Bewitching the Beast

by Tamara Hughes

  “I’ll take it.” He strode to her tiny kitchen.

  Tess followed. “So what’s with Kade? Are you two best buds now?”

  He paused. Tossing the taco mess away, he gave a nod. “More like partners.”

  “Partners?”

  He took Tess’s hand and led her to the couch with a somber look on his face. Once they sat, he stared her in the eyes. “This isn’t the end of the beasts. There are more out there.”

  Oh, hell. “More?”

  “I wasn’t the only one Kade turned. And there’s the guy who infected him.”

  She cringed. Not again. She wasn’t ready for this.

  “As much as I’d like to forget about the past and move on, there are people out there going through what I did. I can’t ignore that.” Ethan frowned. “And I need to find out why I was chosen. What genetic imprint makes me a target? Maybe if I discover the reason, I can prevent being turned again.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Kade and I are going to find the beasts and fight them.”

  Her heart stilled. “How can you do that without magic?”

  “We have the amulet.”

  She stood and paced toward the door. “There’s got to be a better way. We were almost killed.”

  “We’re not going into this blind. Whether he wants them or not, Kade retained some of his beast’s knowledge and memories. With Kade on my side, we’ll find better ways to fight.”

  Her hands rose to her stomach. “What about me and Noella?”

  “Noella. We’re having a girl?”

  “Gram told me about the baby in a dream.” Tess faced him. “Noella is my mother’s middle name.”

  Ethan’s eyes lit up. “A little girl,” he breathed, before his excitement faded. He raked a hand through his hair. “I need to stop the beasts, Tess. I’ve destroyed so many lives. This is my chance to give something back, to be on the good side for a change.”

  She closed her eyes. Too much too soon. She’d just gotten him back.

  Ethan brushed a finger along her cheek. “I can’t lose you over this. If you tell me to sit out of this fight, I will.”

  He didn’t want to. She could hear it in his voice. Still, his sincerity rang true.

  “For you I’d do anything,” he vowed.

  His touch fell away, and Tess opened her eyes.

  “As much as I’d like to, I can’t ask you to sit on the sidelines, not when I know how much this means to you.” She dropped her forehead against his chest. “But if anything happens . . .”

  He hugged her tight. “I’ll be careful. You can count on me.” Easing her away, he knelt down. “I have too much to lose to be stupid.” Ethan slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. “I didn’t know what would happen when I saw you tonight, and this may be too soon.”

  She held her breath.

  “I was wondering if you’d be a partner to me in a different way. No fighting required.” He smiled. “In fact, fighting is discouraged.” Ethan lifted the lid, revealing a simple diamond solitaire, and his blue eyes met hers. “Tess, marry me.”

  “Yes” sprang to her lips, but she held it back. Could she marry someone who’d be constantly putting his life at risk? She’d worry every time he went out. “I almost lost you once.” She lowered herself to the floor in front of him and cradled his face in her hands. “I couldn’t bear losing you again.”

  “Tess.” He grasped her hand. “I love you. I’ll do anything—”

  She stopped his words with a finger to his lips. “I don’t want to change you, or make you bend to my will. I love you too much to control you like the beast you just escaped from.” She leaned into him, enjoying the feel of his arms around her, his strength holding her close. “Ethan, I love you, and I’ve learned my lesson. A few precious moments with you would be worth heartache for the rest of my days.”

  “After all that, your answer is yes?”

  With a joyful giggle, Tess kissed his lips. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Just understand I’m going to drive you crazy practicing magic to keep you safe, and there’s nothing that will stop me.”

  “Stop you. I wouldn’t dream of it. As long as I get to do some practicing of my own on you.” He lowered his lips to hers.

  His kiss promised her life would never be dull. When he drew back, Tess stared into his blue eyes and fell under his spell, her life more perfect than she’d ever dreamed it could be.

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