Page 26 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts
More than once, he’d blamed himself for letting her go to the tournament. If he’d tried harder. If he hadn’t encouraged her by sparring with her. If he hadn’t brought her to that stupid fighting match where she’d seen Swan, and gotten inspired by his skills. If…
The anger over her loss flared up once more, contorting his features. “A vampire participated in the Al-Hatib Tournament. Tell me how you killed her.”
Kathrine tilted her chin. “A vampire?”
“Her name was…” His fists clenched and relaxed. “Her name was Diana.”
Something flickered in her expression. “What was she to you?”
Despite the pain, his lips curled into a smile. “Nothing anymore, tigress.”
Had she ever truly been anything to him?
Kathrine didn’t reply. Did she even recall the name?
Then, without a word, she left the room. As if the question had never been asked. As if Diana had never existed.
For the first time, Constantine wondered whether her existence had ever mattered – or if he was merely using her death as an excuse to stop fighting.
***
Zacharia
Between hours spent repairing the roof, waiting for intel from thatlokio, and darting to the car for a dose of blood fromthe cooler, Zacharia found himself in the bed of the ‘old’ witch. Not that he was complaining.
Under her veil, she possessed exceptional beauty, an impressive sexual appetite, and the skills of a seasoned professional. Who would have thought that treasures like her hid in the depths of the mountains?
Now, he thrust into her, quickening his pace. The position they were in was arousing as sin but quite demanding for his partner. So, when the witch reached her climax, and her moans of pleasure subsided, her abrupt withdrawal made him wonder if he’d caused her pain.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked.
She shook her head, concealing her nudity by wrapping herself in her black clothes. “Yourlokiowill soon be fed and provide the information you seek. After that, I want you gone.”
He gestured to his still-rigid arousal, standing between them like unfinished business. “And who’s going to finish feedingthis lokio?”
“I don’t feel well.” She stared out the window. The air in the room suddenly crackled with tension.
Zacharia could take a hint. The conversation – and everything else – was over. He wasn’t the type to get attached, but after spending the past few nights in this woman’s bed, he wasn’t ready to leave without addressing whatever had unsettled her – especially during sex.
Sliding into his jeans, he approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “What’s wrong, mysterious witch?”
A corner of her lips twitched upwards. “Mysterious witch?”
“Seems fitting, since I don’t know your name.”
“I like it,” she replied.
He stepped in front of her. Her eyes shimmered with subtle beauty, but what captivated him most was the hint of feminine vulnerability beneath her steel resolve. “I’m just a strangerwho’ll be gone tomorrow, never to be seen again. But while I’m here, I’m all yours – for roof repairs, sex, or a simple chat.”
She stared at him for a long moment. Finally, she sighed. “Years ago, I took something that wasn’t mine. It became both my greatest power and my deepest secret. It granted me access to a kind of magic few witches ever touch in their lifetimes.” She placed a hand on her chest, just above her heart. “But for the past few days, I can feel it leaving me. It burns with impatience because it knows someone else is looking for it. Someone it desires more than me.”
A thousand fucking devils.
Conversations with women often left him perplexed, but this one far exceeded the usual mysteries. This wasn’t just a female problem – it was a ‘witch problem.’ And he’d sworn not to get involved in those.
Yet the question tumbled out before he could stop it. “You struck a poor deal with the Higher Powers?”
“If only it were that simple.”
