Page 3 of What The Hex (The Family Spells)
“It is my name, isn’t it?” he asked with a laugh so Lucullan, so smooth, that it nearly undid me. He released my hair, and I moved back a few steps. I did not have the authority to grant him that much time on earth and yet, what was I going to do? Let him rape me? Let my husbands die? Let my mother rot away?
Exhaling sharply, I turned away and gazed out at the dark sea, waves frothing around my feet as I stared at the endless red of the sky. This was not how I expected this mission to end. Did I expect trouble? Sure. But not this kind of trouble. I’d thought I was rid of Monster forever. He rarely—if ever—even crossed my mind anymore. I couldn’t even think of the last time I’d even thought about him.
And also, you did give yourself a forget-for-now potion, I reminded myself. But that was beside the point. A forget-for-now potion only worked until the person, event, or object you were trying to forget was brought up. And here was my person, standing in front of me, smirking.
“I’ll make a deal,” I said, even though I knew this was an offense that could a) get me demoted from High Priestess, b) get me kicked out of the coven, or … c) get me killed.
I could die for this.
But my family meant more to me than I meant to myself.
I’d do it.
“Excellent,” Monster said, running his tongue over his lower lip. His ebony skin caught the red light, shimmering like obsidian. He almost sparkled in it. But despite how pretty he was on the outside, he was nothing but corrupt, broken, and tainted on the in. “Let’s make a deal.” I reached out and grabbed his hand before he could start the spell that would bind us together in the same way that Hex and I were bound.
“Not just yet,” I said, panting hard, doing my best to fight my own traitorous body off. If Monster wanted to, he could amp up the hormones to the point where I’d be tearing my clothes off and throwing myself at him. He could have me in any which way he wanted, for as long as he wanted, and I’d love every second of it. He could literally obliterate every sane thought I had, leave me a throbbing, hormonal mess.
He’d done it once. Just once. And I swore I would never let that happen again.
I couldn’t be me when I was around him; I was a shell of a person.
I’d loved this man once, but love was not enough to overcome his myriad issues. Not even close.
“What do you want?” he asked, letting his smile twist to the side. He was enjoying himself, probably thought of this like a game while in the meantime, people were suffering, my mother was dying, and I had no idea who this Violet chick was and what sort of game she was playing.
I lifted up a hand and started flicking up fingers for each item on my list.
“One, you save my husbands from that spell. Two, you promise to do no harm to me or mine. Three, you tell me everything you know about this demon-witch war. Four, you find Hex and bring him to me at least long enough to cast our soul-circle spell.”
Monster raised both brows and tilted his head to one side, sending his white hair swinging in the warm breeze.
“That’s a lot to ask from someone who has virtually zero leverage. What’s to stop me from rolling you under and just taking everything I want?” Monster lifted his hand, and I saw the white lines crisscrossing his skin turn a brilliant, sparkling white. He was amping up his hormones. It was so intense, I could smell them, like campfire mixed with the sultriness of bergamot and the sweetness of hyacinth.
Goddess, that smell.
I blinked through the rush of pleasure and need.
“Your sense of chivalry and remembered affection for me?” I queried, because why else would he be doing this? Why else would he be here, helping me? “Or are you just here to turn me into a slobbering pleasure slave who crawls around on her hands and knees and begs for your cock?”
Closing my eyes, I sucked in a deep breath. When I opened them again, I found Monster narrow-eyed and glaring at me.
“Deal,” he said, reaching out and clasping his hand to mine.
Magic swirled in the air between us, lifting our hair and clothes, and creating a new magic mark around my wrist. Fan-freaking-tastic.
“I can’t wait for my time above,” he growled, and the way his copper eyes locked on mine, I had a feeling that he’d be making the most of every minute. “I’m going to savor each second.”
“I’m sure you will,” I ground out, gesturing in the direction of the forest. The charms on my hat jangled in the wind, and I reached back to grab my broom. Monster glanced absently to his left, and then scowled.
