Page 139 of Castings & Curses

“Yeah, well,that Helwig witchis a witch.” She giggled, and he about melted in the tinkling, cheerful sound. “You’re on my covenstead. I make the rules.”

“You’re pretty young to rule.” He craved to know her, but he didn’t know if he’d just insulted her or handed her props.

She laughed, not at all insulted, and his heart beat again. “Yep. Happens when your parents careen off a cliff in the Tahoe Mountains. I’m the oldest of the three daughters they left behind, so it’s my turn to rule.” Pain deadened the radiance in her eyes. “It’s my time to adult.”

“I’m sorry.” Before he thought better of it, he touched his right fingers to her forearm. She caught his hand in her own. Fire erupted between them, roaring up his arm and down his chest, triggering his heart to thunder anew. That unnamed thing—no other defined name existed—deep in his core connected to the fire and zoomed through his body.

Sage’s eyes rounded, and instead of releasing his hand to extinguish the flames from broiling them alive, she linked her fingers in his. A blustery wind fanned her silky hair over her shoulders. Water misted them both from a clear blue sky, only somewhat cooling his jets. Her fire burned unabated inside him, and he wanted it, needed it. He didn’t know if he’d survive another minute without her. Rafael gripped her hand so tight she yelped.

“Sorry.” Without releasing her, he relaxed his hold.

She beamed her luminous smile. “No prob. I like your strength.” She drew him closer, close enough to kiss. “Why are you by the ravine?”

Dropping her hand, he dug his hands into his front pockets and hunched over. “Needed to clear the storm out of my head.”

She jolted backward. “Really? This is the path I take to declutter my head when too many people hound me. No one comes out this far.”

“Like minds.” Witch protocols swirled in his head. “I thought you always had a warlock guard.”

“Ihavea warlock here.” She winked, and a part of him dissolved.

The way she said the words, honest and intimate, set him on fire again. Lust speared to his dick. Instant tent pitch. He’d never gotten aroused from a woman’s mere voice. Had she also plunked a spell on him? What’s with these witches?

Her head dipped, and he realized he hadn’t zipped up his jeans. The evidence of his arousal bulged out between them.Dumbass.

Eyes twinkling, she said teasingly, “Umm, did I interrupt a date… with your hand?”

His laughter boomed, and he felt the heat of his embarrassment fading. “That Helwig witch couldn’t keepherhands off me.” He released Sage’s hand to zip up his pants, and she tried to stop him.

“Not on my account.” Her teasing, lilting voice turned his erection to steel.

Were these witches for real? He was smack-dab stuck in one of those sappy romance novels his last foster mom read, like a love triangle. Without the love. He’d arrived in an alternate reality, and he feared never finding himself again. A frigid revulsion iced the heat swamping him, and he backed away from her, held up his hands to stop her from closing the gap.

“Stay away from me,” he ordered.

Sage’s face sagged, and she hugged her arms over her chest. “What did I do?”

“You witches are trouble. I see it now. I don’t belong here.” But he did belong, not just because he desired Sage; he still tasted the sweetness of her coconut and vanilla perfume on his tongue. Magic hummed in every fiber of his being. Her magic. Confusion stirred the tempest in his head, pain battering his skull. He needed time to digest, away from Sage and this covenstead.

“Rafael, my magic mingled withyours. Youdobelong.”

“Nope. I don’t have magic. I’m just a normal guy.” He backed up another step as if the extra space promised to temper the simmering pot in his core.

“Oh. Okay.” Sage seemed to accept his words, but her disappointment gutted him. Uncertainty gutted him. “I believe you’re a warlock,” she continued. “It’s why we connected”—she gestured at his middle—“so easy.”

“I didn’t connect to Helwig. She told me my magic wouldn’t manifest until a witch bonded me,” he spat the words out.

“True for most witches and warlocks. You’re powerful, and I don’t need to bond you to sense your magic. There’s magic inside you. You have a powerful aura, which connects to my magic. But I, or another witch, need to bond you for you to use the magic. I can explain more later.”

“Not buying it.” But the fizzing airy fire inside him negated his words. His frustration tripped off the rails. He didn’t know right from left, and searched for a hole in the ground to sink into. The tree-studded ravine looked like a perfect haven.

Sage forced a thin, tight-lipped smile. “Do you want to leave the festival?”

Hell to the yes. No fucking way.“Yes.” The only word he managed to croak out, whether right or wrong.

CHAPTER5

In a tense silence,Sage trudged toward the backyard gardens, and Rafael followed at a lengthening distance. He puzzled her. Her magic connected to his powerful aura, when she should’ve only sensed his potent magic. She’d never met such a powerful warlock before bonding, not that she’d bonded many. Ricky was the only warlock currently bonded to her. The crux of her situation. Council rules dictated a High Priestess must have three warlocks for protection. Since she was close to becoming the regional leader, she had to bury her procrastination and fill her dance card. Bonded to a powerful warlock like Rafael might allow her to escape the three-warlock rule for a while. She’d have to bond him to find out for real. No need for sex, despite her intense desire to dance that waltz. Holy hell, she wanted him even if he wasn’t a warlock.

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