Page 42 of Her Blood Revenge

‘Like you calling me mud witch or blood whore?’

‘That’s different.’ He folds his arms across his chest and sits back, looking up at the canopy of green. ‘It’s cute or sexy when we do it.’

I slump.

Cole isn’t done. Neve hasn’t even started. And they think I’m going to stand a chance with nothing but my earth magic and untrained skills.

‘I’m going to ask you again. How are you feeling?’ he urges.

‘I’m fine,’ I tell him. ‘All healed.’

‘If you want to talk about it-’

‘I love my body. It’s mine and will always belong to me. Cole is the last person on this planet who will ever take that away from me.’ I stand and head to the tub. ‘I’m fine.’

I slide off the coat and sink beneath the water. Looking up, I see Archie sitting himself on the bath’s edge.

‘I’m curious about something,’ I say.

‘As long as it’s not about blood magic. Hit me.’

‘The Banshee.’

‘What about her?’

‘She made you out as an unhinged and barbaric sex monster with no limits. Why?’

‘Because I didn’t love her.’

‘So she lied about you?’

‘Oh no. She didn’t lie.’ He takes some soap and startswashing my back. ‘I didn’t care about her, so I did what I wanted for my own pleasure.’

‘Like what?’ I ask, very intrigued as to what that may look like.

‘Probably best I don’t say.’

‘I’m asking. I’m ready to hear it.’

He tugs my hair a little, pulling my head back.

‘I’ll answer you if you answer one of my questions. Deal?’

‘What question?’

‘Do we have a deal, Pix?’

‘We have a deal,’ I agree.

I can always lie.

‘Well,’ he breathes, releasing my hair and working some lotions into it. ‘One time, I fucked her in my wolf form.’

Slowly, I look back at him, utterly horrified. I’ve seen him in his wolf form. That part of him is somewhat hard to miss.

‘Why the hell would you do that?’ I ask. ‘Why wouldshe?’

‘Just fancied seeing what would happen, I guess.’ He continues washing my hair as I face forward. The scrunch on my face isn’t going anywhere. But I’m curious. I turn back to him.