Page 46 of Our Dark Winter Wish

My lips part, and I do as commanded.

I eat it.

Shaw flicks my clit, pulling me out of the shocked state I find myself in.

‘Next one, please.’ He nods to his waiting hand.

The second one comes out. He looks at it and hands it to Archie. Dorian takes his place, holding down the witch so he can claim it. Archie holds it to my lips, and I don’t wait to be asked.

I eat it.

The third one falls into Shaw’s waiting hand, and he offers it to me.

‘That’s a very good girl,’ he whispers when I do what I know he wants me to do.

He kisses my forehead and faces the last remaining witch.

‘Now then. I have some questions for you,’ he says, menace dripping from every word.

‘F-fuck you!’ the witch spits back, still struggling under Dorian’s foot.

‘Take him to the woodshed, Dorian. I don’t want to spill any more blood here.’

‘Any more?’ I look around with a raised brow. There are body parts, blood and entrails covering the walls, floors and even the ceiling! ‘You’ve ruined the cottage,’ I complain. ‘Look at the mess!’

‘We’ll sort it, Poppet,’ Dorian grunts, hauling the witch to his feet and gripping him by the back of his neck. ‘It will be good as new in no time.’

He leaves through the still-open and splintered door. Peering out, I see two more dead outside with bloody foam and bile spilling from their mouths.

My familiar slithers in past Dorian.

‘She only got two,’ he says. ‘You losing your touch, little snake?’

‘She left the rest for you,’ I correct him, feeling the indignity of the accusation from her. ‘Her Christmas gift to you.’

‘Such a generous little thing you are.’ Archie reaches down, and she slithers up his arm. ‘Good snakey. And we didn’t get you anything for Christmas.’ He looks at me and smirks. ‘But we may very well have given your mistress something a little extra. We’ll get started on the witch outside.’

He leaves, taking Poppy with him, and I look at Shaw pulling on his coat.

‘I feel like that chestnut thing had a purpose. Was it Archie’s idea?’ I ask.

‘Of course it was Archie’s idea.’ He sweeps my hair from my face. ‘It’s a pack thing he wanted to do.’

‘And when doyoueat a chestnut covered in cum?’

He simply laughs.

‘What was the purpose, Shaw?’

He rests his hand on my stomach, where blood is slowly drying.

‘It’s an offering. A promise.’

‘Of what?’ I ask.

‘That when the time is right, you’ll have our child.’

I step back and laugh nervously. ‘I can’t. Technically, you and Dorian aren’t even human, and Archie can only mate with another wolf.’

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