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Josie may compete.
“You’re in, babe,” Rune says. “Now, you just have to decide how you want to handle it.”
“What do I do?” She looks to Fintan for guidance. It sickens me that a witch as capable as Josephine is so unsure of herself.
I’m going to change that.
I don’t care how many times I have to tell her. I will scream it to the gods and goddesses in Valhalla until Josephine understands how special she is.
“It’s your decision,” Finn tells her, twisting the knife of indecision and self-doubt deeper into Josie’s gut.
“Whatever you decide, we’re here for you, babe.” I reach out through our bond, giving her every bit of reassurance and strength I can to let her know she isn’t alone in this. “You are capable of so much more than you realize, but the decision is yours. Are we in or out?”
I watch the rise and fall of Josie’s chest even out as her heart rate returns to a level closer to normal, and something in her changes. “Do you really think I can, Viking?”
“Babe, you wouldn’t be bonded to Rune Leifson if you weren’t a true warrior of worth.”
I hold her gaze and let her see the level of faith I have in her. She takes it in and determination hardens her dark gaze. “All right. Let’s give it a shot.”
“That’s my girl!” Three quick strides take me to her, and I hoist her into the air, wrapping my arms around her and twirling us in a circle.
Josie squeals. “Rune! Put me down.”
Fintan’s gaze is hot on my back as I bring us to a stop and obey Josephine’s request. The Celt takes her hand and bends to meet her gaze. “Are you sure, Josie? Don’t let us influence your decision.”
And by the ‘us’ he’s implying me.
Fucker.
I don’t consider supporting her a bad thing, and if he does, we’re going to have a problem.
Josie doesn’t seem to think it’s a problem, and really, that’s all I care about. “I’m sure.”
Straightening under Fintan’s assessing gaze, she adjusts the bodice of her dress, the constricting fabric pushing her breasts together in a plump display of cleavage.
She catches me eating her up and sends me a wink. The way she blushes while she does it is too cute. Gods, what I wouldn’t give to brush off the rest of this whole night and whisk Josephine back to my suite at Elysian.
I yearn to feel her body against mine—writhing, panting, frenzied and desperate with need. I wouldn’t even take the time to take her dress off. I’d have her?—
Josie’s voice pulls me back into the moment. “Even if I don’t make it past the first round, I want to at least show the coven that the Dumonts are still a force.”
“Fuckin’ right they are.” I take her hand and pull us away from the nay-sayers and back down the hall. “You’re going to kick major witchy ass, my little warrior.”
A warmth spreads through my chest when Josie squeezes my palm tightly in response. We’re both grinning as we reenter the ballroom hand-in-hand.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JOSIE
Lanterns hang from vine-twisted trellises in the courtyard behind the mansion. They cast a soft, yellow glow on the delicate flowers and lush greenery of the well-tended garden. A marble fountain in the center dances as spurts of water shoot out of a cherub’s mouth, its tinkling melodies doing nothing to help my nervous bladder.
I should’ve gone pee before things got started.
The tension is thick with anticipation, and I bet this is how the gladiators felt in the Colosseum right before they released the lions.
What has Phi gotten me into?
I may have agreed to this, but now that I’m here and about to battle my fellow Sun Witches, I’m having second thoughts.
