Page 35 of To Crave Deeply
“She’s right, though,” I mused.
“Hmm?”
“You should start your own coven. You’d make a great Supreme Witch.”
She scoffed. “There’s more to it than just being powerful. They are a source of knowledge, balance, and power. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
I reached across the island countertop and took her hand. “That, to me, is a sign of a good leader. I think you should make a coven of rebellious witches who are just like you. The ones who have no one else to turn to, nowhere else to go. Those witches that were cast out for doing nothing more than standing up for what they believed in or for just being different. There’s power in being different, and I see that power in you.”
She beamed at me, and I couldn’t help but return her smile. She would make a great Supreme Witch one day. She just needed to believe in herself enough to do it.
“Thank you, Lori. That means a lot.”
“You’re welcome.”
Rae’s smile turned to a frown as she studied me. “Are you alright?”
My stomach churned. Rae was looking at me like I’d just grown an extra head.
“I’m fine. Why?”
She stood and walked around the island before stopping right in front of me. “Your mark. You haven’t stopped scratching it.”
“It’s just a little itchy.”
“I think it’s more than that. Look.”
I looked down at the mark and it was bleeding. I’d scratched it so much I’d torn my skin. I pulled my hand away and looked at my bloodstained fingers.
“What’s happening?” Panic flared in my chest. What did this mean? Was Lucifer okay?
“We need to get you to Levi. Now.” Rae grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet.
My head swam and nausea settled in my gut. I stumbled and grabbed the stool next to me to stop me from collapsing to the floor.
“Something’s wrong.” My words came out slurred and then suddenly, I was falling backwards.
Air rushed from my lungs as my back collided with the wooden floor and my head thudded as it bounced against the hard surface. I could hear Rae calling my name, see her green eyes widen in fear, and her long red hair tumbled around my face as she checked me over to try and find out what was wrong with me. I could feel Iveri stirring in the back of my mind as my consciousness grappled with trying to keep me awake. Shit, if I went under, would I surface or would Iveri?
I felt Rae’s hands frame my face as she tried to make me look at her, but it was so hard to focus. I could barely hear her, but I could see her mouth was saying the same thing over and over again.
Torsten… call Torsten… call Torsten.
That was probably a good idea. He’d know what to do, or at least be able to get me somewhere fast.
My body convulsed, my back arched off the floor and pain with the heat of a thousand flames seared my insides.
“Torsten!” I yelled as blackness danced around my vision and knives clawed at my skull. A scream was ripped from my throat as my body exploded into a sea of pure agony.
The last thing I saw before unconsciousness claimed me was a swirling glow of gold and silver. Then there was nothing but blackness as the pain consumed me.
Chapter 13
TORSTEN
Lori could call me from any plane of existence, at any time, and I would be able to hear her. I was in the throes of discussing solutions with the archangel Michael and Darius, my King’s head of security, when her screams reached my ears and my blood curdled with fear. I’d never been one to feel fear; I’d always been the one to create it in others, but I’d never had anything to protect like Lori before.
She had exposed a part of me that had always been hidden. It was raw and terrifying, and it made me feel unsure of myself. I’d always been this monster of nightmares which was an identity I knew how to deal with. I knew what was expected of me and how to function, but now I had this woman who brought yearning to the surface, and I had no idea how to handle that. I was in an uncharted territory, and I suddenly found myself with someone I wanted to protect more than I wanted to survive. I would do anything for her and that wasn’t because of the bond of servitude. I would do anything merely because she asked me to.
