Page 36 of Witch's Fate

This wasn’t going to be easy.

He realized that he’d forgotten his stew and started eating. He barely tasted it as his gaze continuously returned to Sofia. When she finished, he took her bowl and his own to the kitchen. By the time he got back to the library, she was standing up to leave.

“We should plan what we’ll do tomorrow,” he said.

“What’s there to plan? You’ll get us a boat. We’ll leave from the nearest port. And we have all day tomorrow to sort that out.”

She was right. But he wanted an excuse to spend time with her. Just being near her after so long filled a dark hole in his chest. He knew he was botching this—she was right, kidnapping was no way to woo a woman—but it was the only hand he knew how to play.

He went to the whisky sitting on the far shelf and poured two glasses, then brought one to her.

“I didn’t say I wanted that.” Her gaze met his as he held it out.

“I thought you might like it.”

“I don’t.”

“You like whisky.” She had once, at least. “And it’s an excellent vintage. Made by Cadan Trinovante’s distillery.”

Her brows rose in interest. So she’d heard of the Mythean who owned a distillery and made the best whisky in Scotland.

“Fine.” She took it and sipped, her lids lowering in pleasure. “It’s not bad.”

His gaze was riveted to her. “Not at all.”

Being with her again confirmed for him that Sofia was what he wanted. He’d missed her. More than he’d even known.

But all those lost years… And all the things that could never be now that he was a warlock.

His fist tightened on the crystal tumbler. He reigned in his strength before he shattered it and directed his gaze toward the fire.

He couldn’t let her go, but he couldn’t have her fully, either. The flame flickered before his eyes. It would take only a wave of his hand to extinguish it. Just as it would only take him falling in love with Sofia to end things between them.

Fate would know. It always did. How could it not? It was everything. Past, present, future. It saw all. And he’d seen what had happened to Oliver and Laira. That wouldn’t be them.

“When do you plan to let me go?” she asked. “The problem with my village has distracted me from your creepy kidnapping, but I haven’t forgotten.”

“I don’t know.” He couldn’t let her go. But she was too strong to hold onto forever. Not when all he could do was fuck her. He could give her pleasure, but little else. Without love, she wouldn’t stay.

But ignoring his need for her had gotten him nowhere.

It was time to craft a new fate. One in which he managed this situation, his feelings, and kept himself far enough apart from her that he could keep her without fate taking her away. If all he could have was sex and the occasional conversation, he’d take it.

But he’d have to be careful. He was half in love with her as it was. If he fell all the way, it’d be over.

“Why did you trap me with you? Not that I couldn’t get away if I really wanted to. But I do need your help. Which I hate.”

“Because I want you.”

Her gaze blazed as she looked at him. “It doesn’t matter if you want me. You made it so that we could never be together. And you got me into this mess. I’m not exactly feeling kindly toward you at the moment. Nor have I for the last four hundred years.”

“You’ll get over it.”

Rage lit in Sofia’s chest as she watched Malcolm. It heated her from the inside and made her fingertips tingle toshoot lightning at him. He was such a bastard. He thought he could have whatever the hell he wanted—including her.

“I’ve had enough.” She set her glass on the hearth and walked toward the door.

“We’re not done.” His voice was a command.

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