“Shit,” Hannah whispers, leaning over the railing. “How do we get down?”
We’re overlooking a courtyard far below, where hard stone pathways wind between grass and gardens. No one is around, though lights glow in square windows on all four sides. Across the way, a path leads back to the road. Now if we could just get there.
The temperature drops suddenly, and frost spreads across the glass with an ominous crackling sound. The crystals form a pattern until the meaning is clear: Maya is casting protection runes. I step back from it, feeling its sting without touching it.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck,” Hannah whispers. She shivers and crosses her arms. Then she gasps, her face going white in the moonlight. “My sweater! I left it beside the computer.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, holding back my annoyance at her foolishness. But Maya probably knows who her intruders are, anyway.
I return my attention to the drop. It’s too high to jump without using magic to cushion us.
“Show your face, cowards!” Maya barks. A blast of magic lifts strands of our hair, and the glass door cracks, spider-webbing from the impact.
A charged hum fills the air, seeping through the walls—the crackling energy that builds with a witch’s rage. Something crashes inside as her anger escalates.
Whatever she said about not wanting to be part of the coven, she’s still a witch, and Florence’s power pulses through her veins. And if she’s inherited even half of Florence’s abilities, she will incinerate us both when she finds us cornered out here.
I turn to Hannah, gripping her shoulders hard. “I need magic to get us out of here. Now.”
Hannah nods, stepping closer without hesitation. “Take it.”
Her breaths are shallow, her lips parted like she’s ready to breathe her life into me.
God, she’s lovely.
I shove her against the railing and press my body to hers, cupping her face. Her skin is silky and cool beneath my palms. I murmur the incantation, running my hands down her neck, bare shoulders, and arms. My whole body tingles as my magic begins to feed, drawing her sweet taste into me.
I settle my hands in the strip of bare skin at her hips, holding her to me. It helps that she’s shed that bulky garment she called a hoodie, leaving less between us and more skin I can access. The lacy thing she’s wearing is nothing short of scandalous, all delicate straps and sheer material that does nothing to hide the curves beneath. I can even see her nipples peaking the fabric.
I have to focus, to draw just enough to get us to safety. Butoh, she tastes divine. The rush is intoxicating as power floods into me, and she shivers under my touch.
Maya’s footsteps thump closer.
My pulse pounds. I need to hurry.
“Open your mouth,” I whisper.
Hannah’s breath catches. “What?”
“I need your essence. Your breath.”
Her lips move wordlessly, like she’s trying to process what I’m asking. But we don’t have time for that.
I push two fingers into her mouth, parting her plush lips. The moment her hot tongue touches my fingers, my insides burn with desire. I try to focus on drawing power, but there’s a split second where her tongue flicks over my fingertips, and I have to bite back a groan.
I pull my fingers out and slide my hands around the back of her head, tangling them in her soft hair that smells like peaches. I lean in so close that our lips are nearly touching and inhale deeply, drinking in her life force.
We’re not kissing, but God, her lips are so close. They’re a hair’s width away, plush and open. The urge to cross that small distance and take her lips in mine is overwhelming, but I hold back.Not like this.
I tighten my fingers in her hair, tipping her head back so I can drink in more of her. She’s so pliant under my touch, yielding to my every movement. What I wouldn’t give to have more time.
Focus. Draw deeper.I’m wasting seconds we don’t have, distracted by wanting her.
Hannah’s hands come up to grip my cloak, but she doesn’t push away. Just holds onto me as I keep taking. Power floods through me, and she trembles in my arms.
The door handle rattles as Maya grabs it from the other side.
I fling my hand out behind me to stop her, slamming the door before she can open it all the way. The wood groans under the pressure.
