Page 64 of Ravenous

Almost in sight, she continued, “Do you know whatfee-fi-fo-fummeans?Behold food, good to eat, sufficient for my hunger. How fitting!” She emerged through the silvered mist, barefoot, hair gleaming, wearing his coat. Belted tight, nothing else.

The moon had just crested the horizon when the scent of her sex hit him. A double shot of delirium rocked him.

Gods have mercy.

He took in her lustrous green eyes, her curving lips. His attention roamed lower, past her waist.Good to eat, sufficient for my hunger.

No, no! “Ditch, you canna be here.” His voice was hoarse. His fangs and claws grew longer, his beast howling inside him. Only the Mount’s magic held it in check. “You must leave.”

Her smile flashed white and dangerous. “Aren’t you in a pickle, wolf? Not a single guard? Now why would you be caged on this night in a place that tamps down your beast? Is this your ‘kingdom business’?”

He gripped the bars. “Leave. For your own good.”

She drifted closer, ethereal. “Looks like you’ve found your mate. Who’s the lucky female?” She pursed her lips into a red pout that called to his tongue. “Won’t tell me? Maybe you think she’s not receptive?” The moon was directly behind her, limning those horns of hers.

He shuddered with want, his cockhead gone wet. “How did you know I would be here?”

“Unfortunately for you, I’m a witch with witchly ways.” Her laugh was bothcaress and slap. “In that cage, you can look but not touch. You can scent but not taste. Must be maddening that the entire world is passing you by.Icould pass you by.”

“I want you to. You must go! Godsdamn you, witch.”

“Oh, Thane, they did that long ago.”

“You doona know what you’re playing with.”

“Fire?” She licked her lips. “What if I like the burn?”

Fuuuck.

Chapter 26Ditch

“I thought it might be me.”

She hadn’tknown—not until she’d seen the look in Thane’s eyes behind those bars. That predatory possessiveness. His deepest, darkest desire was to claim his mate.

Me.

If she were a suspicious person—she was!—Ditch might wonder if the elder witches of Akelarre had foreseen this fated tie. Was that why they’d dispatched her to the Skein?

She was young for a leader, but her powers were prodigious. Ditch had believed she’d forced Akelarre’s hand.

Am I…fodder?

She frowned. Ditchorchestratedfodder; she didn’tbecomeit.

“You canna stay,” Thane grated. “What if the griffin returns?”

She tilted her head. “No wonder you were so protective of me that night. Only one female in all of eternity is fated to you. You’d do anything to keep her safe.”

“Answer the question.”

“If I were in mortal danger,” she countered, “could you not break free to save me?”

His silence was answer enough.

“Why this cage and subterfuge?” she asked softly. “Why not tell me the truth and roll the dice?”

“You’re no’ ready for me. And once this bond is forged…”