Page 39 of Soul of a Witch

We walked on, passing through a dense section of woodland that was teeming with wildflowers. Their scent filled the air, a heady perfume that could swiftly make a human drowsy if they weren’t careful.

“The flowers are enchanted, aren’t they?” Everly said. Her nose wrinkled as she sniffed. “The smell of them is so potent.”

“Not enchanted, but certainly magic. Darragh has command over this forest. He knows every tree, every plant, every root. The forest protects the house, and in return, the coven protected the forest. At least, while there was still a coven present.”

A violent twitch ran up my back, and I paused. Somewhere behind me, deep within the trees, a twig snapped. The birds were silent. The air was strangely still.

Everly noticed my hesitation. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing at all. We should move quickly, before the flowers get to your head. They’ll have you walking in circles if you breathe their toxins for too long.”

But something was wrong indeed.

Before we parted ways, Everly tore both her map and my sigil out of her notebook. Folding them up and storing them within a small plastic bag she dug out of her purse, she buried them in the woods close to her family’s house.

“You’ll be watching, right?”

She’d come up with a simple story to explain her disappearance, but there was no guarantee her family would believe her. But the only evidence of deceit was now buried, safely stowed away for when she needed it.

“Always.” Combing my fingers through her hair, I gripped the long locks and pulled her close, kissing her tender mouth. Her body was tight, tense and uncertain for a split second before she melted against me. “Remember this, darling. Even when you can’t see me, I’ll be there. No one can harm you. No one else can touch you.”

“No one else?” A little grin took over her mouth, and I longed to kiss her again. “Besides yourself, you mean?”

“Certainly.”

“As if you own me?”

Still gripping her hair, I pulled her head back just a little more, letting her feel the ache of my hold. “I could not own you any more than one can own the ocean, or a storm, or a forest fire. Those are not things one owns; their beauty and power cannot be claimed in such a way. But they can be chased. And they can be worshiped.”

When she exhaled, sparks flashed in her breath.

“Then I’ll see you soon?”

“I swear it.”

I loathed watching her go, and loathed it even more when I heard the raised voices of her family at her arrival. But her absence was for the best. That prickling feeling was creeping up my neck again, and I knew with certainty this time…

I was being hunted.

15

Callum

As the sun dipped below the horizon, stretching the shadows and casting the woodlands into gray dusk, I was hunting.

But I wasn’t the only one. Somewhere beneath those very same trees, another demon was hunting me too. It was unlikely she had any intent of hurting me. Sneaking around her in circles, masking my presence so she could no longer pinpoint exactly where I was, was no doubt going to infuriate her to the point shewishedshe could hurt me though.

I’d never played nice with authority figures. No demon had ever turned down an invitation to be a member of the council, none had ever refused Lucifer’s mark. It was an honor, a true accomplishment, something most demons would envy.

But not me. To say Lucifer had been displeased with me would be an understatement.

But that was hundreds of years ago. Surely the bastard had forgiven me by now.

Laughing to myself, I said aloud, “Surely not. Lucifer isn’t the forgiving type, is he?”

“Not in the least.”

Her voice was close behind me, but I didn’t turn. I just grinned, nodding my head and shifting from foot to foot, considering if I should make this even more difficult for her and run.

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