Page 80 of Wicked Curses
When he leaned a little closer, apprehension flashed through her eyes, and they flickered away before returning defiantly to his, but it was too late. “Yes, I do.”
She stepped away and shifted her laundry basket so it was between them. “You do something to me, you risk the wrath of all the other witches and warlocks. You’ll also turn Belda against you.”
“See, here’s the difference between us: when I say you and your little friends don’t scare me, I mean it. You know better than to fuck with me, Carmella.”
Orin waited for her to say something more, but she shifted her gaze to the river before walking away. He watched until she disappeared around a bend before focusing on the woods again.
He could catch up to Sahira but decided against it. Not only did he need a minute to control his lust and anger, but he also required time to think about what just happened between them.
Besides, she should be back by the library and safe in town by now. No one would bother her when she was out where everyone could see her. Plus, the sun was setting, so the vamps would be out soon; they would watch over her.
He’d expected the witch to be fiery and delectable, but he hadn’t anticipated how she warmed his cold heart. He hadn’t felt so detached while holding her.
His entire life had mostly been one of indifference to so many things. He’d only ever truly cared about his family; they were the only things that made him feelsomething.
But now the witch had made him feel something, too… something more than famished and horny. Something more than a desire to screw and move on.
She’d awakened something inside him; he wasn’t sure what it was, but it almost feltgood.
And he didn’t like it.
CHAPTERFIFTY-SEVEN
Sahira didn’t seemuch of Orin over the next three days, and she was fine with that… mostly. Not having to deal with the infuriating man, andthatkiss, made it a little easier to get through every day, but her malnutrition was becoming abigissue.
She’d never gone this long without feeding before, and her body reminded her of that as her veins burned, her heart lumbered to pump, and every time she swallowed, it felt like she was eating glass. No matter how much water she consumed, she was constantly thirsty.
She was also always hot or freezing. Last night, she woke with her teeth chattering and soaked in sweat.
Her lack of blood was becoming a dire situation, but she hated asking Orin for anything, especially after that kiss. She mentally kicked herself for the thousandth time for letting it happen and enjoying it so much.
What were you thinking?
She hadn’t been thinking, andthatwas the problem—well, at least she hadn’t been thinking with her brain. Her body was the one running that show, and not very well.
She had no idea what Orin would say when she finally broke down and went to him for blood. Would he laugh at her or try to use it to his advantage?
Sahira shuddered but wasn’t sure if it was because she was curious what that advantage would be… or because the idea terrified her.
And if she was honest with herself, it also intrigued her far more than she would have liked.
Closing her eyes, Sahira took a deep breath while trying to calm her heart’s riotous beat. She didn’t think a vampire could die from not feeding, but it sure felt like her heart would explode out of her chest, which would kill her.
Huffing and puffing far more than normal, she finished ascending the stairs to the second-floor library balcony. Eyeing one of the ladders going back and forth between the stacks, she questioned if it would be safe to climb it in her condition.
Falling from it wouldn’t kill her, but the idea of passing out and crashing onto the floor below wasn’t appealing. She’d require blood to help her heal afterward.
Bending, she rested her hands on her knees and inhaled a tremulous breath. She had no idea how she would get through her shift at the library and her following one in the gardens, but she had to do it.
After returning her clothes to the pub, she’d hung them on the line and went to find Belda. They’d discussed her options and decided she could have more supplies if she worked extra hours in the gardens.
After what happened with Radagast and that kiss, she couldn’t stay in this town. She had to get out of here and this realm or she would die, and probably far earlier than she should.
It was only a matter of time before the witches and warlocks came after her again. With how she felt, if one of them came at her, she’d die before she could fight.
You have to feed.
She didn’t like it, but she didn’t have a choice. She was risking her life and making herself more susceptible to an attack by being stubborn.
