“Don’t even fucking think about it,” I warned, a second too late as her fight or flight instincts kicked in and she took off running.
“Help!” she screamed. “Someone, please, help me.”
The witch was surprisingly fast, but I was faster.
I wasn’t chasing to kill her. If I had been, she’d already be dead.
“Enough,” I growled, my voice reverberated through the graveyard. A hush fell over the place, even the wind quieted for me.
“What do you want from me?” She asked, lip quivering when she realized she couldn’t escape.
“I came to make a deal.”
“Only an idiot would make a deal with a demon,” she snapped, a sudden spark of defiance flared in her eyes before fear washed it away.
“Well…” I glanced around the cemetery. “Only an idiot wanders a cemetery alone at night. So…” I stepped closer. The witch’s lack of self-preservation was astounding. I inclined my head toward her. “Hear the terms before you decide.” I spoke with a quiet calm.
My offer would be more than fair. Far more than the witch deserved. Yet my gaze betrayed me. It dropped to her lips, and I desperately wanted to know what that mouth of hers was capable of.
“I don’t know how I can help you.”
“I need help with this.” I motioned to the collar around my neck, feeling the full weight of her stare as she examined it.
“Why is it there?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“It’s a fucking cage. It traps my power and uses it against me.” The words came out strained, and I hated how weak theymade me sound. I would never beg a witch for anything ever again.
“And you want me to do what exactly?” Her manicured nail trailed over the collar. I gritted my teeth, and a low growl rumbled from my throat. A warning, but she didn’t back away.
“I need it to be removed.”
Her eyes remained glued to it.
“And what do I get out of thisdeal?” She said the word like she didn’t believe it to be one.
“It would be a shame if anything happened to those friends of yours back there, wouldn’t it?” I asked, stroking a clawed finger down her cheek. “Do you want to know the types of screams people make when flesh is peeled from bones?” I added, just to see her squirm.
The look in her eyes told me she’d do anything to protect them. A small piece of me wondered what it would be like to have someone care enough to fight for you.
“The deal is I won’t kill you or your friends, and in return you use your magic to remove the collar.”
Her heartbeat fluttered in her chest the longer she considered my proposition.
“You can’t kill anyone.” She met my stare. “Not a single person.”
“This isn’t a negotiation.” My lips formed a thin line as I thought about her counteroffer. Killing Devin topped my to-do list, but I’d let the asshole live if it meant gaining my freedom.
“You need me.” She stood her ground. “Promise you won’t kill anyone.”
I didn’t want to sound too desperate. So, I pretended to maul it over before finally agreeing. “Fine.” I brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Do we have a deal?”
She shivered slightly, but nodded her head in agreement.
“I need you to use your words, little witch.”
“Yes.” The word sounded more like a plea than an answer.
I crashed my lips against hers, expecting her to pull away. But instead, she fought for control. My tongue ran over her bottom lip. Soft and tender. I continued to tease her with my tongue until she opened her mouth, allowing me full access.
