Page 78 of Break Her Heart
Winnie stepped forward, smile slow and cruel. “No. I am yourqueen.”
Gods help anyone who forgot that.
“They are traitors to the coven and will be dealt with as such.” Winnie’s eyes narrowed. “Should I add you to the list of people I need todealwith?”
The woman blanched. “I—I had no idea. I swear it! I may not care for you, but your brother… your brother has proven to be just like your father, even with his difficulties with magic. Caring. Honorable. I am loyal.”
Winnie took a step forward, letting the silence stretch between them. “Which one was Alden?” she asked.
“The one with the red hair,” the woman answered quickly.
Winnie gave a single, decisive nod. “And where can I find him?”
“He lives right outside of town. The blue house with green shutters.”
We walked toward the woods as the sun started to set. Silence stretched between us. I couldn’t help but replay the conversation in my head as I looked at her. She tried to act like it wasn’t bothering her, but I could hear her heart and saw how her fists clenched and unclenched.You take from whoever you please. Traitors to the coven.And yet her brother—the one who took responsibility when Winnie came with me—was no where to be found.
“Did Adar ask you to handle this for him?”
She shot me a look. “No. One of Papa’s friends stopped me in town and told me. Adar acted like nothing was wrong at breakfast.”
I followed closely behind her as she headed down the driveway that led to a nicer home compared to the ones surrounding it. Large windows sat on both sides of a wooden door. Candles illuminated the inside, and though no one was in view, I could hear three heartbeats, one closer than the other two.
So he didn’tknowwhat she was doing. “He isn’t going to be happy about this.”
“Since when are you my voice of reason?”
I smiled and gestured to the door. “After you, Winnie.”
Every step she took, I felt it like a thread pulling tight in my chest. I wanted to reach for her elbow, to guide her away from the house and back into the dark—anywhere but here. Not because I feared the danger inside. I feared what I’d do if she got hurt. I feared what I’d become if she didn’t come back out.
I swallowed that impulse like I always did. Stuffed it down with all the other things I wanted and couldn’t have.
She stopped and turned to me.
“I thought you couldn’t come into people’s homes. Like it was a vampire’s weakness—like the sun—or something.”
“No. It was just another one of Carrow’s rules.”
She scoffed. “You followed none of his rules. Why didn’t you come into my home?”
“Because your father had a protection spell on your home, actually one larger than any other I’ve come across. It reached all the way to the trees, and I wasn’t testing it.”
She gave a soft smile before looking back at the door.
“It’s probably spelled,” I muttered as I shifted on my feet.
“Oh, I’m counting on it.”
She placed her hand on the door and inhaled deeply as she concentrated. I knew that look all too well. Whatever feeling magic gave her, it must be similar to what I feel when I feed.
Gods, just looking at her turned me on. I loved how easy it was. How my mind went from murder to worship with a single glance. She could’ve burned me to ash and I’d still think she looked divine doing it. There was something wrong with me—I knew it. But knowing didn’t stop the craving. I didn’t want her. I needed her.
Her eyes shot open and the door blasted into the home, splintering and knocking over glass. She stepped inside, scanning the room. I held my breath as I stepped in after her, half-expecting to be set on fire from the protection spell they had on the door, but nothing happened. Winnie took all of the magic.
She turned her head to a redheaded man who must have fallen out of his chair in the chaos, and his eyes widened.
My fists curled at my sides. That part, small and battered as it was, still screamed to pull her behind me. To shield her. Even though I knew she didn’t need it. Even though I knew she’d hate me for trying.
