Page 31 of Hell Hath No Fury
So me picking him up—using most of my strength that, despite my slight frame, was impressive and maybe a smidge of magick—and positioning him on the bike was the most appropriate choice of action.
Well, no, the most appropriate choice of action would’ve been to leave him dying on the side of the road.
I’d never been one for the most appropriate. I was reckless, impulsive, I didn’t think about the consequences of my actions … all reasons why I wasn’t the head of the coven where I belonged. I was just living up to my name.
At least that’s what I was telling myself as I used the energy from the machine to keep his body glued upright until I released it.
It wasn’t anything to do with the thin, warm and increasingly strong thread that had somehow appeared between us since I made the decision to stop.
Maybe even before that.
There was something larger, older and definitely magical at work here. But I chose to ignore that … because of my recklessness and all that.
And because it was wet as shit out here, and I’d just had my hair done.
My room in the compound was out of the question, of course. Even my closest friends would have questions about the injured and bewitched mortal I had brought in like a stray dog.
There was only one place to take him.
* * *
My mother’s cottage was in the very heart of our property but still miles away from the main compound. It had its own entrance, warded and spelled so it only revealed itself to the current resident and those welcome.
And since my mother’s death, I was the current resident. Traditionally, this cottage would belong to the head of the coven: It was, after all, in the center of the property, the heart, its soil fertile, powerful, underneath a strong fault line with a creek leading to a waterfall that contained sacred and healing waters.
Access to this point of the property was restricted only to those who could handle and respect the powers contained here. And Ridley was absolutely furious that it was not given to her along with the title. She had thrown quite a tantrum. It had taken the edge off my fury, somewhat, but it still burned brightly inside of me.
I hadn’t been here since I was made guardian of the cottage. In fact, I’d planned on never setting foot on this soil, as a giant fuck you to my mother and mostly Ridley. Though even I wouldn’t disrespect my ancestors and the craft in such a way.
But I was definitely going to make everyone wonder just how much I was willing to ruin with my rebellion. Childish, yes. But I felt remarkably like a child with my mother denying what was rightfully mine.
As I drove through the ivy-covered gates that opened for me, something settled heavy inside of me. Like a pebble droppingdown into a deep pond. The ripple effect sent a sense of calm radiating through my body, even though I tried to fight it.
It was impossible to fight it.
I was home.
In my rightful place. Where my mother had been before me.
Abruptly, the Witch Water stopped pouring.
I ignored this, pushing away the feelings of rightness that came with being in this place, because if I acknowledged them, I would have to address the emptiness that ran alongside them …the unrecognized crack of grief through my foundation.
Instead, I focused on the warmth of the stranger’s body behind me. His arms had been resting at his sides—he didn’t need those impressive and sinewy forearms to hold on, my magick stronger than those yet at some point, they’d moved to be firmly around my waist.
How I hadn’t noticed this immediately, I wasn’t sure.
I also wasn’t sure why I didn’t do anything to rectify it. At first, I thought it was because he was awake, although that didn’t track since the last time he was conscious, he was holding a knife to my throat, and I doubted his next move would be to cuddle up to me while riding bitch.
This man was an alpha male. The energy around him pulsated with that. Not to mention his sheer size and muscles. I had a sneaking suspicion that he’d sooner launch himself off this bike than ride bitch.
Something in his unconscious mind had fought against my magick enough to circle my waist with his arms.
He shouldn’t have been able to do that.
But he did.
I shouldn’t have liked it.
