Page 79 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
Fire was the best way to destroy something. It was permanent, which was why burning witches had been so popular. "All right, any ideas on how to get rid of it?"
"I have the ability to dispose of it properly."
What?Didn't that make him look like the guilty party? He'd been hanging out in his raven form, watching her. Could he have somehow gotten it, whateveritwas, by the wards? But then why would he be telling her about it now? "I can't let you into the house. My sisters would kill me." There would be hell to pay for being here with him now. But if she lowered the wards and allowed him into their sanctuary, she didn't even want to comprehend the repercussions of how her sisters would see such a betrayal.
"I will know when you locate it."
"How?"
"For now, it's best you don't know." He sat, pulling her up. "Come on, I'd better get you home."
Echoed voices from the past whispered over her skin, asking her not to leave. Not yet.
"Actually," she said, finding her dress and slipping it on over her head. "I'd like to stay for a while. I need a moment alone to collect my...thoughts before returning to the manor." More like come up with excuses, gather her defenses.
Dig in the earth,the wind whispered.
Aunt Justine would most likely arrive bright and early this morning. The woman was one of those irritating morning people and she would be making herself felt. Tierra should have been there to help smooth the way, but as the sun continued to rise, she didn't think she'd make it. The walk of shame would be hers.
"It's not safe to be on your own." Killian scowled. He retracted his wings and stood before her shirtless, struggling into his jeans. The ancient tattoo that covered his back depicted a hooded Grim Reaper hovering over the River Styx while fire and brimstone burned around the fallen angel. Somehow the tattoo must house his wings.
"The stones will protect me."
"And when you leave them? Nothing but peril awaits you out in the open."
Didn't she know it? She'd been alone when he'd grabbed her, and she'd probably regret what had happened between them later when he wasn't around to mess with her common sense.
But she couldn't leave this place yet. Maybe she never would. It was quite nice here. Peaceful and serene, and the surrounding forest could provide shelter and food. Part of her longed to disappear, to forget the worries and problems of this world and live life simply in nature. Alone.
"Killian, you know the history of this place, and what happened here. I need to stay and hear what waits for me. By myself," she stressed when he opened his mouth to object again.
By the way the vein throbbed in his temple, the set of his jaw, and twitching of his hands, he struggled not to argue or simply sieze her and fly off into the dawn. "I will take you home. Open the shield you secured around this place, and I will wait for you to finish." He glanced at the peaking sun. "Don't take long. We've already stayed longer than is wise."
There wasn't anything wise about what they had done this night and they both knew it.
"I don't want you waiting for me."
"That is the only option you have,gazelle. I will not leave you unprotected. Don't force the issue because you will lose."
He cupped the back of her neck, his mouth searing hers in a hard kiss. Releasing her as quickly as he'd grabbed her, his eyes showed determination and warned her not to test him further.
She shivered with the cold realization that this man felt he could dictate to her. Yes, they'd created a child, but his overbearing protectiveness needed some updating since it still languished in the dark ages. She was a witch with powers of her own, and she'd been able to take care of herself just fine for the last twenty-six years. Well, besides the Apocalypse thing.
Stewing with the need to set him straight, she pushed against his chest and surprised them both when she broke his hold. "I am not yours to command, and you’d be wise to remember it."
She linked with the shield she'd created over the stones. Vines of ivy snaked in and seized Killian, flinging him out of the Standing Stones, and sealed solid behind him. It all happened so quickly. Time slowed, and she saw everything in minute segments like a movie.
Whoa. She'd never been able to do anything like that before, but then she couldn't remember a time she'd been this angry. Could this be what Claire had talked about? That their powers intensified after losing their virginity? Tierra hadn't noticed anything other than the physical effects that losing her virginity had caused. Had she just tapped into her sexual power?
"Tierra!" Killian shouted, smacking his fists against the shield. It held against him.
She didn't like her name spoken in that tone, she decided. "Leave me be."
To make sure he did, she had the vines reach for him again, but with a frisson of aura, he transformed into his raven form and flew out of reach and out of sight.
All thoughts of Killian ceased as whispers amplified, revealing long-hidden secrets.
She didn't question what they wanted her to do. Last time she'd been here the voice from the grave had been her mother's. If her mother felt the urge to impart more information, she'd take what she could get.
