Page 88 of Reckless Witch

LEILAH

The blood pact that won’t die

I am falling. A lone wolf howls through a whirlwind. Through the hair that whips around my face, I glimpse Raith and Ethan exchange glances. Blade’s now blue eyes shift toward the howl. When the contract flits across my vision, I grab for the paper but it whips out of reach. A hand closes around my wrist. I scream and twist, fighting to escape the iron hold. Wind shrieks. The hand yanks and I slam against a hard body.

“No!” I shout.

The vicious wind halts and strong arms encircle me. I jerk my head up and meet Blade’s concerned eyes. What— Beyond the circle where we stand, the contract floats through the air like a boat on water.

“The contract,” I cry. “If anyone gets their hands on it…”

“You are lying to yourself,” Blade says.

I look back at him. “What?”

“You’ve always had the power.”

Power? The Fae has lost his mind. I look at Ethan for help, but he just stares at me. Raith is the only one who seems worried. His jaw is set and his stare is so intense, I practically feel him drilling a hole through my brain.

No, not my brain. My soul.

I hate vampires.

I look over my shoulder for the document, but it’s nowhere in sight. I look back at the men. “Aren’t you afraid of what will happen if someone gets their hands on the contract?”

Raith’s lips pull back in a snarl. “Others are not who we need to fear.”

I reel as if he’s backhanded me. I’m not the one who should be feared!

“Why are you so cruel?” I demand.

Blade shakes his head.

“What?” I demand .

“Poor Leilah,” he murmurs. “Doesn’t know how to face the truth.”

I yank free of his hold. “Fuck you.”

“Don’t tempt me,” he murmurs, and desire streaks through me with such intensity my breath catches.

“I told you she hasn’t changed,” Raith says.

“Changed from what?” I demand, but he just shakes his head. “You guys may not care if someone tries to use our blood pact against us, but I do.”

Raith gives a harsh laugh. “She’s incapable of telling the truth.”

Fury whips through me. I want to hit him more than I’ve ever wanted anything. Warm fingers close around my left hand. I start and snap my head up. Ethan’s so close I can see his green eyes swirl.

“Do you think we can hurt you?” he asks.

I snap my gaze onto Raith, who stares through obsidian eyes. “He can,” I say.

“No.” Ethan says. “He doesn’t have the power. None of us do. We never have.”

My surroundings spin and dizziness assails me. “He has already hurt me.” A phantom knife pierces my heart and I fall to my knees.

“We aren’t the ones who can hurt you,” Ethan’s voice is far away, like the wolf’s howl that sounds again.