Page 71 of Cursed Touch
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Hushed voices caught her attention as she breathed in Carter’s cologne-and-musk scent. His body was warm and rigid under hers. She sensed his concern and anger. The fabric under her cheek was soft, and his cargo pants felt rough against the backs of her thighs.
Her tongue felt thick. “C-Carter?”
“Shh… It’s okay, sweetheart, give it a moment.”He ran a hand through the hair at the side of her head.
“What happened?”she asked, parting her lids, so light could begin to assault her eyes.
“How are you feeling?”he asked.
“Alive,”she said, noting how loudly her nerves fired within her.
“Just give it a second, honey.”
Her mom. Vanessa then remembered where they were. Once she forced her eyes to open all the way, she narrowed them on her mother. She’d returned her appearance to what Vanessa had remembered her to be. She wore her blouse, khaki capris, and her hair in place. “What did you do?”
“I—”
Carter squeezed her tightly against his chest. “How do you feel, sweetheart?”
Vanessa pushed against his chest and faced her mother. “What the hell was in that water?”
“The water is healing. In both of your cases, it will draw out any of your hidden magic.”
“You could have warned us!” Vanessa tried to stand but found herself back in Carter’s lap.
His fingers dug into her hips. “You okay?”
Vanessa sucked in a deep breath. “Still kind of woozy.”
“Honey, I didn’t know it would affect you like that.”
Vanessa looked over her shoulder at Carter. “How did you react?”
He shook his head. “Not like you. It made my skin feel like an electric current ran along it, and it felt like the world was tipped on its axis. Didn’t last long.”
Vanessa pressed a hand to her head. “Every single one of my senses went nuts. I know it’s crazy, but I feel like I’m still by the waterfall.”
Her mother grinned. “Not crazy at all. That’s actually really great news. It means it worked. You’ll be forever connected to that spot. Your senses are on overdrive, but they will calm down. I think you’ve reacted so strongly because you’re not a full-blooded nymph, honey. I’m sorry, I should have anticipated that.”
She raised a brow at her mom before deciding to relax against Carter. He was home, and his body and scent wrapped her in a cocoon of love and protection.
“I was telling your mom more about the lycan and what he said,” Carter told her before pressing his lips on the spot where her neck and shoulder met.
“Honey, while demons are a threat to witches, werewolves, and other supernatural beings, they aren’t to us—at least not to me. Your half breed status I’m not sure of because I don’t know a lot about it.”
“Why?”
“Simply put, we’re more powerful.”
Chapter 32
Carter could not reconcile the woman before him with the one in the enchanted forest. “How oldareyou?”
Vanessa’s elbow connected with his ribs. “Carter!”
He sucked in a breath and shot Daphyne an apologetic smile. “Sorry, it’s just—”
