Page 18 of Lycan Witch

She splashes water at me, then moves to swim away, but I grab her wrist and pull her back to me. An arm wrapped around her waist, I crush her chest to mine. My eyes search hers, her slightly parted lips, her lashes darkened with water, her flushed cheeks. Bending my head down, I press my lips to hers before sucking her bottom one into my mouth and nipping slightly.

“How did you catch me?” I whisper, my narrowed gaze taking in her sudden smirk.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” She tries to swim away again, laughing when I pull her back to me.

“Come on, little witch.” I tilt her jaw up with a finger crooked beneath her chin, trailing kisses from her lips to her jaw. “Tell me your secrets,” I say, kissing down her neck into the dip of her collarbone.

She swallows hard, and her hands come up to cling onto my shoulders.

“How did you pull me beneath the water?” I nip at her shoulder, then slide my tongue over the reddened skin, smirking as she shivers beneath my touch.

“My wolf,” she breathes.

I pull my head back, my brows furrowed. “Your wolf? Did you tap into the mate bond?”

She nods, her eyes wide with surprise. “Did I do it wrong? Did I hurt you? Gods, I—”

“No, no, you didn’t hurt me. I’m just surprised.” I lean my forehead against hers. “You’d have to be very bonded with your wolf to tap into my strength. I… I haven’t even tried it myself.” I rub the tip of my nose against hers. “You are as unpredictable as a flame,mia fiamma.And just as fierce.”

She smiles when I kiss her forehead. “If I’m the flame, what does that make you?”

I chuckle. “The trees, of course.”

She scrunches up her face. “No—”

“Yes. You consume me, and I will happily feed your fire as you reduce this world to ash.”

She pulls away sharply, tearing herself from my arms and swimming to shore. “Why do you keep talking like that? I don’twantto destroy everything, Gideon!”

I swim behind her, following her to the shoreline where the grass meets the water’s edge. “Fire doesn’t just destroy. It cleanses. Adara,” I reach out, entwining her fingers with mine. “Fire allows new life to grow, new beginnings to flourish. Flames burn the old to ash, and the earth recaptures that into its soil to breathe new life into the world.”

Staring down at our hands, she sighs. “I’m tired. I think I’ll head back and go to bed.”

“Let’s go then.” I squeeze her hand, but she shakes her head.

“I’d like the time to think. You stay,” she says.

Frowning, I duck my head to catch her gaze.

She gives me a small smile. “I’ll be fine.” Rising onto her tiptoes, she places a gentle kiss on my cheek and turns to leave, shifting as she moves toward the trees.

Watching until she disappears into the woods, I sigh, then turn toward the water. Sliding back in, I make a few laps to work off the frustration of knowing I somehow pissed her off again, or at the very least pushed her away.

You’re growing clingy,my wolf laughs.

“Go away,” I growl, wading through the water toward the grassy shore.

“You won’t even hear me out?” a small voice asks.

My head whips around, finding Aramin standing by the tree line, her arms wrapped around her naked body. Dirt covers most of her skin, and leaves are woven through her matted hair. Her minty scent clings to her, hidden beneath another layer of… something foul. My lip curls in disgust. “No, go back to whatever shithole you crawled out of.” I make my way toward the tree line, wanting to swing by the house before I head to the bar, knowing I need to check on how things are going there but that I won’t be able to focus until I know Adara is alright.

Aramin’s arms wrap tighter around her middle, her eyes focused on the ground at my feet. “Please, Dee. I didn’t meant to hurt you—”

A harsh laugh escapes me, and I turn back to her. “Wasn’t that exactly your intention? Take your bullshit lies andleave, Aramin. You have no business here.”

Her eyes snap to mine, anger raging behind their mossy green color. “I didn’t tell the council you were mates, even though it was ridiculously obvious.”

I narrow my gaze at her. “And why is that? Why did you leave that part out?’

---