Blood Relic
Page 23
“Are we safe now?” She sat up, putting a small distance between them.
“Yes, of course. Lay down and rest. I will get you something hot to drink, and add wood to the fire before I shift back.” He stood, his finger trailing across her cheek. “You are safe now.”
Her gaze followed him. Did he know something he wasn’t telling her? Lately, the wedge between them grew in size at an alarming rate. Something about the night rattled him. Not only did it show in his eyes, but he shifted forms. What had startled him enough to do that?
When he came back, he handed her a cup of hot chocolate, and then tossed wood on the fire.
She sipped her drink, watching him over the top of the cup. “What scared you?”
“You screaming, to start with.” The roaring fire cast light over the angles of his face. “I never want to hear you hurting.”
“No, what scared you enough that you are here, now, like this?”
“I wanted to touch you and make sure there was nothing on you that needed magic to remove it.” He looked everywhere but at her.
“You are lying. I thought as my familiar you had to help me.”
“I do. I will always do what is best for you.”
Those words stung as she remembered the argument about him and her never being romantic.
“Yes, well make sure in protecting me, you also keep me aware of the dangers too.” The cup clinked against the saucer, when she sat it down, signaling her frustration.
“It sounds like a witch, voodoo maybe, or a demon.” The edges of his mouth turned down, sinking into a frown. “A demon is not some-thing either of us needs to be tangling with.”
“Why would a demon burn grandma at the stake?”
“I don't know, and I am sad you had to see that.”
“I lived it, bound and burned. It was awful and painful.” Gwen tugged the blanket around her shoulders as a chill raced over her.
He sat down, and engulfed her in an embrace. “I'm so sorry you had to feel that. Please stay away from that spot. It is clearly active with something.”
“For now. But I won’t stop looking for answers. If you know some-thing, you can save me some work.”
He didn't answer.
What was he hiding?
LUCRETIA STANHOPE is the award-winning author of The Elemental Witch Trials series, featuring witches and vampires in an eternal struggle for power. She also writes horror, and paranormal romance.
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