Page 37 of Reckless Witch

“Commander,” Miss Mack sounds suddenly breathy, and it’s not the breathiness that results from sprinting. “Ethan.”

He stands backbone straight and waits. If I were a betting woman, I’d bet he knows what’s coming. With all that dragon energy, he’s got to be accustomed to women throwing themselves at his feet. He’s probably got a Webster’s Dictionary-sized manual of come-on ploys used during attempts to seduce him.

“I can’t help but notice how you’ve been looking at me lately.” Miss Mack steps closer.

“Pardon?”

Ouch. Even though I’m thrilled with his response, part of me cringes on Miss Mack’s behalf. I can’t stand the woman, but it’s got to be rough to hear that.

“Ethan.” Her voice trembles. Apparently, she’s decided it’s all or nothing, because she drops a spaghetti strap as she steps even closer.

Ethan sidesteps her. “Miss Mack, I’m flattered, but I’m simply not available. Now, if you’ll excuse me?” He turns and hurries away.

She gasps, but I hardly hear her over the thudding of my own heart. He’s not…available? Who is the woman? And why did he almost have sex with me my first day here?

Miss Mack unexpectedly looks up through the leaves. I freeze. Oh God, did I make a noise? She continues to stare up into the tree. There’s no doubt she knows I’m here. I tense in readiness for her to call me out, but she doesn’t. Then I realize that to acknowledge me would only magnify her humiliation. She stands another long moment, then spins and hurries away.

I wait until she’s out of sight, then drop from the tree. My feet touch the ground. I freeze for a long moment and listen. Silence. I turn toward the wall. A hand clamps down on my shoulder. I grin. Unavailable, huh? This time, we won’t be interrupted.

“What are you doing here, Ms. Crowe?” demands a familiar, deep male voice.

My heart plummets.

Raith.

Chapter Fifteen

ETHAN

Reunion

I pick up the pace around the curve in the walkway. I knew Miss Mack had a thing for me, but I’d hoped she had the good grace to take my subtle rebuffs to heart. I suspect that finding me with Leilah lit a fire under her determination to throw herself at me. My cock pulses with the memory of Leilah’s body pressed against mine.

A blur whizzes past me. I whirl. I’ve known Raith long enough to recognize him even when he’s traveling at vampiric speed—something he doesn’t do except in emergencies. I break into a run and follow. But when I find him at the willow tree, I’m astonished to discover him towering over Leilah as if he intends to eat her.

“What is it?” I demand.

Raith’s eyes glitter in the moonlight and I’m struck by the thought that he needs to feed.

“Ms. Crowe has apparently decided to get herself expelled,” he says.

Leilah gasps and, even in the dark, my dragon eyes discern the rise and fall of her breasts through the thick fabric of her hoodie. God, it’s pure torture being so near her and not being able to touch her. A realization strikes. It’s been forty years since Raith has fed on Ciarah. Being this close to her has got to be as hard on him as it is on me. In one very big way, even worse. Vampires languish if they don’t feed often enough, and there’s something about our connection with Ciarah that incites tenfold Raith’s need to feed from her. Maybe his aggression is a manifestation of that need. Hell, we haven’t seen Caleb since Ciarah died in his arms, and Matthias disappeared twenty-five years ago when he went in search of Caleb. Maybe they just couldn’t take any more of the roller coaster ride.

For the first time in eons, I consider what their absences might mean for me. In the beginning, almost too long ago to remember, we all wanted her for ourselves. Hell, how could we possibly have conceived the need that bound the six of us together? Now, however, if Caleb and Matthias have decided they can’t deal with the huge emotional swings in their lives—having Raith, Blade and I share her—maybe that leaves more of her for me.

Leilah lifts her chin and faces Raith. Pride and sadness war to fill the eternal hole in my heart. She is magnificent. I could love her forever—have loved her for eons. My heart beats faster. Our short time with Ciarah is always fraught with trouble and chaos…and the sweetest love that ever existed.

“She’s broken curfew.” Raith’s voice is a low growl I recognize all too well. He may be angry, but he wants her. Hell, the challenge that radiates from her body has my cock hard as a rock.

“That’s punishable, but not an expellable offense,” I say. I grasp Leilah’s arm and pull her away from the tree, away from Raith. “Return to the dorm. We’ll settle this in the morning.” Once I get to the bottom of what’s eating Raith.

“No,” Raith countermands.

He steps toward Leilah. She retreats until her back presses the tree trunk. Raith braces his hands against the trunk, one on each side of her. He looks like he’s about to attack—or fuck her. If I’m honest, I’m torn. Once he admits how much he wants her, life will get easier for all of us. Until then, I can’t allow him to hurt her.

“She’s not going anywhere until I find out what she’s doing here,” he says. “It’s past midnight.”

I start to step toward them, then stop when Leilah angles her face within an inch of Raith’s and says, “You’re the one who forced me here by having the dragon put this damn sigil on me.”