Page 68 of The Secret Life of a Witch

I don’t know what to say or do or think. None of this makes sense, yet at the same time …

Well, some of it does make a little bit of sense. Like why the demon died when he touched me, or why the demons want me at all. If I have demon feeder in me—creatures that supply demons with power and magnify it—that would explain that part.

“Why did you bring me here, Max?” I whisper hoarsely. “Did you find a way to … feed off me?”

He continues to nuzzle his nose into the crook of my neck. “Would it matter if I did?”

“That all depends.”

“On what?”

“On what you need the extra power for.”

Instead of answering, he turns his head and places a kiss against my racing pulse. “God, you smell good. Like nothing I’ve ever smelled before.”

“Max …” I start, my voice wobbling. “Tell me what you need my power for. And why the other demons want it?—”

The rest of the words are ripped from my tongue as a loud explosion booms throughout the room, vibrating the walls, bed, and the chandelier above us.

I jerk back from Max, my gaze zipping to the center of the room where a massive, rainbow-tinted portal is spinning.

“What the hell?” Max mutters, rising to his feet. He briefly stares at the portal before his fiery gaze targets me. “What did you do?”

“You think I made a portal?” I ask, then shake my head. “Newsflash, I’m not as powerful as you think.”

Shaking his head, he moves in front of me. “I don’t think you opened a portal.” He crosses his arms and fixes a glare on me. “What I do know is that no one, including witches, should be able to find this location. Yet, somehow, someone’s created a portal to it.”

I think about meeting Ryleigh in the dream and how she thought she knew the location of Max’s lair. But I’m not about to tell Max this when he hasn’t told me if he’s found a way to drink my power.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, other than I didn’t do anything.” I give a nonchalant shrug. “How could I when I’ve been stuck here?”

His eyes narrow into slits. “There are other ways of communicating with someone. And considering the power you have, I’m betting?—”

“Get away from her!” Hunter’s demanding voice rings through the air.

The sound causes conflicting emotions to stir inside me; hurt, anger, and elation to name a few.

I turn my head toward the portal, and my heart leaps in my chest at the sight of Hunter standing in the opening with his wand drawn and pointed at Max.

EVALEE

Hunter is here to save me! Hunter, the guy I trust!

Or, well, used to trust.

My elation goes down a notch as I realize I might not be able to trust him anymore.

“Demon, step away from her,” he says, inching cautiously into the room.

He’s wearing the same outfit as the last time I saw him: black jeans, a matching shirt, and boots. I wonder if he’ll ever go back to dressing like the Hunter I knew before all the secrets came spilling out. Then I wonder why on earth that is the first thought that crosses my mind at this moment.

Seriously, get your head in the game, Eva!

I move to shove Max so I can run to the portal and escape, but he sidesteps out of the way.

Then I spring to my feet, ready to make a run for it. Sure, I’m not too thrilled to return to Mystic Willow Bay and deal with the truth, but being held captive in a demon’s lair by a demon who may or may not want to slurp me dry of my questionably strong power isn’t a better alternative. A demon wanting power is never a good thing.

But neither are you, Eva. You’re a demon and a succubus and a witch and demon feeder.

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