Page 28 of Hellish Witch

Alpha backed me up by deigning to lift his head and huff at the king.

Rex chuckled and sauntered over to plant a kiss on Zoella’s lips. They both grinned goofily at each other for a long moment.

“Geez, you two, can you keep it in your pants for like two seconds?” I scoffed, but just seeing them together brought me so much joy.

If anyone deserved to grin like unhinged maniacs all the time, it was them.

Rex straightened and pinned me with a mock glare. “Still no respect for your elders, I see.”

I stuck my tongue out. The only appropriate response.

He huffed back.

“Why are you covered in blood?” Zoella’s tone was as sharp as her gaze, narrowed on the dried flecks peppering Rex’s bare shoulders.

“Kingly duties.” The big oaf threw the back of his hand to his tall horns, sighing dramatically. “Someone got creative with justice. Vanita, Jessa, and Murag were left in bloody heaps up a tall tree in the Bloodwood last night. I had to send someone to fetch them down and drag the idiots to the clinic, since they refused to see a certain witchy healer.” He shot me a pointed look.

My eye twitched as I fought to smother my shock.

After a tense beat, he continued, “Apparently, they fed on unwilling pain last night and someone took offence to it. Seems they’ve only got themselves to blame.”

My heart beat rapidly. Guilt wriggled through my middle because I had the sneaking suspicion their punishment had something to do with me.

I’d always thought Rex was responsible for my nickname as the widow-witch, but either he was a great actor…or it wasn’t him.

I didn’t know what to do with that.

“Damn.” Zoella whistled. “Demon justice isbrutal.”

“But necessary,” Rex mused, and his attention swung back to me, lips pursed. “So…is there anything you want to tell me?”

I froze, trying not to squirm on the sofa as Rex pinned me with his big-brother stare. The one that had always made me confess when I was younger.

I notched my chin.

Had the pain trio tattled on me for what I’d done to them at the party? Had Rex found out about the demon I’d accidentally torn apart?

Did he already know about my corrupted magic?

Either way, I’d decided to find the coven Zoella had mentioned. I couldn’t stay here as a loaded gun being tossed between innocent people.

I didn’t want to drag the happy couple on another rescue-the-demoness-in-distress mission though.

It was time I faced my problems like an adult.

By running away.

“Nope.” I popped thep, giving Rex my best bratty grin.

Zoella rolled her eyes at me. “Eve’s magic has been developing in a more…aggressive way, and we’re going to the Sage Coven for help. They’re healer affinity focused. And from what I’ve heard from your enforcers,particularlydemon friendly.” She shot her mate a loaded look.

I frowned. Was she implying what I thought she was?

Rex’s eyes slid to mine, a flash of hurt in them. “If you’ve been having problems, why haven’t you come to us sooner?”

I swallowed thickly. “I…didn’t know what was going on. It’s only happened a few times…and I thought it might just stop now that I’m home safe.”

A deeper pain pinched his features. “Youaresafe, Eve. And if heading back to the human realm to beat information out of some crusty old wizards will help, then we’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

---