Page 34 of Blood Witch

Fin moved in front of him, and he was snarling at the thing like it was dirty.

“She drinks from me,” he said, and I was really turned on by his firm statement.

Everyone in the room froze, my roommates included. It was obvious my history of losing control and feeding on magic was something everyone feared, especially since the world was losing its magical stores and fast. But even though I didn’t have such great control, I realized I did not want any blood right then.

Nope.

I didn’t want magic either.

“Actually, can I have some popcorn?” I asked, and it was like the whole room exhaled.

Fin turned to me, a smile on his breathtakingly gorgeous face. Jade announced she was going to go microwave me some popcorn with Arlo, and the others, well, they talked amongst themselves while Fin towered over me.

“You all right?” I asked, as he sat on the floor by the mattress, one hand wrapped around mine firmly, while the other rested on my stomach.

“Yeah. Sorry, love. I guess I got a little carried away,” he murmured.

His ivory skin turned ruddy with embarrassment, but I liked he was possessive of me, so I tugged him closer and kissed him sweetly, praising him without words.

I know modern women shouldn’t like things like that, but what could I say?

Being a witch was complicated.

“Are you feeling well enough to walk back to your dorm room?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Yeah, I’d love a shower and some fresh clothes, though I am grateful for whoever brought me these sweats,” I said.

“Oh, that was Jade. When I called them here, she was the only one who foresaw the need,” he said, cheeks burning a little brighter.

Goddess, he was hot.

My skin tingled where he touched me, and as the group of us made our way through the main building to the dormitories, he never stopped touching me. Fin always kept one hand wrapped around mine, and another either on my back, or neck, or shoulder.

I felt like I was in a dream or something. Fin gave me more comfort, both physical and emotional, than I’d ever had from anyone. We still had a long way to go. This was only the beginning, really, but I had a direction now. And I felt good.

Back in the room, Jade had just finished making every bag of microwave popcorn we had—like, eight. And was filling a couple of plastic bowls with them when we walked in.

“Hey! We were gonna go back, I promise,” she said.

“Yeah, but our girl was feeling like she needed a shower,” Tana explained, and I laughed when Fin muttered something that sounded suspiciously likemy girlunder his breath.

After showering, I put on a comfy pair of flannels and a gray tank top, and joined everyone in the living room. Tana and Brandon were on the lounge chair. Rio and Magnus were sitting together on the big couch next to Jade and Arlo. Enid was in a single chair alone. Maia had an air mattress and was snuggling with Enok. And there was Fin, with a pile of cushions and a blanket all set up on the floor and a giant bowl full of popcorn with chocolate chips sprinkled on top.

“Go sit down, Mabe. We’re about to start a new 563A tradition. Fright Fest Fridays,” Jade said excitedly.

“What?”

“Sit!” she bellowed.

“Sheesh, bossy,” I mumbled, but giggled when Fin shook his head and mouthed the wordtease.

I did like pushing people’s buttons. He knew it and didn’t seem to mind, which was just another point in the universe’s favor for sending me the tall, delicious drink of water.

“Hey, scooch right over here,” he whispered, and I settled between his long, splayed legs.

We fed each other popcorn and watched three of the campy horror movies in the series until I couldn’t take another gory moment of it.

How many ways could a mask-wearing, knife-wielding, unkillable psychopath murder someone, anyway?

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