Page 52 of Bad Witch

Their collective power drained gently from me, leaving me with only my own. Glinda slinked up and rubbed her body against me. I scooped her into my arms. “Come on, my sweet girl, let’s get your dinner.”

After I fed her, I took out the very last container of Matilda W’s famous stew. When she knew she was dying, she’d made a huge pot and froze a whole bunch of portions because she knew it comforted me. I tried to keep it for special occasions, like saving another young witch and her children from darkness and abuse.

There was another reason to celebrate, though—I’d decided who I wanted as a lover.

A hound would be perfect. With their limited emotions, there was no risk of him getting attached to me. I was a Matilda, and the fates never assigned us a mate, not in all the time we’d existed, so there was no risk of that either. I’d decided I also didn’t mind if he had other lovers, since we would be casual. It was a perfect situation.

I just had to ask him.

Images, evil thoughts from that awful male, the things he’d planned to do to his wife and their children forced their way into my mind, and I squeezed my eyes closed. This was the hardest part, letting go of the horror I witnessed while in their minds. I needed a distraction. Badly.

Chewing my lip, I looked down at the Tupperware, the stew still frozen inside. The horror that had been projected into my mind would haunt me all evening if I didn’t do something. “Why wait?” I said to Glinda. My adrenaline was still rushing through my veins. I’d never be as brave as I felt in this moment. I’d saved another life, and I needed to celebrate that and not spiral thinking about what might have been.

The best way to do that was to secure the male I’d chosen to give myself.

I changed, then rushed to the bathroom to wash away the dried blood streaking my cheeks, and fix my tangled hair. I was afraid if I took the bus, I’d chicken out by the time I got there. Just this once, I’d take the easy way. After a light dusting of shimmery highlight on my cheeks and applying my favorite candy-apple-red gloss that made me feel pretty, I grabbed my purse, took out my door handle, and not allowing myself to overthink what I was about to do, I headed for the laundry room door.

Chapter

Fourteen

Tempest

* * *

A moment later, I was walking out onto the hounds’ parking lot through a door off the side of the garage. Placing my door handle back in my bag, I straightened my shoulders and headed for the clubhouse. I was worried I might have missed my chance tonight, but there was still music playing and the sound of voices echoing from the large building.

I strode through the door and into the main room. There were more people here than when I left earlier. The lights were low and the music was louder. I spotted Fender, still at the same tall table, standing with several of his brothers. Drawing in a deep breath, I headed over.

Fender turned as I neared, his brows sliding higher, then a smile curled his lips. I smiled as well, waved, then walked past him and stopped beside Roman.

“You came back,” he said and gave me a cocky smile before glancing over my shoulder and back. “You want a beer, babe?”

“Um, no…I came back to talk to you actually.”

He looked surprised. “What is up, Temp?”

I glanced around. Warrick and Willow were just down from us, but were engrossed in each other. Brick was talking to a female wolf shifter. Relic and Fern were slow dancing, and Fender was behind me and I doubted could hear what we were talking about.

Maybe I should take Roman somewhere private, but that would just draw more attention. No one was paying us any mind right now, and if I didn’t say this now, I’d chicken out and never say it. “I was wondering, if you would like to…um, if you were interested in…well, if you thought you might like to…”

“Are you okay?” Concern filled the big male’s gaze. It flicked up over my shoulder again, then back down. “Whatever’s going on, you can talk to me. Though wouldn’t you rather talk to Fen? If you’re worried about⁠—”

“No, it’s you I want to talk to.”

An intensity filled his gaze that made me want to take a step back. I held my ground and called on all my courage. I was a confident, independent female. I was powerful and, on occasion, I thought kind of pretty. Asking for what I wanted was okay. It was more than okay.

“What’s going on, Temp?”

His voice was all growly now, and the concern was still there. He thought I needed him to protect me, just like Mags said. “There’s no problem. I’m a…an independent female,” I added.

“I can see that.” His lips curled up a little on one side, making him especially handsome right then.

“I can ask for what I want.”

“Yeah, babe, of course you can.” His smile had grown wider.

“I’d like you to take me to bed, please.”