Page 58 of Wicked Curses
He was ruthless and freely admitted he’d do whatever it took to get his way. He’d revealed tonight that he was ravenous and waiting forherto feed, in the hope she couldn’t control her lust when it happened. It made sense he would try to speed things up.
But he wasn’t trying to take advantage of this situation, and he could. Whatever happened in her room could be a whole new game to him.
She hated that she couldn’t trust him or anyone else in this horrible realm.
When the pounding in her head kicked up again, Sahira winced and lowered her head to press her fingers against her temples.
Whywas someone doing this to her?
Besides the obvious answer of Orin getting her in bed or the witches and warlocks hating her mixed vampire heritage. Was either of those things enough to torture her like this? And how had they gotten past her security system?
Tears burned her eyes, but they weren’t ones of frustration and anger this time. She was so tired, battered, and bruised.
She’d spent her entire life being looked down on and disliked by those who didn’t know her for something she hadnocontrol over. Her parents made this choice, and while she was extremely glad she existed, shouldn’t they be paying the price and not her?
Her father was dead, but her mother lived securely nestled and protected with the witches and had for years. Sahira had found her place of acceptance with Del and Lexi; they were family who loved and protected her.
She’d discovered a great friendship with Kaylia, a woman who had hated vampires more than most. When they first met, Sahira never would have believed they could become friends; they had, but that didn’t matter here.
She was on her own here, and the only one seeking to help her with this was the one who would do everything he could to break her.
CHAPTERFORTY
When Sahira’s tired,sad eyes met his again, something close to pity tugged at his heart, but Orin wasn’t one for that useless emotion. However, he didn’t like that this had battered her so much.
But then, whatever that thing was, it had tried to kill her tonight. If he hadn’t woken, she’d be dead now.
Whatever did this to her had only two goals: tormenting and destroying her. And since she washisto play with in this realm, he wouldn’t let them succeed.
“Has this thing been entering your room every night since you came here to accuse me?” he asked.
“Most nights, but though it’s there, creeping in the shadows and touching me, tonight’s the first time it attacked.”
“I wonder what changed tonight.”
“I think it’s been playing with me, trying to scare me, but it’s growing tired of that. It’s always planned to kill me and has decided it’s time.”
“I asked Belda tonight,” he said. “There are thirty witches and warlocks in this realm; would that be enough to get past your protection spell without setting it off and do something like this? They’d also have to do it without weakening themselves so much that we would notice something. I checked out all the ones who came here tonight, and they all look strong and healthy.”
Sahira’s jaw tightened a little. “Half that number would be enough.”
His teeth ground together as a muscle in his jaw ticked. “Cowards.”
And heabhorreda coward. He didn’t have time for someone who wouldn’t fight their battles face-to-face. Any of the witches or warlocks could have called her out for a fight in the pit.
And she could have told them no, which would have stopped it right then.
His hands clenched until his knuckles turned white. Only half of them would be enough to do this to her, but which fifteen or so was it?
“They could probably use less,” Sahira murmured. “Depending on how strong they are.”
That narrows things down,he thought sardonically.
“Is there some way to find out who’s behind this?” he asked.
“I don’t have that kind of power, especially not against what could be so many of them. If they’re grouping together against….”
Sahira gulped before lifting her chin to meet his gaze. In her eyes was the steely gleam he was familiar with.
