’s supposed to die here. NOT HER!

Weaving between the buildings and trees, I stumbled around the corner, hitting my knee hard against the ground but forcing myself to my feet. Nothing would stop me. Another scream rang out, and I followed it to the back of the house we’d searched, hastily hopping the wooden fence and crashing into the garden.

“Addie?”

“Harlow!”

Sprinting the final few yards through the overgrown grass and plants, I skidded to a stop, throwing my arms around the teenager and squeezing hard. “I’m here. Addison, I’ve got you. You’re okay.”

“H-Harlow…” Her voice quivered, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks. “You’re okay?”

I pressed my lips against the top of her head, breathing in her cheap shampoo and reassuring myself she was alive. “Of course I’m okay, silly. It’s you I was worried about.”

Pulling away enough to brush her hair away from her face, I cupped her cheeks and really looked at her. Her skin was a deathly white, and she wouldn’t stop crying. What the fuck had happened?

“You’re alive…”

“Shh, it’s okay. Let’s focus on you right now.”

“I saw you die!”

Neither of us moved. We could only sit there, staring into each other’s eyes, both unbelievably grateful to see the other was unharmed, and yet we were terrified. Her nails dug into my forearm, clinging to me desperately as I held her face.

“They’re over here,” Ranto shouted as he sprinted to us from the house.

Footsteps stormed towards us, and we were swiftly surrounded by everyone asking if she was okay. Even Hendrix was here. Though he quietly remained separated from the group, his concerned eyes betrayed his composure.

“Hey! Everyone, stop talking all at once,” I snapped up at them before turning my attention back to Addie. Her sobs had turned to sniffles, but she still clung to me like a lifeline. “What did you see?”

“I saw you die,” she repeated, her voice cracking. “You were in front of me, yelling about a curse and someone called David? Or Donovan? I dunno. Then you started sparking the way you do when… when you think I don’t see it and you let it burst outside.”

A twinge pulled at my heart. I knew I wasn’t hiding the sparks well, but to think she saw it when I’ve been at my most unstable. She could’ve been hurt—no, I could have hurt her.

“But it didn’t stop. You screamed a-and…” Her words trailed off into sobs, and I held her tight. It was all I could do.

I knew this town was bad news. I’d begged her to stay home, where she was safe. This was all my fault. How was I supposed to protect her when I couldn’t even look after myself?

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