Page 101 of Wicked Curses
She’d given in to Orin because it was what she wanted, even though she’d known it would come back to bite her in the ass.
But it hadn’t felt wrong. Not then and not now as the reality of her choice weighed her down. And the truth was, she’dreallyenjoyed herself and wanted more from a dark fae who had probably already moved on to someone else.
She closed her eyes against that reminder. Everything about last night had felt so right that it made the reality of today and waking up alone worse.
And now, as she approached the pub with an armload of books tucked against her chest and Elsa at her side, she was dismayed to realize the place was in full swing. Shouts of revelry poured out from within, singing punctuated the night, women and men danced on the front balconies, and the place was so packed, immortals overflowed onto the porch.
Her steps slowed as they neared the raucous place. She should have expected all these immortals to celebrate, even after working to clean the wreckage left by the scarogs.
“I guess everyone’s celebrating their survival,” Elsa said.
“Yeah,” Sahira muttered.
She wasn’t sure how she would get through the door as the immortals crammed around it focused on the inside while downing their drinks. More of them filtered onto the porch but didn’t leave.
“You can stay at my place tonight,” Elsa offered. “I have an extra bedroom.”
Sahira’s eyes widened; they’d become friendly since she started working at the library, but she hadn’t expected that. “I don’t think the other witches and warlocks would like that.”
They’d both chosen to work in the library and, therefore, had to see each other every day, but Elsa didn’t have to offer Sahira a room in her home. It wouldn’t go over well with the others if Sahira went there tonight.
Elsa shrugged. “I don’t care. I’ve always been more of a lone witch, and I like it that way. Besides, I don’t dislike someone because ofwhatthey are. I’ll hate them because ofwhothey are, though.”
Sahira chuckled while studying the pub and the chaos that had taken over. She was very tempted to say yes.
Not having to fight her way through the crowd was a good reason to avoid Orin. She could even talk herself into believing the crowd was her only reason to take Elsa up on her offer.
However, Zeth and Elsa were the only two sort-of friends she had here. She didn’t consider Orin one; no matter what passed between them, she couldn’t trust him enough to be his friend, and she doubted he wanted that from her.
Sahira couldn’t cause any problems for Zeth or Elsa. And no matter what Elsa said, the other witches and warlocks could make her life a living hell for helping Sahira. She wouldn’t allow that.
“I really appreciate the offer, but I should return to my room,” Sahira said.
“You won’t bring any trouble down on me.”
“We both know that’s probably not true. We have to work together, but I don’t have to go to your house. They’ll see that as a betrayal on your part.”
“I’m not loyal to them. They’ve done nothing to earn it.”
The bitterness in her voice piqued Sahira’s curiosity, but she didn’t question Elsa. She understood not having anything to do with witches and warlocks; she had her reasons, and apparently Elsa did too.
Elsa scowled at the pub as a drunken berserker staggered down the stairs with his arm draped around a dark fae’s shoulders. “I hope you have a silencing spell.”
“I use it every night.”
“Good. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“See you then.”
CHAPTERSEVENTY-FIVE
Sahira startedtoward the pub but stopped when she spotted two lycans screwing against the wall. Trying to act casual, Sahira watched Elsa stroll toward the end of the street. There, she made a right and jogged up the steps of a small log cabin.
Most witches and crones stayed in the tepee-like lodgings on the other side of town near the lake. The warlocks preferred more elegant accommodations; their larger homes had been built near the witches’.
Warlocks and witches didn’t always get along. Some warlocks didn’t hate vampires—that was the witches’ fight—but in this realm, they’d grouped together and exerted strength in numbers.
Yippee for me.
