Page 40 of Outlawed

“Witchcraft aside, do you have any idea how many times rape is actually reported? I know if I hadn’t had matters taken out of my hands, I’d have kept quiet.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew nobody would believe me. Or worse, if they did, they wouldn’t care. I know Dawn felt the same way. Now add in being raped because you’re a witch and your attacker wanted some kind of spooky protection against you. Can you imagine a girl saying any of that to a cop? What if, like you, the perpetrators are hunters? You think they won’t have plans in place just in case?”

He takes a few deep breaths. “I feel sick.”

“Me too, but it will be different for Hannah. I’ll make sure of it.”

His head whips around. “Hannah?”

“If our suspicions are true, and she has some witch in her bloodline, then she’ll be a target too, especially if anyone else figures it out. The thing is, Austin, I won’t ever let it get so far as she said he said. I’ll murder every man in this town to keep her safe, and I’ll smile while I fucking do it.”

He leans over and snags my hand. I let him, not seeing the need to pull away. Besides, holding on to him makes me feel like I’ve taken a deep, steadying breath. And yeah, that’s probably the bond, but I’m trying to remind myself that not all of its bad. Some of the benefits outweigh the issues by a lot.

Like the day Dawn was shot, and my powers went out of control. I would have hurt so many people if it weren’t for Austin. It’s impossible to stay angry at the man who literally acts like a shield between me and everyone else, knowing I couldn’t live with the torment of hurting the people I care about.

“We’re here.”

I glance up, realizing I’d been in a daze, playing with the hem of my dress. I gaze around at the property and find, well, nothing. “Austin?”

“Patience, Calliope.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, because that’s what I’m known for, my patience.”

He gets out with a chuckle and comes around to open the door for me. He holds out his hand and helps me out, closing the door behind us, but he doesn’t let go of my hand.

The land is flat, the grass sparse, and the trees that sit at the far end of the space look like they’re slowly dying. Still, I let this man lead me out into the middle of nowhere, belatedly remembering my powers don’t work on him. I want to pretend I’m not bothered. That I trust him not to hurt me, but the farther away from civilization we go, the more I feel my heart rate pick up, and my palms get damp.

He stops abruptly, turning to look at me with a frown. “Cece?”

I lift my head, trying to mask my expression, but I have a distinct feeling it’s irrelevant. He can feel my panic, dammit.

He pulls a gun from the back of his pants, making my mouth run dry. Before I can make a run for it, he points it at me, grip first. I look at him, unsure, before I reach for it.

“If I scare you or you feel threatened by me in any way, shoot me.”

“You’re crazy,” I whisper, but I wrap my hand around the grip anyway.

“Crazy about you.”

I take the gun, hating that I feel reassured having it. “How will this ever work with the threat of violence between us?”

“The threat of violence has always been between us. I put it there, even before that night. You saw me hurt Andy, saw me threaten the doc. I know you must have heard the rumors about me. I’m not a stable man. It’s never bothered me before, having that label. If anything, I played into it. But with you…I want you to feel safe enough to sleep beside me without Riggs and Shepard there to protect you. I want to be your first choice to call, occasionally. Not an afterthought.”

“You want to be able to take me for a midnight walk in a graveyard like a good serial killer without me thinking I’ll be your next victim.”

He looks at me, amused. “I wouldn’t say I’m a serial killer.”

“That’s alright, I can say it for both of us.”

He grins, and I can’t pretend it doesn’t have a manic edge to it.

“Well, the walking through the cemetery for a midnight stroll might come true if you play your cards right,” I offer.

“Okay, not the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m game.”

“You’re such a werido.”