Page 94 of Hellish Witch

I snorted, hiking a thumb at the battered incubus. “He’s the one in danger.”

If you couldn’t laugh at yourself…

The mage’s glow dimmed as he glanced back and forth between the incubus and me, an adorable pink flushing his pale cheeks with colour. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to assume… But the way you were fleeing in fear with him running after you…” He trailed off, gesturing at the demon once more.

“Sure. Because all demons are just trying to steal pretty maidens to devour, right?” Killian ran his forked tongue across his lower lip suggestively, but his eyes were predator-focused on the other male.

The mage had the good grace to look uncomfortable. “You were literally chasing her down, covered in blood. Excuse me for trying to rescue someone in grave danger.”

I mean, he had a point. I’d literally been sprinting like I’d disturbed a phoenix’s nest, no doubt with a haunted look on my face.

The last time a male had run me down and dragged me off, I’d have given anything for a noble stranger to jump in and save me.

I stepped around the bristling wall of feathers and fury. Holding my hand out to the mage, I offered him a tight smile. “I’m Eve. Thank you for trying to help me. That was really nice of you.”

He took my hand with a sheepish smile that revealed a cute set of dimples. “Alvie.” He turned my palm over and placed a small kiss to the back like some ye olde gentleman. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Eve.”

Killian growled, so low the threat was barely audible.

My hand tingled where the mage’s soft lips had touched my skin, and I pulled back, putting some space between us, ignoring the urge to wipe my hand on my leather trousers.

Faint wisps of his desire reached me as he gave me a quick once-over, making me blush as his powerful energy trickled into my reserves with the faint taste of lavender and rosemary.

I couldn’t help but stare at him right back.

Well over six feet, he was tall for a human and built with a lean, almost wiry strength half-hidden by his casual white tee and neat jeans. He had that handsome, boy-next-door look about him but with a dash of magical allure in his rich goldenhair and eyes. His tanned skin was unmarred, perfectly smooth and untouched.

Next to his easy perfection, I felt more broken somehow. Like all his golden glory only highlighted my blood-soaked claws and writhing darkness.

Something about him just screamed wholesome goodness.

I didn’t trust it.

He probably had a spider familiar or something.

I’d met few mages apart from Zoella and the bastard who’d slept with me, kidnapped me, and sold me out to demon-hating hunters to be tortured and killed.

So about a 50 percent chance for dickhead when it came to magekind.

Maybe Alvie was everything I’d been searching for though. Hope unfurled in my chest, brightening my smile despite my suspicion.

Killian’s growl roughened, a clear sign blood was about to spill.

I glanced at the prickly incubus, shooting him a warning look.

He stopped growling but flared his shadowed wings in an intimidating show of size and strength.

I barely suppressed the eye-roll threatening to make my head spin. “This is Killian,” I said, gesturing to the stubborn demon.

The mage looked almost as suspicious of Killian as before, but at least he cordially dipped his narrow chin.

“We’re actually here looking for help from the local coven,” I said, giving him my friendliest smile to cover my nerves. “I’m…half-mage, and I’m looking for help with my magic.”

His eyes darted to the short horns peeking out of my hair. When I’d glamoured Killian, I’d also cast the spell on myself,hiding the small quirks of my demonic heritage. A strong mage like Alvie could see the truth beneath though.

It meant he’d seen a mixed breed mutt running for her life and still jumped in to save me. The realisation endeared him to me even more, easing some of the instinctive mistrust.

He nodded to my horns with a smirk. “I’d figured it was a little early for Halloween dress-up.”

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