Page 98 of Hellish Witch

The enforcer was as confusing as he was frustrating.

I’d tried to squash my dumb obsession when I’d stabbed him in the Bloodwood, but since last night, he’d been saying cute shit and wasn’t even fucked up on haze.

Alvie glanced over his shoulder at the demon, features pinching, before his attention returned to me. “Whatever is going on with your magic, I’m sure someone in my coven can help. I’ll make sure of it. You’re not alone anymore.”

I felt more than saw Killian bristle. The demon was a second away from murdering our one chance at finding this coven.

“Thank you,” I said, stepping closer to the mage in case I needed to protect him from Killian’s irrational need for violence. The psycho was still covered in blood from his last fight. “We really appreciate you helping us like this.”

“Yes, Sparkles,” Killian drawled, a lethal bite underscoring his tone. “Thank you ever so much.”

An awareness soared through my subconscious with a faint pulse of magic.

I held up a palm. “Wait a sec.”

Killian was instantly on high alert, scanning the forest. “What is it?”

I cocked my head, trying to extend my newfound intangible sense outwards. A small smile tugged at my lips. “It’s not danger.”

Alvie squinted between the trees before resting his attention on me. “What can you sense? Did you hear something?”

A goshawk flew overhead, but that wasn’t what I’d been waiting for.

Pounding thuds grew louder until a herd of wild horses raced by the forest boundary, metres from where we lingered out of sight through the tree-line.

I shrugged at Alvie, lips crooked into a sheepish smile. “I…can sometimesfeelbeings around me.”

“An animal mage and a healer.” He whistled low. “That’s a strong, and rare, combination. Do you have your familiar yet?”

My thoughts leaped to the hellcat I’d left behind. “I think so.”

Killian’s gaze found mine, and genuine delight curved his full lips. “That pretty kitty.”

The bastard was truly stunning when he smiled for real, his dusky purple features carved into heart-stopping perfection.

I fanged my lower lip, warmth suffusing my cheeks. “Guess having a psychotic hellcat breaking in all the time makes a bit more sense now, huh?”

Alvie paled to a chalky hue. “Ahellcat?!”

Unease squirmed through me. I was already different enough without revealing all the little quirks that made me a hellish witch rather than a normal one.

“Yeah, she’s kind of an arsehole, but cute enough to get away with it,” I said.

Killian snorted, wings fluttering with the movement.

The mage continued to gawp at me before seeming to shake himself. “Wow. What other amazing powers are you hiding?”

My thoughts dipped to the vile darkness I harboured, and the bloodthirsty monster cracked open its eyes.

I swallowed thickly, frantically trying to shove it deeper into the abyss. “Nothing.”

Chapter 34

“Amoment, please.” Alvie halted us in an unremarkable part of the woods, a good hour of tense walking later.

Hordes of curious critters had peered at us through the branches as we’d passed by, helping lighten the general aura of hostility simmering between Killian and Alvie. The mage had frowned adorably with each new animal, though, pointing out which ones shouldn’t even be awake at this time of day, the weak sun dipping low with the fading afternoon.

I stilled, finally sensing what had pulled us up short.

---