Page 141 of Bitten & Burned
Dmitri’s words settled like a balm.
Quil’s hands remained in mine, rough and gentle, at the same time, a juxtaposition worthy of the man himself.
And Vael…
Vael was still standing back. He’d moved forward slightly, as if to come to me, but then he’d thought better of it.
My heart felt so raw and cracked open. I looked at his face and saw everything I’d been missing. Everything he was and everything he could be.
And I reached for him.
Just a hand at first. And then I felt the rest of me reach as well. No longer just a gesture. A want. A need. A desire.
To be with the one who’d always made me feel safe. Warm. Loved, even if he hadn’t said it.
He started to move immediately. Then stopped. Moved again. Stopped again. As if he couldn’t decide if I meant it or not.
His movements were heartbreaking, and I wanted nothing more than to wrap him up in my arms and kiss it all away.
I leaned into my reach, eyes on his, warm and welcoming—or so I hoped. I stood when he drew near, stepped into his arms, and rose on my toes to kiss him. My lips were nearly brushing his when he stopped me.
“Wait,” he said softly. “I can’t.”
My heart hammered in my chest.What?My breath hitched. “You don’t… want?—”
“No, no, I… believe me, I want to, Rowena. Of course I do. I… ache for you, but I can’t—not with something hanging between us.”
“If this is about the bonding ceremony—” I began.
“No…” he said gently. “No, it’s nothing you’ve done. Or—nothing I’ve insinuated that you’ve done. I’m not upset with you; I fear you’ll be upset with me. For somethingIhave done.”
I blinked. “What? What did you do?” The irony of my word choice wasn’t lost on me.
He was silent for a long moment. As if he wanted to wait as long as possible before speaking. But he finally did.
“I sent for your father. He’s on his way. He’ll be here tomorrow morning.”
A beat. Hot confusion burned through me as I peered into his honey-gold eyes like they would hold the truth I couldn’t grasp. The key to my confusion. They did not. They only gazed unflinchingly into mine. I stepped back, away from him. I needed distance. I needed…fuck, I didn’t even know.
“You what?” I asked, my voice barely audible. “Why?”
“Because. Of the amulet. He needs to see it. Inspect it. Tell us what he knows.”
“I would have called my father myself if I thought for a moment he was needed.”
Vael gave me a soft look, one that stated that he knew damn well I would never have willingly called my father in to help me. Even if I were dying, which… I suppose I sort of was. Slowly.
“Rowena…”
“Vael, you had no right.”
His eyes flashed. “I haveeveryright. Every right when you refuse to see what needs to be done. When we took part in the blood bonding ritual, I vowed to take care of you in front of my coven and my goddess. And I will. Whether you like it or not.”
“Youvowed to take care of me?” I repeated, a bitter laugh clawing its way up my throat. “Funny. I don’t recall that vow coming with the clause ‘unless she’s being difficult, in which case go behind her back.’”
Quil shifted behind me, a hand reaching towardss me, but not touching me yet. Dmitri stayed silent. Watching. Waiting.
“I didn’t do it to go behind your back,” Vael said softly. “I did it because I’m afraid. You’re getting worse, and we’re running out of time?—”
