Page 12 of Bloodween

“Armisha.” It came out rough. Strained. “This isn’t what you want.”

“No, I’m not what you want. Or do you?”

He growled, pushing me away with gentle force. I grinned. “Why are you fighting your wants, your needs. It’s much more fun to give in. Besides, it’s Halloween. That’s when everyone makes bad decisions.”

“You’re her best friend.”

“And I already proved I know how to keep a secret. Don’t you wanna see what it’s like to be with a blood witch?” My tone was so seductive, I barely recognized it.

He had to give in. We had no other choice.

“We can’t,” he stated, more firmly this time and if I was a wolf, I’d rip his head off his shoulders.

I calmed the frustration flushing through me. As desperate as I was to build a bond, begging him wouldn’t work. Forcing him wouldn’t work.

“Fine,” I sighed, grabbing my phone. “You should probably charge your phone and let your girlfriend know you’re alive. She asked about you. And turn off your location.”

“My location stays off.”

“Of course it does,” I muttered. “I’m gonna go use the bathroom before we leave. Where is it?”

“Wait.” His hand wrapped around my forearm. He quickly drew it back and through the mirror I saw my eyes glowing red.

“You’re mad?”

“I’m not.”

Anxious? Frustrated? Offended? Yes. But I wasn’t mad. However, his touch only made me want to lose my shit. And attacking him wouldn’t help. I needed this Crimson Elixor to chill.

“Where is the bathroom?”

He ignored my question, again. “So you’re not gonna hit her back?” he asked.

“No. Like I said, I’m gonna let her think I got sick from the food and passed out from vomiting exhaustion or something. I’ll text her tomorrow.”

If I’m still alive.

“Oh.”

“I told you, I’m a woman of my word. Now, bathroom.”

He pointed towards the hallway. “Second door on your left.”

I powerwalked away from him. His aura was suffocating and maybe I was lying to myself: I was mad. A little pissed off because as soon as the bathroom door closed, I wanted to scream out in annoyance.

But I couldn’t. Now was not the time to be weak. Or to panic. I needed to figure out plan C, D, and E since plan B was clearly failing. I guess he cared more about Renna than I gave him credit for.

My mind went on a tear.

It would be so much easier if I could use a short and sweet seduction spell on him, but nothing about Bloodween was meant to be easy. Otherwise, every Crimson Witch who was eligible would do it. The risks would be low. The sacrifice would be simple. The power that came from the success of it would feel mundane—when the real thing is meant to make you feel reborn, even if it consumes you. That’s why we weren’t allowed to tamper with the odds—no spells to soften prey or tilt the ritual in our favor.

“Aye!” Three knocks sounded on the bathroom door and I jumped. “You good in there?”

I glanced down at my phone to see I had been sitting on the toilet for eleven minutes. Eleven minutes of wasted time, and it was clear my only viable option was going back to the city—hoping to find Renna at home, in her bed, and sound asleep.

And then? Doing what I’d always planned to do.

“Yeah. I’ll be out in a second.” I flushed, washed my hands, and gave myself one final pep talk before swinging open the door.