Page 20 of Taming the Wicked Wolf

“I’m fine.” I say, more to myself than the dog.

It was just a kiss. We are both adults, and it doesn’t have to mean anything. But it did. It meant more to me than any kiss I have had before.

In any other situation, I’d be licking my wounds in my own realm, searching for some chaos. I’d find a soul to twist or a fight that I might not win.

Is it the healthiest coping mechanism? Probably not, but that doesn’t stop me. I should just accept that things end, but this never was given the chance to begin in the first place.

If I was smart, I would have done everything to detach from her, but I don’t see her as a soul to take and put on a mantlepiece, not anymore.

I could have played the doting pet and helped her regain her power from a far, it was in her all along she just needed to remember who she was and what she rightfully deserves.

I was a goner the moment I saw her standing there in front of me, blood dripping onto the floor, cross with me for not being who she had wanted.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t look away from the slight scrunch to her nose and the crease in her brow backed up with that fiery spirit someone had reduced to embers.

I wanted nothing more than to bring it out, restore it, and feel the flames lick against my fingertips.

Now that I have touched her magic and tasted her lips, I don’t think I can step away.

Poppy nudges my hand with a squeak of her toy, and I gently wrestle it away from her, tossing it into the dining room, watching as she nearly skids to a stop in front of it, scooping it up to repeat the entire process again.

I’m not supposed to be having these feelings, especially not for my charge. Of course, like everything else, the apple doesn’t seem to fall far from the tree.

I thought this would be simple. Emilia offered her soul up to me without hesitation, all I had to do was keep my wits about me and stay the course until she felt the bargain was satisfied.

A soul of her caliber would have surely earned me the respect that I deserve and prove myself as the heir to my father’s legacy, but now I can’t bring myself to take it.

You would think this was my first deal. Allowing myself to be collared by the little witch, bound to her in ways beyond the usual expectations.

Though not bound to her in the way I long to be, body and soul.

“What the fuck am I thinking?” I scrub my hand over my face, then take the toy, and throw it again. Poppy’s tongue lolls as she chases it.

It’ll be several hours until Emilia returns home from work. Normally, I’d pick up another one of her books, but I have read so many romance novels over the past few weeks that I am seeing her in every main character.

Now that I’ve kissed her, I don’t want to settle for a fantasy.

So, instead, for the first time in several years, I turn on the television.

“Are you watching Bake-off?”

Emilia’s voice shakes me from my trance, I was lost watching a contestant make spun sugar to accent their lemon poppy bundt cake. I grab the remote and shut off the tv.

“Yeah, I guess I was. I can see why it was listed as one of the highest rated show on Netflix.” I run my hands over my thighs, turning towards her, “Oh, I fed Poppy and took her outside.”

“Thanks.” She smiles, putting her purse away.

I look over at the clock, “I didn’t realize it’s almost four. I was thinking of making an omelette, if you want one.”

“No, it’s okay. Carly Beth and I got burgers after work and time kind of got away from me.” She turns to me, “After the night I’ve had, I’m probably just going to turn in.”

“Alright,” I nod, “Have a good night.”

“Good night, Silas.” Emilia stands there looking like she’s going to say something else, then snaps her fingers, “C’mon, Poppy.”

I watch as she walks down the hall, Poppy trailing behind her. Maybe that was my only chance, now all I can do is stay the course and follow this through. Hold up my end of the bargain.

It’ll be rough living here with her, but as soon as Chase is less of an annoyance, I can leave, though I might stay in town for a while longer just to make sure he won’t return.

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