Page 40 of Black Willow Witch
‘That you’re even more powerful than the coven thinks you are.’
Definitelynot all brawn. Emberlyn only said, ‘Hmm.’ She pushed away from the island. ‘I’d better head home. I appreciate you giving me a heads-up about what my delightful family is up to now.’ He’d made a point of ensuring that she couldn’t be taken off-guard with it, which he hadn’thadto do. ‘You know, Ripper . . . you’re okay. For a werewolf.’
His mouth twitched. ‘You’re okay. For a witch.’
Her insides squeezed as he absently edged forward, again sipping from his cup. He stood a little too close, smelled a little too good, and she felt unbearably conscious of him. Of where hestood, how he held himself, the look in his eyes, the muscles in his body, the . . . gah, this needed to stop. Because while she was tempted to make a move, try her luck, it didn’t seem wise.
If he wasn’t on board, things might then be awkward between them. Just because they were now allies and slowly becoming comfortable with each other didn’t automatically mean that he’d be receptive to any advances she made, did it? He was evidently still wary of her to some degree.
If he made his own advances, well, she couldn’t say she’d rebuff them. But – and call her a coward, she didn’t care – she wasn’t going to try to instigate anything. It wasRipper’sissues in the way, not hers. At the very least, he needed to be given time to power past them . . . if he could or even cared to.
‘Later,’ Emberlyn said stiffly, her smile a little too wide. She saw herself out and, without allowing herself to peek in the rearview mirror to see if he’d followed her to the door, she drove off. During the journey home, she gave her lady bits a huge lecture on how they needed to pull their shit together.
By the time she’d parked outside the manor, dusk had officially fallen. Orange, purple and pink smudged the darkening sky. Silhouettes of the house and trees stretched out like fingers.
Emberlyn slid out of the car, purse and laundry bag in hand. Her evening plans were simple and basically involved tea, food, a book andmaybealso a bath. Possibly also some clit-love during that bath. It might be the only way to make her hormones calm down.
She closed the car door, locked it with the fob—
A long, drawn-out growl grated the air. It was low. Rumbly. Spine-chilling.
And it had come from somewhere on her left.
Her pulse jumping, she froze. But only for a moment. Ever so slowly, she turned toward the sound.
A figure lumbered out from behind the willow tree. A figure that was overly tall, broad, long-limbed – and covered in fur. Not quite man, not quite animal. Its yellow eyes were pinned on her, glowing with malicious intent. It snarled, baring long canines.
A Rabid.
Her heart went ahead and skipped a beat.
It wasn’t the first time she’d found herself up close and personal with a Rabid, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. Her options were always the same – capture it or scare it off, because she wasn’t going to kill it.
The Rabid roared in challenge, flexing its thick claw-tipped fingers. Then it rushed her.
Dropping her purse and laundry bag, she lifted her hands and blasted out a force of glittering, electrically charged magick. The Rabid flew backwards, crashing into the tree, causing the branches to shudder and creak.
Emberlyn began chanting beneath her breath, intending to put the creature to sleep, but it recovered fast and came at her again.
Pausing the spell, she hit it with another blow of magick – ortriedto. It lurched to the side, dodging the glittering ribbons, and then lunged at her.
Emberlyn backpedaled fast but didn’t manage to avoid the arm that reached for her. Hissing as its claws sliced into her shoulder like hot knives, she blasted it with magick again, sending it to its knees with a howl of pain. It reached for her once more, clawing her calf—
‘The fuck?’ a male voice exclaimed behind her as footsteps thundered her way. She recognized the voice instantly –Logan.
The Rabid jumped to its feet and quickly but awkwardly scurried away, disappearing into the shadows.
Its retreat wasn’t a surprise. On a full moon, it wouldn’t care about being outnumbered; would stay and fight. But on anormal day – injured and operating on animal logic – it wouldn’t hang around and risk being taken down.
Reaching her, Logan grimaced at her shoulder wound. ‘You all right?’
No, her injuries were burning like the fires of hell. ‘Fine and dandy.’
He blew out a breath. ‘Come on, let’s get you inside.’
CHAPTER TEN
Placing his washed cup on the drainer, Ripper gazed out of his kitchen window. He needed to get out of the room. Emberlyn’s scent lingered, faint now but still a tease to his senses.
