I twirled the blade I’d summoned before using it to whittle a piece of wood I’d pulled from the log basket. The bear was too busy watching the mage to notice as I brushed splinters onto the floor.
I was watching him too, but I needed to keep my hands busy. Idle hands made for the devil’s work, as my dear granny liked to say. Usually before she beat the crap out of me.
“How long has she been unconscious?” The bear opened his mouth to reply but a loud hammering on the door distracted him. He cocked his head to one side and grimaced.
“Alaric’s here. Let him in, Zane.”
I huffed crossly. “Really? Can’t we leave him out there?” The bear’s glare suggested not, so I jumped up and hustled to the door.
“Whatever you’re selling, I’m not buying.”
Small fry looked at me like I was insane. Maybe I was. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“It’s a polite way of saying fuck off, you’re not wanted here.” I went to slam the door in his face, but he wedged his foot in the gap.
“Get out of my fucking way, Zane. I am not in the mood for your bullshit.” I smirked and opened the door wide enough to let him pass. A small spark of electricity zinged my hand, but instead of yelping at the stinging pain, I groaned dramatically.
“Damn, baby boy. If you need someattention, just say the word.”
He spun around and raised his fist to cast an attack spell, but before he could spout any pointless threats against my person, I pressed my blade to his throat.
“I’m not joking, small fry. If you want me to tear your ass apart with myhugedick, I’m game. Just so long as you bring your sparky shit to the show. I love a little pain with my pleasure, baby boy.”
“Do not call me baby boy, you asshole.” I sucked in his rage with a contented sigh. Alaric’s rage tasted like the finest cognac: smooth with a healthy kick.
“Okay, baby boy.”
“Zane!” The bear’s growl distracted me from my delicious fantasy where I topped the mage while he ate out my witch. I had a feeling she’d enjoy that. My pet was all about hate sex. And she fucking hated the mage.
Alaric shoved past me and stomped into the living room. “Have you figured out how to heal her?” I stilled, anxious about the older mage’s reply.
Adam nodded. “This is the sea witch’s doing. Her spell is attacking the bond between her and the merman.”
“You think the mer queen has paid the sea witch to sever her son’s bond with Raven?”
I had no clue who this bitch of a witch was, but if I met her, she was a fucking dead witch. Then I paused and considered the rest of his question. If fish boy’s mommy had put my pet’s life at risk, she, too, was on my hit list.
Sure, I didn’t have gills, but I’d find a way to kill the cunt.
8
Alaric
My phone buzzed with messages from Dad, but I ignored it. I’d told him I had to return to campus this evening, so the fact I left a bit earlier than expected was tough shit. He’d get over it.
Uncle Adam muttered an incantation under his breath before sitting back. The little witch made a small, pained sound, and then her features relaxed.
“I’ve cast a protection spell, which should stop the dark magic from doing any further damage, but it’s only a short-term fix. I need to break the spell permanently.”
“Then do it,” the bear snapped. The stupid incubus had finally stopped being an ass. The gravity of the situation must have penetrated his thick skull at last.
He caught me watching him and smirked.
Goddess, I hated the fucker. How the bear shifter put up with him was beyond me. He must have the patience of a troll.
“I need some specific ingredients, none of which I have with me.”
“Like what? The spellcasting lab has most things apart from the rarest ingredients.” I could head back home, if I needed to. What the Starfall magic store lacked, my father or Brianna would have.
