Page 99 of Wicked Curses
It was true, but as he smiled over that confirmation, a dark truth niggled at his brain.Father fell in love with Cole’s mother.
He recoiled at the idea of love. That was aninsanepossibility and as far from what this was as it could get.
Yes, somehow Cole’s mother, a lycan, had managed to make the king of the dark fae, a man renowned for his black heart, fall in love with her. That heart only warmed for his wife, Caitrin, and his sons.
His father was a fair ruler but also a renowned, brutal bastard. None of his fury ever touched his sons. They’d remained immune to his wrath, even when they royally pissed him off as Orin hadmanytimes, but the man never stopped loving him.
It would have been so easy, and maybe expected of his father, to have favored Cole—the only child who came of the king’s love for his wife—but he didn’t.
Orin grew up knowing Cole’s mother was the only woman his father ever loved, the only one he would ever marry, but he’d never felt any less loved than his older brother. And he was sure the rest of his siblings felt the same way.
Yes, his father had fallen for a woman and married, and so had other dark fae, including his mother, but not him.Neverhim.
The witch intrigued him, and she’d been a delight as well as a great source for him to feast on, but he didn’t have feelings for her. He prided himself on his black soul and cold heart, a heart that, much like his father’s, only warmed for his siblings.
It was not, and never would be, affected by a woman.
Then why are you still here?
Much to his mounting frustration, he couldn’t answer that. It didn’t matter how good she fucked, smelled, and felt; he shouldn’t be here anymore.
But he didn’t move as he savored her warmth while also enjoying not being hungry or horny for the first time in weeks.
He was…content.
The word caused his lip to curl as he sneered at the ceiling. He hated every second of this… except he didn’t.
It was peaceful here, warm and safe. She brought a sense of calm and rightness he’d never experienced with a woman before. He’d never believed it possible for him to feel this way, but here it was, and as much as heloathedit, he alsolikedit.
What is wrong with me?
He had no idea, but this wasn’t him, and he hated that his emotions were in a tailspin. This wasnotwho he was. He didn’tcuddleor lie in bed and breathe in the scent of a woman.
Whatever this was, he couldn’t allow it to continue. He had no room in his life for any changes and didn’t want them.
He was perfectly content with his life, enjoyed it a lot, and wouldn’t let it change. He didn’t care how good a woman smelled.
Determined not to let anyone or anything interfere in his life, he carefully removed his arm from under Sahira and rolled away. As soon as they separated, a pang of loss tugged at his heart, but he shoved it aside as he gathered his ruined clothes and left the sleeping witch behind.
CHAPTERSEVENTY-THREE
Sahira hadno idea what time it was when she woke, but she knew, without having to search for him, that Orin was gone. The coldness of the spot beside her told her he’d been gone for at least an hour.
Sitting up, she tried not to think about what his disappearance meant while she searched the small hidden space. Sheknewwhat it meant. From the moment they entered this room and she bit into him, she knew this was how it would end.
So why did a pit of uncertainty and sadness fester inside her like an infected wound?
She’d messed up by having sex with him; there was no denying that. It was a mistake. He’d never let her forget it, but it wasn’t like she loved him. She could barely tolerate the man, but… damn it… whatwasthat between them last night?
Over the years, she’d had alotof sex but never experienced anything like that. It wasamazing.
But he was a dark fae; she’d never been with one ofthembefore, and they knew what they were doing. He’d most certainly hadlotsof practice. Maybe this was how everyone felt after a night with a dark fae, but she doubted it.
His blood and the way he felt inside and against her had all been soright.How could something so right also be so bad for her?
And it wassobad. He was the worst possible thing for her, a man who gave few shits about anything. She would never be one of the things he cared about either.
Lowering her head, she clutched it in both hands as she fought against the sudden panic threatening to overwhelm her.Get it together. Get up and move!
