Page 74 of Wolf Bitten

Raffe’s displeasure filled my chest, but he didn’t say another word.

“I’ve cast a small spell on the doorway to the stairwell, in case a human decides they want to take it tonight.” Hecate rolled her eyes. “You know how humans decide stupid things sometimes.”

Now that we were inside, the pressure not to give supernaturals away weighed so heavily on me that I wanted to howl. We were so close to humans. My breathing quickened as Raffe climbed the stairs, Hecate in the lead.

Each step made my anxiety spike higher. We could be caught at any second.

Babe, I swear, nothing is going to happen. And if it does, I’ll take care of it,Raffe assured me as if he could make that sort of promise.

After what felt like hours, we reached the top floor, and Hecate slipped out of the stairwell to scope out the hallway. I heard her footsteps stop short.

High heels padded against the carpet. Hecate wasn’t alone. An herbal scent floated to us, and Raffe tensed just as the door opened, revealing a frowning Supreme Priestess Olwyn.

Her gaze landed on me, the whites of her emerald-green eyes more visible than usual, as if she was tamping down her surprise. “Is that Skylar?”

“Yes, and she’s injured.” Raffe’s tension increased tenfold, squeezing my chest harder than it had been. “We need to get her inside.”

“Fine.” She spun and flipped her palms down. After a few seconds, she said, “Take her innow.”

Raffe didn’t hesitate, stalking down the hallway. When I heard him enter the key code, I wanted to cry from relief, but I refused to do anything foolish, especially with both witches around.

We entered the apartment, and Raffe marched to the couch, not bothering to hold the door open for the two women.

Someone caught the door, and Hecate complained, “Don’t wait on us or anything.”

Raffe pretended not to hear her as he set me softly on the cushions, orienting my head toward the hallway so I could see the supreme priestess and Hecate.

Once the pain eased, I became appalled.Wait, Blood.I didn’t want to ruin the furniture.

We’ll pay to get it cleaned or buy a new fucking couch. I want you comfortable. Would you rather I take you to our room instead?

Our room. Every time he called something ours, I wanted to giggle like a schoolgirl. That was how damn happy it made me.No. I’d rather Supreme Priestess Olwyn not enter our room.Some places were meant to be safe havens.

I rested my head on the cushion, still in pain but better than I had been. Raffe stood partially in front of me.

“What the hell were you three thinking?” Olwyn hissed. “I wasn’t happy to hear you were cloaking Skylar to get her in here, but not hiding her at all was beyond stupid.”

“Supreme Priestess, I’m sorry. I tried to cloak her, but it didn’t work.” Hecate shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. “The spell wouldn’t stick to her, so we had to improvise, and my magic was depleted from trying to hide her.”

Olwyn’s attention landed on me, and she grimaced. “She’s a wolf, and your magic didn’t work on her. What is going on?”

“You don’t think I want to know the same thing?” Raffe spat. His words were controlled, but he had a viciousness to his tone that I’d never heard before. “But we aren’t going to figure it out tonight. My mate needs rest and sleep.”

“Our magic doesn’t work on her, and she’s now a wolf shifter with magic in her blood. That’s unheard of.” Olwyn paled. She stared at me with a neutral expression, but her eyes … those held fear. “We have to determine—”

“I saidnot tonight.” Raffe radiated power. “You two need to leave before you force me to do something rash. There’s nothing more important to me than Skylar and her well-being. You two are adding to her stress, and that’s unacceptable. Soleave.”

His raw, animalistic magic was strong and made me feel inappropriately warm. I’d always found his commanding presence sexy, but not even that word described how I felt now. He was powerful, and boy, did I like it.

Nostrils flaring, Supreme Priestess Olwyn looked ready to go to war. She sighed and forced herself to relax. “Fine, but I will be back to check on her. I’m on the school board, and Iwillvisit our student.”

I hate her,Raffe linked as he nodded. “Whatever it takes to make you leave now.”

They were at a standoff. Neither wanted to yield, and neither would fully back down.

“Come on, Hecate,” Olwyn said sternly and grabbed her wrist. “We need to talk.”

I watched as she led my friend out the door, and I wished I could thank Hecate, but that wasn’t possible tonight.

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