Page 49 of Hexes and Exes

Ava’s lips are painted a deep red tonight, and I can’t stop staring at them. Her cheeks are flushed from the heat of the club, and I don’t think she’s ever looked this beautiful.

“You need practice for the masquerade.”

“I’m not dancing then either.”

“Fine, you’re going to come dance, because otherwise you’ll make everyone else stop. They’ll feel bad if you’re sitting here alone on your birthday. And even though you’re an asshole, youdon’t like making the people you care about feel bad. They all want to dance; therefore, you are going to come with us so that you don’t ruin the good mood.”

I blink up at her while her words register. Fuck. She’s right. She knows it too. A sly grin with those fucking red lips is aimed my way as she holds out her hand.

“Come on, old man. Need help getting up?”

Snatching her hand, I tug her closer before pretending to bite her fingers. She yelps and skips away with laughter. I obediently chase after her like an adoring puppy. Pathetic. My eyes fasten on her hips as they sway away from me. I catch up and grab her hand. When the dancers refuse to part for her, I take the lead and guide her through the crowded dance floor to our friends.

Not a single one of us is sober and the energy in the club is thick with joy, as if everyone came out for a good time and left all their shit at the door. Making me wonder if Ambrose’s family has a spell on the place to boost the mood. I’ll have to ask him. Ava spins around and gives me her back. She’s not shy, but I’ve never seen her let loose like this. Her back hits my front, and she starts to move. I don’t know when my hands land on her hips, but her body sways under my touch. Ava moves to the music until the rest of the club falls away and it’s just the two of us. Sparks of energy zip through my fingers when they touch the skin between her pants and top. Her head falls back, her mouth slightly parted, and I’m not sure I’ve seen anything so sexy in my entire life.

“Water,” someone shouts, and my head jerks up to find all our friends watching us. Stellan is the one who called out, and he’s pointing at Ava. Roman has one eyebrow raised and Ambrose is grinning at me. Ava fans herself and trips after her brother. She doesn’t even look back at me. Like she wasn’t just grinding all over my dick. I’m still in the middle of the dance floor trying to come to grips with how turned on I am. Bodiesgyrate and move around me, but my eyes follow Ava all the way back to the bar.

The bartender passes her a water, and she chugs half of it. I don’t know where Stellan has gone, but he isn’t with her. A familiar head bobs through the crowd and slides into an open spot next to Ava.

“That motherfucker.”

Ava’s ex-boyfriend, Jamie the fuckface, is grinning at her like he’s the Crone’s fucking gift to women.

For a moment, all I can do is watch as Jamie leans in to speak in Ava’s ear, his face nearly pressed to hers.

The darkness that resides inside me, the curse that I have always loathed, bursts free from my tight grip. I keep it as leashed as possible, but now I let it loose. I want to do damage. The world goes dark around the edges. I carelessly shove through the crowd. People call after me and curse as I push my way through the thickening crowd. One look at my face, and the people stumble away. Regular humans won’t see my magic, but any witches will. My brother is calling after me, but I’m laser focused on the little prick less than an inch away from Ava’s face.

My shadows snap free, hooking around Jamie’s arm and dragging him away. I can’t even blame that on my curse. That’s all me.

Jamie spins around. “What the fuck?”

As soon as he sees me, all the color drains from his face, and he holds up a hand as if to ward off a demon.

“Go away.” The two words are punctuated with a growl. My shadows snap like flames around me. Jamie skitters off like a rat, and then I round on Ava.

Her eyes are hooded. The pulse in her throat visibly throbs. When she exhales, her fucking breasts tremble. I grab her hand and pull her behind me. Her fingers clutch mine tightly and she’s practically running to keep up. I should slow down, but Ican’t. There’s this angry, urgent need thrumming like a plucked wire inside me. That man was touching her. He has touched her, kissed her.

Fuck.

I punch the bar on the door at the back of the club, pushing it open. We spill out into the alley, and the cold bites my skin the second we’re outside. I barely feel it. My shadows are leaking out of me like a billowing cloak. I turn to face Ava, the door slamming close behind her. Neither of us says anything. What can I say? Sorry I just shoved that fucker off you. I might be an asshole, but I’m not a liar. I don’t want him anywhere near her.

Why? A tiny voice in my subconscious asks. I snuff the thought out like a candle, and aim all my attention at Avalon Vandenberg.

“Do you want that piece of shit touching you?” I stalk toward her.

Ire sparks in the honeyed depths of Ava’s eyes. “What does it matter to you?”

I press forward, trapping her against the brick wall. Ava gasps. Whether it’s from the cold of the brick or because I’ve eliminated any space between us, I don’t know. I lower my head until we’re eye to eye, and she stares right back at me.

“He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you.”

Ava exhales, and my mouth is so close it plumes across my lips. I suck in a breath like I’m inhaling her soul. It’s pure and kind and a balm to my own darkness.

“Maybe he’s the best I get.” Ava’s eyes darken, but her jaw juts out in defiance. I grip her chin, tipping her head back.

“Not if there’s any justice in the world.”

Ava’s lips tremble. “There isn’t.”

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