Page 63 of Wicked Curses
Perched on the edge of the bed with dagger in hand, she thirsted for blood and answers as the shadows dissipated enough to reveal Orin. When he shifted to the side, Radagast’s face appeared as whatever spell he’d used to cloak himself fell apart.
CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR
Sahira almost tumbledoff the bed when she spotted the refined warlock beneath Orin. She hadn’t talked to him much since the night they all got drunk together, but they’d exchanged some pleasantries, and unlike some of the other warlocks and most of the witches, heneverhad a problem with her.
He’dintervenedwhen Blair was being a complete bitch. He’d sat at a table and drank with her, all while plotting tokillher. And he’d most certainly been determined to kill her last night.
Betrayal twisted like a knife in her gut and sliced upward like it would cut her in half. She didn’t know why she was so astounded or wounded by this; her own mother abandoned and turned her back on her after she was born.
However, seeing Radagast, a man who’d only ever been kind to her, lying on the floor, sucked the air from her lungs.Son of a bitch!
She had no idea how the warlock slipped past her protective barrier without setting it off; even if he was older and stronger than her, he wouldn’t have known the right words to break through. He’d avoided the traps because he was wearing boots and could see them, but the spell stumped her.
Radagast clawed at Orin’s face, pushing his chin upward as the heavier warlock sought to break free of his grip. Pulling his fist back, Orin delivered a bone-crunching blow to Radagast’s too-perfect face.
Blood sprayed outward, but his newly flattened nose didn’t break Radagast’s hold on Orin. Sahira smiled as Orin repeatedly punched him until blood soaked Radagast’s clothes and the floor.
The coppery tang on the air pricked her fangs as hunger hammered at her, but she wouldn’t drink this foul creature’s blood. She’d drink Orin’s before she ever sank that low.
Her hand clenched on the dagger’s hilt as she searched for an opening to ensure Radagast died. Unfortunately, she didn’t get one, as they remained entangled in one another.
Planting his feet on the floor, Radagast lifted his hips and tried to throw Orin off. When that failed, the warlock, unable to get a good blow in against him, threw his head forward and smashed it into Orin’s face.
The sickening bone-on-bone crunch reverberated around the room. Orin had to be seeing stars, but he didn’t let up on his pummeling of Radagast.
The warlock hooked his fingers into Orin’s shirt and yanked, pulling Orin over the top of him. Orin flipped over and started to twist away, but Radagast spun and landed on his chest.
For a disconcerting second, Orin’s head and Radagast’s hands sank into the floor and vanished. She blinked at what she was certain was a mirage, but it didn’t dissipate as Orin’s hands clawed at Radagast’s face while the warlock clung to him.
When her eyes finally registered what they were seeing, she realized there was a hole in her floor. Radagast got around her protection spell because he’d found another way into her room.
Sahira shoved aside the horror curdling in her belly. There was plenty of time to figure this out afterward, but with his head in a hole, Orin was at a disadvantage.
Radagast took full advantage of that as he lifted his hand and weaved his fingers to cast a spell.
No!
Leaping off the bed, Sahira closed the few feet separating them as she lifted the dagger above her before plunging it down, through Radagast’s back and straight into his heart. The blade’s tip burst out the other side of his chest and sliced open Orin’s shirt.
Blood trickled from the scratch she’d left on his chest. Whereas her revulsion of Radagast had tamped down her ravenous appetite earlier, the scent of Orin’s blood caused her fangs to lengthen and saliva to flood her mouth.
She staggered a couple of feet back and sank onto the bed as she strained to get her hunger under control.
* * *
With a gurgled cry,the warlock stiffened, his back arching as his body went still. A plume of blood erupted from his lips and sprayed Orin’s face as Radagast’s deep purple eyes bulged before falling to the dagger protruding from his heart.
The blade’s tip scraped Orin’s flesh and caused blood to bead on his chest. If the warlock fell forward, the dagger would pierce him too.
Hooking his legs around the back of Radagast, he lifted himself higher as he pulled himself from the hole and flipped the warlock over. The movement propelled the dagger farther through Radagast’s heart.
Orin released the man and, rising, kicked the warlock over and ripped the dagger from his back. He twisted the silver metal before him while glancing from it to Sahira.
At first, she wouldn’t look at him, but when she did, all the color was gone from her face. He’d seen her kill without remorse before, so driving a dagger through this asshole’s heart shouldn’t have upset her, but it had.
Then her gaze fell to his chest before darting away. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the bed, and the truth hit him.
She’s hungry.At any other time, he would have taken full advantage of it, but unfortunately, this wasn’t the most opportune moment.
