Page 22 of Quintus

“The dude doesn’t think twice about killing when he gets pissed.” Viktor raised the glass to his lips.

“Gabriella’s special,” Quintus said, his gaze meeting his brother’s.

“She’s a witch.” Viktor shrugged with a roll of his eyes. “Nothing special about that. Ravi still would have killed her. She was frozen like a deer in the headlights. You saw her.”

“I don’t know about that. I felt her. She was readying to attack him. I saw the flicker in her eyes tonight. She was fighting it.”

“Fighting what?”

“She’s a shifter.”

“No way, bro. If she’d been wolf, there would have been a serious throw down when you brought Daisy on stage. That human is like a cat in heat…can’t keep her legs shut. She’s totally into you. I could see your little witch didn’t like it, but if she was a wolf? Hey, wolves don’t mess around. And Ravi? It’d be likely she’d shift before he had a chance to go for her.”

“I know her. I’m telling you, she was going to shift. What she shifts into is an entirely different question.”

“I don’t get it. Why not just tell you what she is?”

“I don’t know. She’s scared. It doesn’t matter to me what she is. She could be a wolf. Any kind of shifter, really. This coven. It killed her only parent and is after her. She’s been on the run since she was a kid. She keeps telling me I need to help her find something for a spell, but I don’t know. I don’t think she really knows how to stop them. Either way, I’m going to put an end to it.”

“Interesting you bring up wolves, being that they’re the possessive types, because I noticed…” Viktor gave a laugh, his eyes meeting Quintus’. “It’s, uh, you kind of sounded pretty possessive back there yourself. You do realize you claimed her in front of everyone?”

“Of course I did.” Quintus’ expression remained impassive, recalling his words. Mine. He’d deliberately declared his intention, yet as he spoke, he sensed there was more to their connection. He could have easily let her go at any time, he reasoned, but there was something about her taste, her smile. Fuck. He grimaced, displeased with his growing attachment to his witch.

“Of course you did? That’s all you’ve got to say?”

“Don’t be an asshole,” Quintus growled, tearing off his shirt.

“Someone catch feelings?”

“Correct that. Don’t be more of an asshole than you already are.” Quintus slung back his scotch, a smooth burn coating his throat.

“I think there’s a cure for that. You might want to go fuck little Daisy. Get it out of your system.”

“Fuck off.”

“I am right about this. The best way to shake her from your system and get over her is to get under someone else.”

“I’m an asshole for leaving her upstairs.”

“Yeah about that. I was kind of surprised myself.”

“Every time I flash her. She’s out of it.”

“But she’s a witch.”

“I’m telling ya. It’s the shifter in her. That’s why she doesn’t do well.”

“Where’d you put her?”

“I put her onto the sofa. I was hoping she’d sleep it off.”

Viktor laughed and reached for the bottle. “This is going to be good.”

Quintus blew out a breath and set down his empty glass. “What?”

“Hmm…” Viktor gave a closed smile, raising an eyebrow at his brother.

“Just fucking say it. I’ve gotta get upstairs.” Quintus glanced down to his bloodied jeans.