Page 30 of Witch's Betrayal
"So why should we trust you, master of shadows?"
All heads turned to me as I bit the inside of my cheek. Fuck, that was probably the wrong thing to blurt out and definitely at the wrong time. Laurel and John watched me coolly while Seth looked at me with a dark, menacing scowl on his face.
"Because I'm the only chance we have of surviving the witch hunts that will surely follow," he growled and snapped his attention away to address the rest of the crowd. "That's all, everyone. Please be safe out there."
The crowd began to disperse, some people casting nervous glances at me, or Seth, or both. The man in question made a beeline straight for me, the scowl still present on his face. With a surprisingly gentle hold on my elbow, he led me away from Juno until we were out of earshot of everyone.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" he seethed, practically spitting in my face. "You're the newest coven member and you're trying to undermine me? That'll get you nowhere fast, new girl."
"Yeah? So why are you so pissed?" I shot back, yanking my arm from his grip. "Maybe someoneshouldchallenge your authority. Wouldn't want these coven members to be manipulated into following you blindly."
His jaw clenched as his stormy eyes seemed to search mine for the answer to some unknown question. Thankfully I wore a long-sleeved sweater so that he couldn't read my shadows without touching my bare skin. If he did, he'd know exactly how seethingly pissed I was.
"Look, I know what you're thinking," he said in a much lower voice. "And for what it's worth, you're wrong. I didn't breathe a word about what I saw the other night."
"Hah!" I barked out a harsh laugh that echoed off the surrounding tree trunks before lowering my voice again. "You expect me to believe that shit?"
He shrugged. "It's the truth. Doesn't really matter if you believe me or not." He stepped away from me, his sharp gaze softening. "I'm glad you're okay, Deja."
"Well, it's awfully convenient this meeting was called the day after you saw one of my men," I hissed, ignoring his note of concern for me. "Are your people going to hunt him down now? Drive him out like the witch hunt you're so desperate to avoid? It's fine as long as it's not done toourpeople, right?"
"Deja." The way he said my name was somewhere between a warning and a plea. His eyes lowered and he sighed as he ran a hand through his coffee-colored hair. I focused on my anger to ignore how sexy it was.
"I had no reason to report your boyfriend, or whatever he is," he muttered. "So I didn't. End of story. He stopped your pain and took you somewhere safe evidently, as you're here now and right as rain." He licked his lips and raised his eyes to me. "Believe it or not, I don't have it out for people just because they're a different species. But I will investigate genuine threats against us. I just want to keep our people safe."
"Huh." I stepped in closer until my lips tingled from the sensation of his breath. "Choice words for a fucking demon hunter."
I walked away before he could respond, crushing leaves and pine needles with my heavy steps. Raum's wings fluttered somewhere behind me as he followed, taking short flights before hopping from branch to branch.
Every muscle in my body was as tense as a wound up spring. As I returned to Diana's car, I tried to convince myself that the thrum of heat and sensitivity pulsing through me was nothing more than anger.
