Page 69 of Wicked Curses
Belda and her pack weren’t about to let that happen, and a growing number of vamps were gathering behind Sahira. They also had the demon.
The witches and warlocks were powerful, but they’d have a bitch of a time against so many, and Orin would ensure they lost. And when they did, he’d slaughter every one of them.
They were a threat that had to be eradicated before they tried to overrun Belda’s hold on this place. Until Radagast decided to be a complete douche, there was no reason to question the ways of this realm.
A few immortals had balked against Belda’s rules when they arrived and paid for it, but everyone else accepted them. What else was there to do? And things ran smoothly, so why change it?
Now the witches and warlocks believed they had a reason to change it; they saw themselves as the wronged party, though Sahira’s throat clearly bore the marks of a coward. It took some time, but eventually, the calls for vengeance subsided.
Some witches and warlocks continued to glower at him and Sahira, but most retreated. When they did, the vampires also began to disperse.
A few of them clasped Sahira’s shoulder as they walked out the door. Ahmar, who had become the unofficial leader of the vamps—a ruler wasn’t something they typically had, but they’d grouped together to keep themselves safer from the witches and warlocks here—rested his hand on her.
“You let us know if they bother you again; you’re part of us too,” Ahmar said.
Sahira rested her hand over his. “Thank you.”
Ahmar squeezed her shoulder before leaving the pub. Orin didn’t like all these men suddenly paying more attention to her, but he was grateful for the help against the hex-casting crowd.
This support for Sahira would help keep the witches and warlocks in check. They wanted revenge for their friend, but none were stupid or brave enough to risk their lives for it… yet.
Things were about to become much more tense and unpleasant in this realm.
CHAPTERFORTY-EIGHT
As the night progressed,Sahira finally relaxed enough to talk with Zeth. Orin couldn’t hear what they said as they sat with their heads close together, but after a while, Zeth patted her hand, and she rose.
Orin kept his eyes on her until she was securely in her room with the door locked. Things remained quiet as the night dragged on, and eventually Belda kicked everyone out for closing.
After the last one left, Orin turned off the lights as he relished the familiar hush that descended on the pub. This was his favorite time of night.
He climbed the stairs to his room and paused outside Sahira’s door when he saw the light filtering out from beneath it. He hesitated before knocking, but the light wouldn’t be so bright if she were asleep.
However, someone had tried to murder her this week; she probably preferred to sleep with a lot of candles lit. He listened for any sound coming from within but heard nothing; if she was asleep, he hadn’t woken her.
He was about to retreat when the door opened to reveal Sahira in a dark green nightgown that covered her feet and grazed the floor a little. Her thick mahogany hair tumbled around her shoulders as she stared at him from eyes still rimmed with dark circles, but she hadn’t been sleeping.
He’d never seen her with her hair down before; his fingers twitched with the sudden urge to touch its shiny waves. It was as soft as it looked; he was sure of it.
Does she know how beautiful she is?He had no idea where the thought came from or the tenderness accompanying it.
Of course he recognized beauty in women; he’d fucked some of the most gorgeous women in all the realms, but he’d never really taken the time to notice.
Now, he realized it was more than her striking features and gorgeous eyes; it was also her unwavering strength. She refused to hide when Belda asked her to and when she had every right to retreat from the world—she wouldn’t bend to the witches’ and warlocks’ wrath.
She also defended those she loved with everything she had. She was proud, courageous, and loyal.
He highly respected those traits in others even if, like with her, they went against what he was determined to have—her.
His gaze roamed over her body, but the baggy gown hid most of her curves. He could still picture them, though, and his shaft hardened as the images flooded his mind. Now that she looked better and less shell-shocked, she was fair game again.
Orin leaned against the doorframe as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you sure you want to stay in this room? I spent a lot of time today looking for possible other dead spaces in this building that could hide another secret passage. There aren’t any.”
“I’m still not taking any chances. I have protective spells in place, and now that I know what to focus on, they’ll work.”
Looking over her shoulder, he spotted books lying on the trapdoor; she’d also established a backup alarm system. No one would get in here again without her knowing.
“Did you get everything cleaned up?” he asked.
