Page 64 of Rogue Witch

Surprise flickers in his eyes, then doubt. I hurry around the counter. He turns as I approach.

“Come on.” I grasp his hand.

I startle at the warmth of his hand as he grasps mine. The gentleness in his grasp freezes me. I stare at our clasped hands.

“Nova.”

I snap my head up. He stares down at me, eyes so filled with concern that I wonder what happened to change him so much.

“Nova.”

I shake off the strong sense of déjà vu that washes over me. I hate déjà vu. “Come on.”

I open the door and pull Raith outside onto the Chicago sidewalk. I look around and remember there’s an alley to the right. The bakery delivery door opens into the alley, but I don’t want Mrs. Elias—Mama—to know I’m taking Raith into the alley. She likes Raith. In fact, she would love to see me marry someone like him. Handsome, rich, and she’s certain he’s kind. Sometimes he is. Like today. Still, Mama wouldn’t approve of me being alone in an alley with any man, even a man she likes.

A kid on a bike rides past. I glance behind us to be sure Cordero isn’t following. Sometime, he has one of his goons follow me. He thinks I don’t know, but Cordero underestimates women. Even witches. He underestimates Raith, too, but that’s because he’s never encountered a vampire like Raith. There aren’t many vampires like Raith. Then again, Cordero does know one very important thing about Raith. If anything can get Raith killed, it’s his weakness for me.

Guilt washes over me. I’m not interested in Cordero. He’s a criminal. Yet, I’ve played Raith against Cordero because I knew Raith would get jealous—and Raith jealous is a magnificent sight. Which makes mine a very dangerous game. I’ve got to convince Raith I’m done with Cordero. With a final glance behind us to be sure no one is watching, I pull Raith into the alleyway.

He halts and seizes me by the shoulders. “Cordero is dangerous. I told you to stay away from him.”

“He said the same thing about you,” I say before realizing my words. “He’s right.”

“You’ll force me to kill him.”

I know this is true, but anger flares. “Don’t use me as an excuse. You’ve wanted to kill them for years.”

“He hunts our kind. How can you let him touch you?”

I break free of Raith’s grasp. “Who said he’s touched me?”

“Men like that don’t settle for a chaste kiss.”

He’s right, still, I say, “It seems you and he have more in common than you would like to admit.”

“Are you comparing me to him—a murderer?”

“If you kill him, won’t that make you a murderer?” I retort.

“Not a murderer,” he shoots back. “A hero.”

“Heroes don’t murder people.” And there’s no guarantee Raith will be the victor.

“Pick a side, Nova.”

I look up at him. “I’m on your side, baby. You know that.”

A guy and a girl walk past the alley and stare until they’re out of sight.

“Stop seeing him,” Raith says.

Easier said than done. Raith is right. Men like Cordero don’t settle for a chaste kiss and they don’t handle rejection well.

“You don’t have to be afraid of him,” Raith says. “You know we’ll take care of you.”

The “we” he’s referring to are him, Ethan, Blade, Caleb, and Matthias. Confusion washes over me.

“You don’t have to worry that your family will ever know there are five of us,” Raith says.