Page 47 of Wicked Curses
Taking a deep breath, she kicked her quilt off and rolled to the left before leaping from the bed. Enough light filtered through her open windows to reveal the black mass on the other side.
She couldn’t see much else about it as it hovered near her bed, but the blackness was thicker over there. When she first woke and sensed this thing in her room, she’dknownit was there, but seeing this blob was like a kick in the teeth.
Part of her yearned to turn and flee, but the other part refused to be intimidated by this thing…whateverit was. With the dagger in hand, Sahira released a small cry as she leapt onto the bed and ran across to the other side.
She swung out with the dagger and sliced downward as she cleaved through the mass, but it was gone. Confused by what happened, Sahira turned to examine her room, but nothing was there.
“What the…?”
She was certain it had been there.Certain!
It wasn’t a trick of the light; that darkness was real, and she’d heard the floor creak. It had been here, but where did it go? How did it get in? Andwhatdid it want?
Her shoulders heaved, and her heart raced, but though it was gone, she knew that thing had been there!
And it appeared to have been made of shadows. With a sinking sensation, a horrible realization settled over her.
Noonecontrolled the shadows like the dark fae.
Sahira’s attention shifted to the door as her fear and confusion turned to rage. Orin’s room was next to hers. Orin, who hated the wordno, who hadn’t been as overt in his sexual advances as he once was but still schemed to get her into his bed because she was a challenge, he was bored, and what a fun game for him to play.
Whywouldn’the screw with her in this way? He might believe it would push her into his bed instead of trying to kill him.
He was wrong about that.
With the dagger in hand, Sahira stalked toward her door, unlocked it, and entered the hall. She didn’t question why it remained locked when something had been in her room—locks didn’t stop shadows.
She looked left and right, but no one stood there, waiting to pounce on her. The building was dark, quiet, and shrouded in shadows that swayed and parted as she stalked toward Orin’s room.
Sahira didn’t know when everyone had left the pub, but she’d guess it was at least a couple of hours ago, as the light coming through the windows was turning gray. She shifted the dagger to grasp Orin’s doorknob.
She didn’t plan to knock; he’d come into her room uninvited, and she would do the same. However, she was annoyed to discover the knob didn’t turn beneath her hand. It didn’t astonish her, but it did irritate her.
Taking a deep breath, she battered the door with her fist. “Open up!”
She didn’t stop knocking to hear if he’d risen; she just kept pounding until the door flew open, and her hand fell forward. Her knuckles skimmed his arrogant, too-handsome face instead of giving it the full blow it deserved.
“What thefuckare you doing?” she demanded.
He blinked at her from eyes still swollen with sleep. His black hair was tussled around his head, but his pointed ears still poked through it.
If she didn’t know better, Sahira might believe he’d been sleeping, but she didn’t believe it because shedidknow better.
“What the fuck areyoudoing?” he retorted.
Sahira’s eyes narrowed on him. “Why were you in my room?”
He yawned and rubbed his face. “Little witch, if I was in your room, I’d still be between your thighs.”
She thrust the dagger into his face and held the tip beneath his chin.
His amusement and confusion vanished as malice glimmered in his crow-black eyes. “You better watch where you point your blade. I’ve been nice up until now, but I don’t take threats lightly.”
The low growl of his words and the menace emanating from him probably should have caused her to retreat, but she wouldn’t back down from this asshole and whatever game he played. She didn’t move the blade.
“You and your shadows stayoutof my room. The next time I catch you in there, I’ll gut you from your balls to your throat.”
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed away. She pushed through the door of her room when she felt him pressing against her as he followed her inside.
