The Witch Is Back (40 page)

Sinjin bowed and left the room and I breathed out my relief. Just being near him caused my blood pressure to escalate. And now with a new batch of memories that sickened me, I wondered how I’d ever rid myself of the bloody vampire. But Sinjin wasn’t the one who deserved my attention. No, Jolie needed me and it was Jolie I wanted to focus on. I glanced down at her and watched her exhale. She closed her eyes wearily as the beginnings of a smile took control of her mouth. I held her more tightly, suddenly only too aware of the fact that I’d nearly lost her … again. Granted, there was a good chance she would have survived the transformation but the idea of Jolie as a wolf left me nothing but cold. No, she was a witch … she was my own kind.

She was mine
 …

“I think I might be back to normal,” she said as the whiteness of her pallor began to give way to her ordinarily rosy hue and the vivaciousness that was Jolie began to come back, little by little.

I smiled as I held her in my arms. “You feel okay?”

“Physically, I feel better than okay, actually,” she admitted shyly and I realized she was embarrassed. No doubt she was remembering everything she’d said and
done with Sinjin. And as if those memories weren’t awkward enough, I’d witnessed the entire episode. I didn’t say anything but gave her an understanding smile and tightened my hold around her.

“I can move again,” she announced, in an obvious change of subject, as she focused on her legs and wiggled her toes. Jolie’s battle against the fairy, Dougal, had left her basically paralyzed. That is, until Sinjin had come along …

I nodded, none too comfortable with the realization that I now bore a deep debt to him. It was entirely because of him that she was lying here in my arms, that she wasn’t canine or dead. “It’s Sinjin’s saliva. It must have healed not only the wolf’s bite but the rest of you as well.”

“It’s that strong?” she asked and glanced up at me with her doelike eyes. The freckles that decorated the bridge of her nose gave her a youthful essence, a purity that was so uniquely hers. She’d seen and experienced things that would have caused a lesser person to crumble, would have ripped away any innocence they possessed. Yet Jolie was still the same woman I’d first encountered when I’d wandered into her fortune-telling store a year or so earlier. Well, she wasn’t exactly the same. She’d learned so much, experienced so much, she’d come so far and yet her eyes were wide with a virtuousness that surprised me.

“Yes.”

She seemed to suddenly remember the wolf and glanced toward the dead body heaped in the corner. “Do you know who he is?”

I shook my head, not wanting to be reminded of the fact that I’d failed in my part to keep her safe. Jolie was wanted—her ability to reanimate the dead had garnered attention from all creatures of the Underworld. It was no surprise that Bella, eager for power and domination,
had desired Jolie for herself. I’d been so foolish to think Pelham Manor was secure—granted I’d employed guards and, with the help of fairy magic, constructed invisible magical nets along the tree line, designed to keep our enemies away. I’d still failed and in the process, I’d nearly lost Jolie …

“No, but I do know he’s one of Bella’s.”

“He was?” she almost choked. “But how did he get through the fairy nets and all your soldiers?”

“Inside job,” I said with a sigh, my mind elsewhere—on the fact that I’d nearly lost her, for example. “This is her way of saying she’s agreed to our war.”

We were both interrupted when one of my men appeared in the doorway. “Apologies for disturbing you,” he started in a deep southern accent. Even though we were in England, our soldiers were from every section of the globe. This one, like Jolie, was from America. “I’m here for the wolf.”

I cleared my throat, slightly embarrassed by the fact that he’d stumbled upon Jolie and me in an intimate moment. “No worries,” I said and motioned to the corner of the room. His eyes followed my lead and he merely went to the wolf, picked him up, and hurriedly exited. Not wanting any other visitors, I focused on the splintered remains of the busted door and, narrowing my eyes, imagined the door mending itself, pictured the wood seaming itself together again. When I blinked, it was as if Sinjin had never destroyed it in the first place.

I glanced down at Jolie and found her watching me. “I imagine that whole situation with Sinjin was difficult for you to watch?” she asked.

I exhaled, not wanting a reminder. “More than you know.”

“Rand … thank you for doing what you did.” She glanced away and exhaled, as if remembering what had just occurred. “I really don’t even know how to verbalize
what I’m feeling. I’m just … very grateful to you and Sinjin.”

You and Sinjin …
I didn’t allow myself to complete the thought. Without Sinjin’s assistance, Jolie wouldn’t be here, in my arms, as if she hadn’t just skated over extremely thin ice.

“Yes, well …” I started, not exactly certain what my point was.

“I’m sorry you had to witness what you did,” she interrupted. “I’m a little foggy on what happened but every time I think about it, I get embarrassed, so that must mean something …”

If she couldn’t remember the details, I wasn’t about to remind her. It was better for us both that she not recall exactly what went on. “It’s better that way.”

She nodded and tried to hide a yawn behind her hand. I smiled down at her and stroked her forehead. “You’re tired,” I said, pointing out the obvious.

“Yes.”

I started to move, to stand up, but she clung to me and the fear I’d seen in her eyes moments earlier returned. “You need to sleep, Jolie,” I said, just as I noticed the blood still staining her bedsheets and body.

“Would you prefer to sleep in another room?” I asked, thinking this one might now bear bad memories.

“Yes,” she started and then dropped her gaze to her fidgeting hands. “I’m afraid, Rand. Will you stay with me?” There was urgency in her tone.

Really, I was needed outside with my men. I was more than certain that word of the wolf attack was now spreading through our battalions and it was my duty to announce exactly what had happened, that there had been one among us who betrayed our trust. And, furthermore, what I intended to do to ensure the rest of us were safe. But, at the moment, my men could wait. Jolie needed me and she was my priority.

I tilted her head up and smiled. “Of course.” Then I reached down, secured her in my arms and lifted her. She rested her head on my chest and I started for the door.

“Which bedroom do you prefer?” I asked.

“Yours,” she said with no hesitation.

I wasn’t certain why but her answer caused a sense of warmth in me and I smiled to myself. “Very well.”

I walked the few paces to my bedroom and opened the door with a thought. Once inside, I imagined the lights turning themselves on and they flickered in acquiescence, dimming themselves until they sent a slight yellowish glow throughout the room.

“I love it in here,” Jolie whispered. “It smells like you.”

I chuckled and kissed the top of her head but said nothing as I approached my bed and pushed the duvet to the side. Jolie clung to me as I bent down, intending to settle her against the pillows.

“I need to shower,” she argued.

“Do you have the strength?”

She cleared her throat and dropped her gaze, as if she were embarrassed. “I need your help.”

At the realization of what that meant, that she and I would be naked together, I felt a bolt of energy, of excitement pulsing through me. I immediately dampened it down, though, realizing this would be anything but sexual. She was hardly in the right frame of mind …

“Okay,” I said and my voice was constricted, deep. It had to be more than obvious that I was battling with myself, forcing my desire to abate.

“Can you help me?” she asked and brought my attention to the fact that she was attempting to free herself from her “jammies” as she termed them. Her top was mostly ripped and already falling off her shoulders, thanks to the wolf’s attack. I merely looped my finger
underneath one strap and slowly pulled it up and over her wound, ensuring I didn’t accidentally brush up against it, even though Sinjin’s saliva was already in the process of healing her. Then, forcing my eyes to hers, I pulled the strap further down her arm until the fabric dropped away from her entirely, revealing her breasts.

Keep your eyes on her face, man!
I reminded myself. It was a difficult task because Jolie’s breasts are simply—awe-inspiring. I’ve only had the pleasure of witnessing them on a few occasions but if I had to, I could delineate them on paper flawlessly. Although I’ve never made love to her, we have come close. And as to why we’ve never become lovers … it’s quite complicated. I began our acquaintance as her employer and fiercely promised myself to act the part of her guardian and protect her rather than seduce her. And now? Although I still consider myself her protector, she no longer works for me, so I suppose I could free myself of that promise. Perhaps.

“You can look at me, Rand,” she whispered.

I swallowed but didn’t respond, merely took advantage of the opportunity she was offering and allowed my gaze to move slowly down her face, to her neck and further south still. Her breasts were just as beautiful as I remembered them—full enough to fill my hand, with nipples that were alert and flushed pink.

“Do you want to touch me?”

I cleared my throat and forced my attention back to her face. “Yes.”

She smiled and that was when I realized that perhaps she was still under Sinjin’s power, there was a chance that this wasn’t what she really wanted. And even though I could have been making a mistake, if there was even an inkling of doubt as far as where her feelings were coming from, it was a risk I was not willing to take.

“Jolie,” I paused as I searched for the proper words. The last thing I wanted to do was upset or insult her. “I’m afraid the feelings Sinjin spawned in you have not yet abated.”

She seemed taken aback, the smile dropping right off her lips. “Oh,” she said and flushed with what appeared to be embarrassment.

And that was when I realized I had to make her understand that I wanted her, absolutely, but not like this. “I would never do anything to hurt you, Jolie, or take advantage of you when I don’t believe you to be in the right frame of mind.”

She nodded and dropped her gaze, crossing her arms against her chest. “I understand.”

I ran my hands through her hair, imagining the sweat and blood fading into nothing and watched as the sheen of her hair returned. As I traced the incredibly soft skin of her temples and cheeks, the smudges of blood disappeared, leaving only the radiant beauty of her face. I could attempt to heal her wound but I already knew I’d be unsuccessful as not even Sinjin’s saliva could heal it completely. Due to the virility of the canine virus, the healing process would need to run its own course. My warlock magic would not be able to hurry it along.

“You are beautiful,” I whispered and brought my lips to hers. I only intended to kiss her chastely but she opened her mouth and before I knew it, my tongue had entered her mouth and now mated with hers. I groaned against her, felt my hands traveling up the line of her waist until they found her breasts. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I pulled her into me, needing to feel her against me. She moaned and something inside me yelled that I was taking advantage of the situation. She was still not in her right mind and I was seducing her? I was as bad as the bloody vampire!

I pulled away from her and took a few steps back. “I … I apologize. I should not have …”

“Rand, I want this.”

I shook my head. “You need to sleep and heal, Jolie.” I paused. “It’s not right for me to do this with you … now.”

Her eyes narrowed and she frowned, pulling away from me. “One of these days I wish you would just give in to your feelings for me and not find some excuse as to why you can’t,” she said and her voice was angry.

“There is a chance that you might rethink anything we do here and now,” I rebutted. “I don’t want that to happen.”

She sighed and suddenly appeared exhausted. “It’s hard to be angry with you or get disappointed when you’re just so … honest and … and good.”

I chuckled even though I wasn’t sure how to take her comment. I wanted her; she had to know that. But I respected her and cared for her enough that the moment had to be right.

She faced my bed and sighed. I pulled the duvet back and, lifting her, delicately placed her against the pillows and pulled the cover up as if she were a child and I were tucking her in. Imagining gauze and tape, I closed my eyes and focused until I could feel them materialize in my hands. Then I set to bandaging Jolie’s wound.

“Will you stay with me?” she asked. “Just until I fall asleep?”

I smiled. “Of course.”

I sat down beside her and watched her roll onto her side until she was facing me. “Thank you,” she said with a small smile.

“For what?”

“For always looking out for me and driving me insane with your infallible sense of honor.”

I chuckled. “It doesn’t sound very good when you put it that way.”

She smiled as her eyes closed, revealing her incredibly long eyelashes as they dusted her cheeks. “It’s good, Rand, it’s good.”

I stroked her hair and smiled, even as I realized she was drifting off, boarding the ship to the Isle of Sleep. “I promise to keep you safe, Jolie. I promise that this will never happen again.”

“Mmm hmm,” she muttered.

I shifted a long and silken strand of hair behind her ear, not able to tear my gaze from the tranquil beauty of her face. “You mean the world to me.”

But she was already asleep.