Page 99 of Black Willow Witch
‘Why wouldn’t I? You’re mine. My scent on your skin says so. Now, what don’t I know?’ He leaned in, planting his palm on her thigh. ‘Talk to me.’
Sighing, she flicked a hand. Suddenly, all the sounds around them became muffled. He realized she’d formed a sort of magickal invisible bubble around them.
‘I had an interesting visit from Reena today. Relax,’ Emberlyn added when he tensed. ‘She didn’t harass me to give up the manor again. It wasn’t about that.’
‘Then what?’ he asked, leery.
‘She has a theory.’ Emberlyn licked at her ice cream just before it dripped onto her finger. ‘She believes that whoever buried curse jars on what’s now your land did it to foil her plans,notimpact Millicent. Reena feels that she’s the main target. Lincoln may have been sent after me, but what happened to him has turned the clans against the coven, which weakens her standing.’
Ripper twisted his mouth, considering that. ‘She could be right. I automatically assumed that this was aboutyou, since you have enemies. But maybe that’s what someone is counting on.’Reena’s theory actually made a lot more sense, because targeting Emberlyn was nothing short of self-destructive.
Emberlyn took another lick of her ice cream. ‘Reena wanted a list of the coven members who came to me for the kind of spells and potions she’d deem amoral. She’s trying to identify who’s part of the faction. It is likely one of them – maybe even all of them – who’s behind this. To take so many risks, they must have a substantial goal in mind.’
‘Like becoming High Priestess.’
Emberlyn nodded. ‘That would be my guess.’ She paused as half the crowd erupted into cheers that barely overrode the whines and groans of the rivalling team’s fans. ‘Our cunning little culprit is pitting others against Reena. Now the coven feels unsafe. It wouldn’t be hard for one voice or a few to convince others to put pressure on her to step down. If that doesn’t work, they’ll try something else.’
‘Like what?’
‘When aiming to take over the coven, Reena thought of either challenging Millicent or trying to drive her out of Chilgrave to make a statement. She warned me that whoever wants her position could think of doing the same to me.’
Just the thought made anger scratch at his insides. Once, he’d looked at Emberlyn andwanted. Now? Oh, there was still plenty of ‘want’. But it was different. More.
He wanted to possess, protect, cosset, keep, hog her. And he didnotfucking want other witches coming at her. She’d dealt with enough of that shit.
It pained him to say it, but . . . ‘Again, she could be right. Our culprit is cunning, like you said. But they’re not wise, or they wouldn’t have dragged you into this. They also wouldn’t have underestimated Reena’s willingness to do what’s necessary to keep her position, even if it meant consulting you.’ He paused. ‘So you two are allies now?’
‘Hell, no.’ Leaning down, Emberlyn plopped her ice-cream stick into the empty soda can on the floor between her feet. ‘I don’t trust Reena as far as I can throw her, nor do I have a modicum of respect for her. And I will never forgive her degree of inaction over the years. But I can still be objective here and concede that she made valid points. Plus, it’ll be good to let itseemas though she and I are on good terms. It’ll make any faction members nervous to see me and Reena seeming civil. If they’d aimed to come between us, they’ll realize they failed. I do like to highlight when the assholes from the coven fail at anything.’
A smile built in his chest because, yeah, he’d noticed.
Just then, the noise around them turned louder, so she’d evidently dropped the ‘bubble’.
Paisley glanced from him to Emberlyn. ‘What are you keeping so secret?’
Emberlyn waved her hand. ‘I’ll tell you tomorrow, it’s not important.’
‘Speaking of tomorrow,’ Ripper cut in, ‘you’re working, right?’
‘Until two p.m.,’ Emberlyn told him. ‘I’ll drop off some clients’ laundry on my way home, and then I’ll be done for the day.’
‘I’ll meet you at your place around six.’
She tilted her head. ‘You were serious about spending the full moon with me?’
‘Very serious.’ And equally serious about what he’d promised he’d do to her.
She must have been remembering that promise, because heat seeped into her eyes. ‘All right.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Stood just inside the doorway of her apartment, Paisley knocked back the elixir and shuddered a little. ‘Tastes like green tea, but super minty.’
Emberlyn took the empty potion bottle from her and jammed the stopper into it. ‘You nervous about tonight?’
Paisley let out a quick breath, putting a hand to her stomach. ‘Yes. Crew keeps reassuring me that I’ll be fine; says he’ll be right there and won’t leave my side. But even now, the lunar goings-on are affecting me. Like my body knows that a full moon is coming. I’m a little scared to find out just how strong an impact it’ll have. I don’t want to end up in my In-between form, or wake up smelling of bad sexual decisions.’
‘If Crew said he won’t leave you, then he won’t leave you. Which means the only person you’d be getting down and dirty with is him.’
