“Right, you can’t come out in the sun,” she says, and I just give her a small smile with a fang, letting her believe that part. While my skin can’t touch the sun, it doesn’t mean that money and science haven’t gone a long way to help me walk during the daytime.
“So you agree, your nights are mine.”
“Except full moons and rituals with my coven.”
“Well then, should we seal the agreement with magic?” I ask, grabbing her wand and handing it to her. I need her to agree before she asks me for any more stipulations I can’t possibly agree to.
She looks at me like I’m unhinged, but she might just match my crazy. Maybe the old homage of opposites attract could be true.
Darkness and sunshine, walking together into the pits of hell to see where we end up.
She shouldn’t agree to my proposition, and I wonder if she feels the same magic between us as I do. Maybe she might fall right into my palm. I’ll protect her, even if I have to trick her in the process.
“I need your name for the spell.”
“Warin Auclair and yours?” I ask, like I don’t know everything about her.
“Ember…Ember Hallow.”
I make a vow of my own that somehow, someway, I’ll get this witch,my witch, to fall for me.
Chapter 4
His name sounds like a caress as my magic surrounds us, binding our agreement.
I’m not sure if it’s fear of being made a martyr by his vampire council or if it’s something else…like this desperate ache and desire for adventure I haven’t been able to put my finger on for so long.
His touch ignites a spark in me that I can’t deny. Something that’s been simmering under the surface is awakened in his presence. I should be terrified, screaming out the door and running for my coven's help.
Then there's the promise of learning new magic. Maybe this is what I need to become the witch I’ve always wanted to be.
Even if it’s probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, the magic slithers up both of our wrists, connecting us to this vow. I’ll help him for the next six months, and he’ll offer me protection for a crime I didn’t even commit.
Part of that promise is that I won’t have to do anything illegal or anything harmful.
It will be fine, right?
The man—vampire—tilts his head at me. He’s strikingly handsome. I’m not even sure how to put it into words. Looking at him does more for me than all the men I’ve come across in my life times one-hundred. How can this be possible? How is it that he excites something inside of me when no other man has.
His eyes look like a frozen glacial lake as he assesses me. He licks his lips as the vow seals itself and I pull my hand away from his colder one.
I wonder if manipulation is a power he possesses and maybe I’m not of sound mind as he appraises me. Maybe he hypnotized me with how hot he is, how rich and enchanting his voice is. This vampire is dangerous, not only because of how he could break me in half like a toothpick, but because when I look at him I feel something I’ve never felt before.
Hecate, Ember. Did you really get yourself into a complete cluster fuck over a hot vampire? Just because he’s good looking and has butterflies flapping in my stomach doesn’t mean he isn’t potentially evil.
“What exactly is it you need help with?” I say, realizing I should have read the fine print before slipping into an agreement with a vampire.
His eyes search mine, and he doesn’t clear his throat or make any human-like sounds. Instead, he stands to his full height, straightening out his suit jacket.
“I need a few items created, old magic. I have some grimoires for you to take home.”
My brows furrow. “What? Like protection items?”
“Yes, something of that sort. I may also need your assistance with some vampires that I need to deal with.”
“How would I help you deal with vampires?” I ask, thinking he has the wrong witch to help him with his problems.
I’m an elemental witch. If he wanted his gardens to win awards, that I could do. Maybe he needs me to set somethingon fire? That’s also something I’m rather good at. But protection spells? Offensive or defensive magic? I’m probably below average in both of those departments and it has me adjusting in my seat, hoping that he can’t tell how insecure I feel about his request.
