Page 41 of Cursed Touch
Carter removed a small knife from the pocket of his hoodie—a hoodie that was too warm for their current weather, paired with cargo shorts and flip flops. “Got one.”
“Okay, good. You kill one before?” Xander asked.
Carter shook his head.
“Fastest kill is to pierce their heart.”
Carter nodded, and she broke out into a fit of giggles. Both men turned toward her with concern evident on their faces.
“Sweetheart?”
She raised a hand before covering her mouth and laughing. “S-sorry, it’s just the nonchalant way you two talk about killing someone is rather unnerving.”
“It’s not a someone. It’s a something,” Xander stated, his tone hard.
Vanessa’s laugh died on her lips. She cleared her throat and replied, “Yes, sorry.”
Xander faced Carter, dismissing her and her outburst. “I’m heading out now that you’re here, but Peter’s sending someone else. I just don’t know who.”
His statement made ten different questions pop in her mind, but she bit her tongue from speaking again, at least not while the crabby man was around. They said their good-byes, and she managed a thank-you for slaying the creep—no, the tubar—in the window.
Carter pushed against the door and locked it. Raising a hand, he muttered to himself, and she watched the air around the door glitter with symbols briefly.
“Another protection ward. Let’s eat before these tacos get soggy,” he told her and pulled her by the hand.
“Xander’s a little…” She was unsure how to address the man in front of Carter.
Carter chuckled. “I hear he’s quite the badass. He’s also Peter’s right-hand man and a damn good werewolf from what I’ve already seen. I’m glad he was here to keep you safe,” he said and pulled her into his side before pressing his lips to her forehead.
After so much time away from him, it was sweet but not enough. Vanessa grabbed his face, and before she could second-guess herself, she kissed him. His mouth opened to hers without question. It was sweet, emotional, and left her aching for so much more.
Carter ended it and brushed his lips against hers one last time. “Food first and then I plan to do more of that,” he said and waggled his eyebrows.
She chuckled as she pulled the bag out of his hand. Looking around, she realized the only counter space she had where they could eat was occupied. Carter seemed to notice her pause and closed his eyes.
He mumbled under his breath, and suddenly, he held a blanket. He laid it on the ground, lowered himself, and smiled up at her. “Picnic for two?”
“Wow, how did you do that?”
He waved his fingers dramatically. “Magic.”
She shook her head and sat down.
“No, really. Serena taught me that and a few other things earlier tonight. I’m just excited it worked. It’s the first time I’ve done it by myself.” Carter beamed with both excitement and surprise as he reached into the bag and offered her a wrapped-up taco. “Now eat!”
They talked about their day between bites. She was surprised to hear him admit that his anxiety over her safety was making him unbearable at work. She, too, had been on edge between not knowing if danger was around the corner or if she simply missed him.
“My mom called me today,” she said, dabbing at the corners of her mouth.
“Everything good?”
She nodded. “Yup. Mom and Dad decided to take a cruise for their anniversary, so she wanted to remind me they’d be gone.”
Carter nodded. “You know, that’s probably for the best. Hopefully by the time they return and I get to meet them, we will have this threat neutralized.”
“I didn’t think about it that way.”
“Have you heard from Georgia?” he asked carefully.
