Page 74 of The Witch's Heart
I trail off. There are too many worries to name.
His fingers brush my cheek and I realize my face is wet with tears.
I sniffle.
“You’re safe now,” he says, pulling me tighter against his chest and folding me into the crook of his neck.
“They’ll come after you,” I tell him.
“I doubt it.” There’s a smugness in his words as he adds, “I’m faster than their eyes and even their cameras can track.”
I breathe in his scent—something musky and spiced—and my shoulders relax.
“Thank you,” I say against his chest
His body remains stiff against mine and I tense, pulling away to study his drawn brows and tight frown.
“This is inappropriate, I know,” I say with regret.
“No. Yes, I mean. It is but that’s not—that wolf would have killed you.”
“Yes.”
“And Schmidt and Mason would have let it.”
I cock my head. “Yes.”
He is silent, his gaze faraway as if he’s working something out. Finally, he refocuses on me and the air between us thickens with the rage simmering in his cobalt eyes. “Is this what they’ve been doing with you since our sessions stopped? Pitting you against the others?”
“They’ve been torturing us with various methods from the moment we’ve arrived.”
I watch as the truth plays across his features.
Past conversations flit through my mind. The remarks about the cells. His dismissals of my claims. The promises he made. The concerns for my well-being that felt so real.
“You truly didn’t know,” I realize.
“I would have stopped them much sooner,” he says, his voice hoarse.
And this time, I believe it.
Out in the hall, voices call to one another.
“Find her immediately,” Nurse Schmidt orders.
Heavy footfalls march closer, and Dr. Livingstone puts his finger to my lips to signal quiet.
I barely breathe as the footsteps march past us and fade away.
Before I can relax, a second set tromps closer.
“She’s here, I can damn well sense her,” Schmidt snarls from just outside the door.
My heart stutters in my chest.
Dr. Livingstone tenses, and I know he’s preparing to fight for me. But all that will do is cause trouble. Maybe even put Estelle in danger.
Magic surges underneath my skin.
