Page 3 of Bite of Passage
Val had promisedto rescind whatever love spell she’d cast, but Gemma wouldn’t put it past the witch to have crossed her fingers behind her back.The good news was as a junior witch she sucked at love spells—or so Val had claimed a few months ago.
Maybe Gemma would get a wild, realistic dream with Skarde out of it.
Her Friday night binge marathon was about to kick off.She toed off her shoes and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.
The opening bars of the show’s dissonant theme boomed around her.Skarde Blackmann’s image flashed across the screen in the opener with his long dark hair and sharp gray eyes.
She yanked her bra out from beneath her thin green scrubs, tossed it across the room, and snuggled into the ultra-soft fleece throw blanket she’d splurged on three months ago for Christmas.
The scene opened to a royal ball at Queen Petra's palace.The filming style was unique, with an unedited, reality-TV style, but in a late medieval Scotland setting with magical creatures of all types.No modern conveniences existed.Even medicine involved a lot of mortar and pestle mixing of herbs and smoke.
Women in gorgeous, colorful dresses with yards of twirling fabric and daring necklines and men in kilts maneuvered the dance floor to a rousing traditional bagpipe dance.The scene showcased the production’s artistic costuming and investment in effects—a creature made entirely of water served drinks, a warlock with moving tattoos on his arms danced, and the scene cut to the off-limits witch’s closet full of grotesque fantastical creatures in cages and bottles.
The main three characters who flitted in and out of Skarde’s life peeked into the closet but shut it, disappointed.The three humans called themselves the Hunters—an Asian man, a blonde woman who had to be an ex-pro wrestler, and a man with brown skin and the lightest blue eyes she’d ever seen.They were after a demon crystal they suspected Petra, the cliché evil witch, had recently acquired.The crystal was one of a triad that, if united, could summon a demon army.The three Hunters claimed Petra wanted to get Skarde in bed.Skeptical, he reluctantly attended the event in order to serve as bait.He'd distract Petra while the Hunters searched the castle.They seemed to hope if they failed to find the crystal, he could romance the information on its whereabouts out of her.One of his superpowers, according to the Hunters, was to seduce anyone and keep his head out of entanglements.
To Gemma’s disappointment the vampire didn’t show off his legs in a kilt, although he wore a deep green and black tartan draped across his body.His pants and shirt were dark, possibly made of leather.
Now in a dark corridor, the witch queen, Petra, exposed Skarde’s pendant from beneath his shirt, a dark metal disc embossed with a Celtic sigil.What an obnoxious excuse to touch his chest.She wore a red, fitted gown designed to bring her curves into relief.Tossing her long blonde hair out of the way made the charm bracelet on her left hand jingle.The charms were golden hearts of various sizes.The witch struck a seductive pose complete with a lip pout.
“She’s so cringy,” Gemma said out loud, as if he could hear her.“She knows you’re after the crystal.You’re smarter than this.”
Skarde chuckled, low and seductive, but the implied passion didn’t reach his eyes.They remained distant and dark despite their gray color.Little history had been revealed about him on the show.She had many unanswered questions.How had he ended up a vampire?Was it by choice?Did he turn humans into vampires?If so, how was that done?
Petra fisted a small dagger, barely larger than a letter opener.
Gemma straightened and leaned forward.The show wasn’t allowed to hurt—possibly kill—him!Not on her watch.
Out loud she yelled, “Careful, Skarde.She’s got a knife!”
Skarde leaned away from Petra.His eyebrows lowered and wrinkles gathered in the middle of his forehead as he glanced around as if he’d heard her warning.
As.If.He’d.Heard?
For a moment he seemed to stare through the TV screen at Gemma.It had to be a camera trick—a good one.
Her waning tequila buzz must be messing with her head.
Petra arched into him.She said something low and suggestive.Skarde stared at the witch’s breasts.Maybe she didn’t intend to use the knife on him.
Gemma sighed with relief, then grabbed her water and took a huge gulp.She rolled her eyes when Skarde continued staring at the witch’s chest.Out loud she talked to the TV, “I’m pretty sure she’s sleeping with your enemy.What’s his name?VanFliet?”
Petra’s excitement and almost predatory evaluation of Skarde suggested an agenda that had nothing to do with the crystals.Maybe lust propelled her interest in him.He was smoking hot in those tight dark pants wrapping his thick legs.
Gemma said to the screen, “Don’t trust her.Be careful.”She shook her head to herself.Why was she talking to the TV as if he could hear her?
His shoulders stiffened.Petra jabbed the knife deep into his side.
Gemma screamed.
Skarde grabbed Petra’s left hand and slammed the witch against the wall.He plucked out the blade and dropped it to the floor.“What was that?”
His deep, accented voice, although pissed, was tinged with pain.The need to help him clenched Gemma’s stomach.
“You like getting hurt, don’t you?Turns you on?”The witch had the audacity to laugh.
“Don’t die on me, Skarde.Please.”Gemma scooted to the edge of her sofa as a new thought hit her.“Are you into pain in the bedroom like she says?Does it get you off?”
He flinched after Gemma said that, as if he could actually hear her.
