Page 71 of The Mating Fire
Her heart sank. Such a cold, impersonal note. But why? They had shared such an amazing night together. She’d anticipated anintimate meal together before spending the rest of the day in his enormous library.
Harper headed to the kitchen. Jallu was there, bent over a frying pan. She glanced up from the eight-burner gas stove.
“Good morning,” she said in broken English.
“Good morning Jallu. Or Serena. Or whoever you are.” Harper went to the refrigerator, opened it and removed a carton of orange juice.
The woman left the stove and silently handed her a glass. Harper sighed.
“I’m sorry. I’m a tad bitchy this morning.”
Jallu transformed into Serena in a flowing orange dress and flip flops. The woman regarded her. “It happens when you’re with Jared. He can put you into a bad mood.”
Shrugging, she poured the juice, leaving the carton on the counter. Harper sat at the island, watching Serena continue to cook bacon.
“I’m not very hungry this morning, if that’s for me.”
“It is, and Jared instructed me to make sure you eat breakfast. You’ll need your strength.”
Maybe he did care after all. But the woman’s next words made her spirits sink.
“He said you need your strength to fight whatever battles you will face today. He didn’t want you fainting or getting weak because he’s not your babysitter.”
Tears threatened to rise. She swallowed the juice, feeling the acrid liquid burn her tight throat.
“I thought he cared,” she whispered, unable to contain her feelings anymore.
Serena turned off the blue flame under the frying pan. She sat next to Harper at the island.
Harper looked at her, the unlined face, the dark eyes filled with mystery. “He told me about the curse turning him into a Krampus. It was you who cursed him.”
A fact, not a question.
Expression calm, Serena nodded.
The lump in Harper’s throat grew thicker. “He was your lover.”
“Not exactly. He tried to seduce me. We never became lovers.” Serena tilted her head. “Ah. You slept with him. I can see it on your face. And now you’ve fallen in love with him. Like so many other women have done.”
Awkward. She felt like a fool. But Serena looked kind, not condemning. The witch patted her hand.
“You’re the first person he’s had sex with in decades, so he must have feelings for you. There’s hope.”
Harper sniffed. “You keep tabs on his love life?”
“Not me. Xavier, the Crystal Wizard, and Caderyn, the Shadow Wizard, who is guardian and judge over witches. They tell me about what is happening with him.”
“Now it sounds like you are the one who cares.”
Serena laughed. “I care because he possesses tremendous power that could be used for good, and he will be a dangerous weapon in the hands of evil. Jared walks a tight balance between light and dark. But with the right woman, he could make the right choices.”
Dread curled down her spine at the idea of Jared embracing evil. “He does have a dark side, but you make him sound as lethal as a nuclear bomb.”
“He could be, easily obliterating the lives of thousands of innocent women, causing them to go mad in their dreams, pining for him, wasting away or worse, doing whatever he bid them. Including killing others. This is the real reason I cursedhim – to keep him from growing arrogant, which can lead to craving more and more power. The wrong kind of power.”
“What happens if the curse isn’t broken? Will he remain as he is?”
“I doubt it. I believe Xavier will be forced to destroy him before he destroys others.”
