Page 13 of Taming the Wicked Wolf

It takes all of my focus to ignore how close he is and how he lingers, drawing out each movement. The way that he lets his bare skin brush against mine as we’re tangled together in this odd configuration.

My nerves take over.

“I bet you don’t do this very often.” I say with a laugh.

“Strange enough, this is the first time I’ve ever installed a lock.”

“Seriously? I find that pretty hard to believe. Seems to me like you’d have women or men breaking down your door.”

I only mean it as a joke to lighten the mood, but something shifts between us the moment the words leave my lips. Maybe I touched a nerve or there’s something deeper.

Silas laughs, his hand brushing against my waist, the warmth of his palm radiating across my stomach. When I turn around, he’s already walking away and gathering up the rest of the tools we borrowed from Mr. Jankowski.

“And why would that be hard to believe?” He asks, staring down at the tool bag.

“For starters, you’ve been alive for over 237 years and you’re gorgeous, I’m not sure if that’s ayouthing or something to do with being a demon. Let me tell you, some of those illustrations in the books don’t really do you any justice.”

Great, now I’m rambling.

“You think I’m gorgeous?” He turns to me, and the look in his eyes has me clenching my thighs together.

“Objectively.” I gesture, “even with the ears.”

In response, they go flat to his head, “What about my ears?”

The movement makes my heart squeeze. “Never mind.” I laugh, “We should probably get those back to him.”

“I’ll run them over.” He says, walking to the door then pauses, “You know, it would have been easier to use a spell to keep Chase out.”

“Easier.” I roll my eyes, “Even if I had access to that kind of magic, I don’t think I could manage something so specific.”

“You’re a powerful witch, Emilia.”

“I’m not sure what gave youthatimpression. It’s been so long since I’ve used any of my magic, we should consider ourselves lucky the ritual didn’t blow up.”

It’s the truth. I can’t even remember the last time that I’ve felt the fire at my fingertips. Chase wasn’t against me using magic in the beginning, but he would still make snide comments about it. Saying that I was being lazy or showing off when I’d use telekinesis to grab something off of the top shelf.

He’d joke about how he didn’t understand how I could lower myself to be with a mortal like him. It got to where I would only use my fire to light candles at night, then after a while, I couldn’t even manage that much.

I feel like I have lost so much of myself.

“You summoned me.”

“I was trying to summon your father.” I shoot back.

“If you have lost your fire, there are ways to get it back, Emilia. I can help you.”

I fold my arms against my chest, “How did you know about my fire powers?”

Silas follows the movement, his eyes lingering there before he looks at me, “Like calls to like, little witch.” He smirks, then slips out the front door, closing it behind him.

What doesthatmean? Is he half-witch?

SEVEN

Silas

Claws clickagainst the fake hardwood as Poppy barrels through the dining room to the front door, nearly ramming her head against my shin, her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth.

---