Page 59 of The Forty-Year-Old Virgin Witch

“I hardly see what there is to smirk about, wolf. The vampyre attacked a witch—”

“But there’s no evidence if you covered for him—”

“It’s not foolproof! Perhaps they put together her paleness and anemia and figured it out, then contacted the nearest Elder to ask what he knew!”

My inner wolf didn’t like being snapped at, but I stuffed him down. I needed to remain calm and find out what I could. For Karl, for Aggie.

“Help me up.”

Aggie’s tone left no room for disagreement, so I put my hands under her elbow as she carefully stood. Quinn nearly vibrated with anxiety the closer she came to Karl. I didn’t blame him. Karl’s eyes were still red, which wasn’t encouraging.

“Karl, are you still hungry?” Aggie asked.

“You … you aren’t afraid of me?”

I was in just as much shock as Karl.

“You should be,” he snarled, and I couldn’t control myself when Karl hissed at her, fangs bared. A moment later I stood in wolf form, putting myself firmly between Karl and Aggie with my hackles raised. She put a hand on my back, frowning.

“Luka, NO!”

Aggie tried to push around me, but I was an immovable mountain of raw muscle and sinew. Karl continued to huddle in the corner with his arms over his face.

“LET ME PASS!”

Aggie’s face was furious at being ignored, and my knees buckled to the ground like I’d been shoved there. Her magick froze me to the ground as she rushed over to Karl and reached out a tentative hand. Damon darted between them, his tail twitching.

“I’m sorry. It was an accident. I didn’t mean to hurt that witch.”

Karl’s voice was a tortured whisper. Aggie crouched in front of him, ignoring the blood still coating his lapels. Damon yowled a low note of warning, but Aggie ignored him. I shot Quinn a pleading look to do something, but he held his hands in the air. Worthless warlock.

“I know. I know. It’s ok.” She shushed.

“It’s not ok. I’m tired of repressing it. I’m tired of fighting.” Karl sobbed.

Aggie took his face in her hands.

“Do you still need more?” she asked again.

Karl’s other arm fell down, his eyes locked on the dried blood on her neck. His body shook with repressed need, and words tumbled out of his mouth without control.

“My Elder kicked me out before I could feed. I hunted rabbits, but it wasn’t enough. It’s never enough. The witch … I’m sorry.”

I snarled from behind Aggie, and Damon hissed again. I didn’t take that as a good sign.

“Can you feed from me without hurting me?”

“NO WAY! Don’t you fucking dare!” I roared.

I was still stuck by her magick, otherwise I’d be at her side. Quinn stood in alarm, but Aggie whirled on him and gestured with one finger to sit back down. With how heavily he did so, I wondered if it was involuntary or her magick.

Aggie took Karl’s pale face in her hands again and ran her thumb over his cheek. Sucking in a deep breath, Karl closed his eyes.

“Can you control yourself?”

Karl slowly opened his eyes once more. “I would do anything for you.” His entire body shook with need. “You taste so good.”

Damon hopped on Aggie’s shoulder. He hunkered down, glaring at Karl and just … waiting.

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