Page 8 of Crimson Devotion
That’s when she strikes. She lifts her arm up, swinging the stake, and aiming for my heart. I have to give it to her — for a human, she’s fast. Unfortunately, not fast enough. My hand catches her wrist before she can even come close to my heart, her eyes narrowing a fraction.
My grip on her wrist tightens, and for a second, nothing happens. Then, pain unlike I’ve felt before. A piercing scream comes from the deepest parts of my throat, the burning sensation in my palm worsening with each passing moment.
Quickly, I pull my hand back, staring at my palm. It looks as if I’d just put my entire palm on the stove, the burning wound deep, painful, and red. I step backward, lifting my eyes to meet hers.
A look of surprise is on her face, then she chuckles. My eyes dip to her neck, and I can feel the magic oozing off it. Not just any magic — no, the magic of the oldest witch alive. The same cunt that cursed us for life.
“You know her,’’ I state, tension lifting off my shoulders when the wound starts healing. “Yvonne. You know her.’’
“I do.’’ She smirks, stepping forward. “And looks like her magic works. She did promise it’d keep you away.’’
“Unfortunately, I also know Yvonne. And being as old as I am, did you not think I would’ve found a way around her nasty little tricks by now?”
Her smirk falters briefly, but she forces it back. “Still, itworks. Meaning, you’ll have issues killing me.’’
My laugh fills our surroundings, the sound reverberating through the deserted halls of the ancient castle. The woman is caught of guard, surprised by the sound of my laughter.
“What’s your name, little hunter?”
“Faith,’’ she responds, a hint of skepticism in her tone.
“Faith,’’ I repeat, not quite liking the way the name rolls off my tongue. It’s almost as if the name itself was made for me to say, for it to come out of my mouth, and my mouth only. My chest tightens, and I don’t like this feeling, not in the slightest. “Well, Faith,’’ I draw out. “You’ve come to kill me, haven’t you?”
“Yes.’’
“How about I make you a deal?”
She tilts her head to the side. “A deal?”
“Yes,’’ I hum, stepping closer. “Starting now, you have forty-eight hours to kill me. I will not try to hurt you, in any way, shape, or form. If you succeed in immobilizing me enough to kill me, my life is yours.’’
“Just like that?” she asks, eyes narrowing. “And what happens if I can’t kill you?”
“Where did all that confidence go, little hunter?” I chuckle. “If you fail, I’ll keep you as my blood vessel.’’
“You said you hated them.’’
“I do.’’ I nod. “But the thought of rendering a hunter of your caliber to nothing more than a blood bag for me is such an exciting concept, don’t you think?”
Her hand clenches around the stake, and her mind starts working. She’s contemplating whether to take the deal, and I can’t help but find it all amusing. I don’t remember the last time I’ve had so much fun, because the mere prospect of keeping this little hunter all to myself is making me shake with joy.
“Well?”
“Fine.’’ She releases a deep breath. “I’ll take the deal. Forty-eight hours.’’
“Use them wisely. You’ve managed to intrigue me, little hunter. It’s a first in a long time.’’
“That sounds like an insult.’’
“Perhaps it is.’’ I chuckle and turn on my heel, walking slowly back to the inside of the castle. Pausing, I look at her over my shoulder. “Oh, one more thing.’’
“Yes?”
“Basement is off limits,’’ I warn, my tone leaving no room for argument. “If I so much as suspect you even dared to lay your hands on my little brother, I’ll kill you in the most painful ways possible.’’
FOUR
Faith
