Page 301 of Sigils & Spells

Fenris’s lips twisted in disgust as the two fae guards assigned to monitor the door to the gateway whispered and gestured to themselves instead of paying attention to gawking onlookers. All they would see was a dead human girl but that was enough to get tongues wagging.

“Are you two done talking?”

“Yes, sir.” The younger of the two at least had the sense to look contrite.

The crime scene techs appeared, followed by the EMS personnel.

“I want you to assist these people with anything they need done. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Good.” He took a deep breath and stepped away from the glut of people and Fae, walking into the shadows. There had to be signs of the wolves here someplace. At least, if the idiots hadn’t trampled them into the ground already.

He cocked his head and let his eyes wander to the buzz of the city and the frivolity of the Halloween events only to find his gaze drawn to a familiar and not entirely unwelcome sight.

Mari Di Bartolo made her way down the middle of the street clad in what had to be the poofiest dress he’d ever seen on a woman. Her black hair long and flowing, she looked like vampire princess she was, draped in flounces of silver and black, her breasts threatening to spill from their confines at any moment.

His palms itched to touch her and he forced his hands down to his sides. Roark would never approve of his interest. Without thinking, he moved in her direction. “What are you doing here? This is a crime scene.”

She raised her chin, a challenge in her eyes. Her red lips parted in response and he wanted to yank her to him and do what he should have done a thousand times before if only for the blasted fear of hurting her. He wanted to kiss the shadows from her eyes but he also realized that living through what she had been through would leave scars no one could erase, especially a Fae with a penchant for pain.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m taking in the sights. It’s Salem at Halloween.”

“In a dress like that?”

She shrugged. “I was bored. And Roark had me paired up with Jared for the evening. You weren’t there.”

Was that an accusation in her tone?

Anger he didn’t have any right to feel seethed under his skin when he noticed the scrape along her collarbone.

“What is this?” He reached out, his fingers brushing against her flesh and she shivered beneath his touch.

“Jared, the pimply faced octopus. Well, before I balled him up and left him in the garden for them to find. Maybe they’ll come across him before dawn.”

“Let him fry.” The scrawny vamp didn’t know when to keep his hands to himself. He’d encountered several prostitutes on the streets who’d said as much, only they sported marks much worse than Mari. And hers would heal within the hour.

Her eyes widened and her lips parted and he caught a glimpse of fang. “I…didn’t know you cared.”

“If I didn’t, why would I have convinced Roark to turn you?” He tugged her closer, the push of her breasts against his chest making it hard to concentrate on mere words. He’d known she was meant for him from the first second he’d seen her but he had to let Roark take her or risk her dying.

“You don’t know me. I was just a girl on the street. A human not worth your consideration.”

Fenris didn’t miss the hurt in her eyes. Perhaps he had been wrong leaving her alone. He’d been convinced he was right letting her assimilate unhindered into her new life. He also couldn’t fault her reasoning. She was right. They had no claim on one another, only an attraction that blazed to life in the most untenable of situations.

But she was wrong on one account. He had noticed her before-just not in a way he might have acted upon. Human and supernatural interaction was forbidden but he was unable to let her die. Not like that.

He wasn’t able to stop thinking about her and hadn’t since that night.

“I did notice you, witchling. How could I not?” He lifted a finger and traced the side of her face, his cock hardening at the moan that slipped unbidden from her lips. “You burn inside of me. Only I couldn’t act. Not until then. But I had to save you. To do anything else…” He let his voice trail off and watched her reaction.

Mari blinked and reached forward, pressing her lips to his. “It’s like a fire, isn’t it? A fire in the blood.”

“Oh Gods, yes.”

He tugged her forward and captured her lips with his own, pressing her soft form against his hardness, trying to resist the urge to play the animal and take her hard against the nearest wall.

No.

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