Page 36 of Rise of the Witch
“Because he wouldn’t want to hurt you?” I offered, trying to keep him talking, surprised that Iwantedhim to confide in me.
I want to understand what he’s feeling.
Asa sighed, rolling onto his back and setting his mouth into a grim line. “Yeah, that’s part of it. Tan is just soloving.He could never give me pain like that—no way could he bring me that close to...” He didn’t finish his thought, but I knew where he was headed. Asa wanted to brush against the Nav, to find that place between life and death where he could cease to exist, even if for only a moment.
I hummed in acknowledgment. “Yes, Tan is very generous with his affection. Attention from him feels like basking in daylight—his entire focus is on you, yethe’sthe one thankful for someone to bathe in his warmth.” I paused before eyeing him shrewdly. “Don’t you think you deserve a love like that?”
Asa’s sharp intake of breath told me all I needed to know, although he attempted to deflect. “His whole family is like that. Gregarious, loud, welcoming. There’s so many of them that it’s complete chaos whenever we visit, but...it’s warm,lovingchaos.” He rubbed his large hand up my arm, squeezing me closer and smiling at some distant memory.
These men had a whole history together before they stumbled upon me.
“And what about your family?” I ventured. “Or Nox’s?”
Again, he smoothly evaded my question. “Nox was raised by his grandmother on the coast. She died when he was 11 or 12. Well, it’s my understanding that she was horrifically murdered, although he never told me specifics.” I stiffened beside him, suddenly remembering my conversation with Nox about how he lost his grandmother.
“She was a witch.”
Oblivious to my reaction, Asa continued, “That was when his father decided to come back into his life. I don’t think it was out of love that he returned—it was probably more that he saw something in Nox he wanted to claim and use as a tool to further his own career. His father’s kind of a dick, but he’s a pretty big deal, being one of the founders of the Facility and all, so...” he turned to me, his smile faltering as he took in my panicked expression.
I scrambled to my feet and quickly gathered my clothes, needing to get back to the safety of my hut immediately.
“Vasi? Are you all right?” Asa searched my face with concern, starting to reach for his gun but freezing when he saw me flinch. “Wait...do you...think we’re going to hurt you because we came from the Facility?”
The anguish on his face made me pause my frantic actions. “No, I don’t think you wish to harm me. Or that Tan does either. I’m not sure about Nox sometimes, but if his father is in charge of the Facility and their shifter research…” I shuddered at the direction my racing thoughts were headed. “I can only imagine what they would do to a creature like me if I were captured.”
Asa buckled his belt before striding over to me. “I meant what I said when Nox attacked you on the porch,” he stated, hand gripping my chin so that I was forced to look at him. “If anyone lays a hand on you, I will kill them.” I probably should have been horrified by the coldness of his statement, by how easily he promised the death of another human, but I wasn’t.
I like him bloodthirsty.
Tracing the intricate lines of his tattoo, I admired how it now pulsed with a red glow, illuminating the threat simmering beneath the surface. Looking down, I saw a matching red tattoo had appeared on my forearm, intertwined with the white one already branded on my skin—both glimmering in response to the call of inflicting pain on our enemies.
Sighing, I realized I did need to keep the peace between my men if we were to claim this legacy together. “While I won’t stop you from protecting me, Nox is your friend,” I carefully replied. “And I believe he’s only been looking out for the best interests of you three, in his own...uncouth way. Not to mention, he’s also one of my Riders, whether he wants to admit it or not, and I need all of you.”
Asa paused to consider my statement before thoughtfully answering, “If I have to share you with anyone other than Tan, it would be Nox, but he has toearnit, Vasi.” Taking my face in his hands, he spoke slowly as if to ensure I absorbed his words. “You deserve to be treated like the treasure you are. You are worth it.”
Quickly shaking him off, I spun to face the lake again, looking to redirect those piercing blue eyes somewhere other than the cracks of my soul. I smiled when I noticed the algae on the surface had been almost completely eradicated, the small patches that remained looking noticeably fried like they’d been baked in the searing heat of the sun.
I did that.
No,wedid that. Together.
Asa wrapped an arm around my shoulder as he joined me in surveying our handiwork. Glancing up at him in profile, I countered, “You’re worth it too, you know.”
He simply chewed his lip and silently stared out at the lake. “Let’s go home,” was all he said before kissing the top of my head and leading me back toward the stallion.
Chapter 30
Taneer
Vasi was not going to be happy when she got home.
“Fuck, Tan...what do we do with the body?” For someone who’d dealt with his fair share of dead bodies over the years, Nox sounded uncharacteristically worried.
Perhaps he’s afraid of the vengeful power of Vasi’s magic pussy.
I stifled a smirk. Nox had been resisting Vasi’s charms like his life depended on it, even though I caught him staring at her like she was a juicy steak when he thought no one was looking. Sure this whole situation was a little strange—and not something any of us were expecting—but I could think of way worse scenarios than being a destined fuckboy for a hot forest witch. Eyeing the big guy next to me, I could practically see the stress of the last few weeks rippling beneath his skin like a wild animal trying to escape, making me wonder yet again why he didn’t just give in to Vasi’s sex magic.
Whatever happened to Nox’s sense of adventure?
