Page 51 of The 13th Daughter
"A book," he finally said. "A very important book. When Jeff's dad told us he and you were out and about before the crack of dawn, it was questioned."
"You think I stole a book?" I laughed. It was laughable. I doubted I'd have been able to get through the wards. "If it was so important, why wasn't it locked up?"
"It was, in a manner of speaking. Do you know anything about wards?"
"Not much." Something I could answer honestly. "The only thing I really know is that you don't want to mess with them if you don't know what you're doing. They're supposedly dangerous."
"These wards were more than dangerous, Cassie. They could have killed you."
"And you think I stole a book guarded by those kinds of wards? Or Jeff for that matter? He's still in the Junior Coven. It's a fairly safe bet, Ethan, to assume he doesn't have that kind skill yet."
"That's exactly what I told them," he snorted, "but you know more than you're saying, Cassie. You're smiling so hard, it looks like your jaws might meet your eyebrows. I'm guessing it's to keep your lip from quivering."
Dammit!
"You lie to me, Ethan."
He didn't deny it.
"I didn't take the book. I couldn't have if I'd wanted to. You said it yourself. The wards were dangerous and I know zilch about the craft."
"I agree you and Jeff didn't take it, but I wish you'd tell me the truth."
"Are you going to tell me everything?" I countered.
Silence.
"Thought not. So what's so important about it anyway?"
He settled back against the tree. "It's very old and holds many ancient spells and rituals that were handed down through generations of Coven members. There's one in particular they're concerned about."
"Oh?" I tried very, very hard not to sound too interested. I failed miserably.
"It's a ritual for Samhain."
"Halloween," I echoed. A ritual to be performed on my birthday. Coincidence? Hell no.
"They were going to attempt it once before, but the timing wasn't right. They need the book to make sure everything is as it should be."
"So they can't perform the ritual without the book?" No book, no curse?
"No, they can. Mr. Martin remembers the spell and the ritual. The Coven just wanted to double check the details."
Damn. There went that happy thought.
"Well..."
He put a finger to my lips. "No more talk about the Coven, okay? Let's just enjoy the evening."
"Did you bring me flowers to soften me up?" I teased.
He gave me that slow, lazy, wicked grin of his and his eyes heated to pools of molten steel. I swallowed. Hard. The butterflies took flight and my face flamed.
"Soften you up, Cassie Jayne Bishop? Are you back to having indecent thoughts about me?"
"I...I..." Damn. I was back to stuttering like an idiot. Why could he make me tongue-tied?
"Hmm..." He leaned in and kissed me lightly, his teeth catching my bottom lip. I put my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, needing to feel his arms around me. He obliged and I ended up in his lap. His hand tangled in my hair and pulled my head back to the angle he wanted. His kiss deepened, becoming almost bruising. I didn't care. All I cared about was the emotions running rampant through me. I needed him like I needed the air I breathed. My blood heated to a boil as a fire exploded within. I wanted...
