Page 31 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

“The last—” He cut himself off when she grinned. The sight of it transformed her features. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I’m teasing. But if it had been the last, I certainly would have done it anyway.”

He blew out a breath, leaning back to regard her. “Rebecca.”

Her eyes dilated and her lips parted. “That’s the first time you’ve said my name.”

“No it’s not.”

“Yes. Yes it is.”

He hummed. “Want to tell me what that was about?”

She chewed on the corner of her bottom lip. He forced his gaze back up to her eyes.

“Ambrose and I met at a Supernatural Council event last year. I didn’t know who he was—at the time. I’d had a pretty bad day and a few too many drinks. I wasn’t using as much common sense as I should have been. Things moved quickly. I just… I just wanted to let go, you know? Get lost. Feel…”

She sighed, closing her eyes.

“I’d accidentally used magic earlier that day. It was stupid, really. I was rearranging my bookshelf and it came toppling down on me and I panicked and used my magic. Anyway, it put me in such a foul mood. So, yeah. I just wanted to forget. And Ambrose… He was attractive and very clearly into me. So that night… We might have had a one night stand before either of us knew the other’s full names.”

Everything in him went hot. He forced down the angry growl threatening to surface, because he had no right to react. And yet, it felt like he’d just swallowed shards of glass.

“Anyway,” she continued, oblivious. “We continued seeing each other after that because, well, it kind of made sense in a weird way. Sort of a Romeo and Juliet thing, you know? Then he asked me to marry him. I considered it. I never said yes, though. I broke up with him before that could happen.”

“Let me guess, he isn’t taking it well.”

“As you can see.”

Their eyes held. Something danced in the depths of hers, telling him there was more to the story than she’d revealed. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask, but if he started digging too deep, she’d expect the same. And he wasn’t willing to share his secrets.

“Ambrose Blackthorn comes from a powerful family,” he said. “He’s a powerful witch.”

“Your point?”

“You’re not.” His words hit their mark. But he wasn’t trying to be hurtful, just honest.

“I’m aware, thanks.”

“You shouldn’t be alone with him.” This was the point he was trying to make.

“Not much I can do about that when he shows up out of nowhere.”

“He might show up at your house. You’d be helpless against him.”

“Thanks for stating the obvious, Axel.”

His stomach flipped at the sound of his name on her lips. He ignored it and ran a hand through his hair, knowing he was going to regret his next words. “You’ll have to stay with me.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“I’m not staying with you.”

“You’re in danger. You don’t have a choice.”

“I can stay with Iris.” Her eyes darted in the direction of the barista, who happened to be throwing furtive glances their way.