Page 101 of Witch Unexpected
I smiled. “And by doing so, we’ll flush out the traitor.”
* * *
Leif paddedinto Tor’s smashed up lounge dressed in his friend’s clothes, slightly too big for him, but better than wandering around naked. Okay, maybe notbetter,but warmer, definitely warmer, with less chance of snagging vital bits.
“Have The Elites gone?” he asked.
I nodded. “They took one of Tor’s cars. They’ll get the plan in motion. Sloane’s got this.”
“Tor?”
“I don’t know.”
He sighed. “I’ll speak to him.”
“Actually, I was thinking maybe I could. I think he and I need to clear the air.”
Leif nodded. “I’ll wait for you at the car.”
I found Tor standing on the gravel outside, looking up at the moon.
His shoulders tensed when he sensed my presence.
“It’s too cold out here for you,” he said gruffly. “Especially in that dress.”
“Well, I’ve pulled it back down now, so it’s much warmer.”
His mouth twitched, but the smile didn’t make it.
I sighed. I knew what this was about. Guilt. “I’m not hurt, Tor. You didn’t hurt me.”
He made a sound of exasperation. “Not the point, woman. You got lucky. I could have hurt you. I would have. I wanted to.”
“No, that wasn’t you. That was the spell.” I reached out to tentatively touch his forearm. “I’d like to start again if that’s okay?”
He looked down at me with a frown. “You’re not afraid of me, are you?”
I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, buddy, I’ve seen scarier things than you, and if I wanted to, I could have totally kicked your ass.” I sniffed. “I didn’t want to hurt you, that’s all.”
This time he allowed his lips to lift in a smile. “Oh, it’s like that, is it?”
“Totally.”
He sobered. “Cora, I want you to know I would never intentionally harm you. I would never harm a woman.”
“I believe you.”
He exhaled and nodded. “Good.”
Our gazes locked for a heartbeat, and my lungs tightened beneath his regard. There was something raw and primal about Tor, and I could imagine the beast beneath the man looking back at me.
I was first to drop my gaze. “Does this mean you’ll come back with us?”
He looked back up at the moon, shoulders relaxing. “I should never have left.”
The knot in my stomach, the one I hadn’t even realized was there, melted away.
He smiled thinly. “And when we find the witch responsible for my exile, I’ll make an exception to my rule and crush her heart in my hand.”
