Page 132 of Her Blood Revenge

Archie leans into her face. ‘If you run, I will catch you. Am I understood?’ he warns.

She nods, and he drops her in a heap. She scrambles to her feet and hides behind Leo, who stands tall, protecting her.

‘So that’s how she got out.’ Archie looks between the two of them. ‘Should have known better than to think you could keep it in your pants.’

‘Yeah. You probably shouldhave.’

Archie walks towards him. And they hug.

‘I’m glad you’re okay. But I meant what I said. Keep her away from Pix.’

‘Heard and understood,’ Leo replies. He takes Thalia’s hand in his. ‘She won’t be a bother to you again.’

When Archie looks back at me, he catches sight of the markings in the dirt between us.

‘Are you fucking kidding me?!’ He slams his foot down, smudging them out. ‘I told you. You are not to draw that symbol again.’ His claim mark burns. ‘Do I need to make the request more formal?’

‘No,’ I reply calmly, knowing he’s just frightened of what they could mean. The burning fades.

‘I told you not to write those damned markings. You did. I told you not to jump into that pond. You did. You are always doing things you shouldn’t be doing and expect no consequences. Well. I’m your fucking consequence. I will be your lifelong consequence if you continue disobeying!’

‘You already are my life long consequence, My Lord.’ I smile, stepping closer and rising on tiptoes so our faces are almost level. ‘And unfortunately for you, I’m yours. So un-twist your knickers, Archie. A nagging boyfriend is extremely unattractive.’

His brow knits together as he processes the words I just spoke. As he unravels the meaning of them. I hold my smile, and the corner of his mouth hitches up into an adorable half-grin.

Aaaand he’s got it.

‘Lifelong. I do enjoy the sound of that. But the term boyfriend seems a little light for what I am to you.’

‘What would you rather?’ I ask.

He clampshis hands down on my waist and removes any space between us. ‘Call me… your Mate.’

I run my fingers down his cheek. His smile makes me want to smile. It makes me want to fucking sing.

Someone clears their throat.

Looking over, we see the old witch standing to the side with her two younger witch friends.

‘You are to be given your duties,’ she says. ‘If you stay here, you must earn your place.’

‘We’re not staying long,’ Archie replies.

‘You seek shelter. Yes?’

‘What do you need?’ I ask before they get into an unwinnable and pointless argument. When Archie goes to argue, I cut him off. ‘We could help, or we could sit and stew, waiting for the others. And you will need to watch me all the time because, apparently, I can’t stop thinking about that mark. Your call.’

‘We could do with some help collecting a harvest of wheat,’ she says. ‘Or walking the orchard for ripened apples.’

‘You have an orchard down here?’ I ask.

She nods.

‘We’ll pick some apples,’ he sighs, taking my hand in his and facing her. ‘I’m not letting this one near any long curved blades. She has a temper.’

It’s amusing to watch the three witches look at our joined hands. They know who he is, and they know I’m a witch. And the fact he’s worried about me hurting him is almost laughable. They have seen the arches of the villages. All those bones he helped put there.

Thepregnant witch to the left of her staggers, clutching her heart as she becomes suddenly ghostly white. She falls before being caught by the young witch beside her.

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