Page 83 of Birthright

“See,” Cliona explained, “You got a witchy heart. Your blood burns for men you love. You’ll feel that burn many times in your life. Take advantage of it. Many of us envy that in Witches. Makes life much more⁠—”

“Sexy!” Abbey blurted. “Let’s get out of here, Vamp. I think she has some apologizing to do.” She tried to start gathering the remains of the evening and dropped or spilled more than she got on the tray.

While I watched her, I opened my mind to Jordan and called to him. “Leave it, Abbey,” I said. “We’ll get it later.”

Abbey left. Cliona lounged across the bed. Jordan didn’t come. We sat for a while longer. He still didn’t come.

“I guess he is mad,” I said, slumping down in my chair.

“Go to him,” she said very matter-of-factly.

I slung open one of the French doors and Charles spun to attention and then relaxed when he realized it was me. “Take me to your leader!” I demanded. Cliona laughed behind me.

“Ma’am?”

“Geez, lighten up, Charles. Is that your last name or first?”

“Ma’am?” He stood stiff with his weapon at the ready.

“Never mind. Take me to Jordan.” He still looked at me, puzzled.

“Now, Charles.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

CHAPTER 35

Istarted to follow but I couldn’t keep my feet from trying to run off by themselves. He took my arm and escorted me around the garden and down the main drive. Cliona was giggling behind me and making comments about Charles’s butt. I was trying to keep a straight face but kept slipping into stupid giggles.

Jordan opened the door to his home with a huff. “Sir,” Charles said meekly. “The priestess insisted on seeing you.”

Jordan’s gaze found its way to Charles’s arm, slung around my waist. Charles pulled his arm away as if burned, and I almost fell, but Jordan caught me as I stumbled forward, my hands falling on the pythons he called arms.

“Oooh!” I said with glee, squeezing them.

“Dismissed,” Jordan said to the guard standing in his doorway.

“Sir?” he questioned.

He groaned again. I swear I made that man growl and groan constantly. “I’ll watch over the priestess tonight. The killings are not related to her.” His voice got more rigid as he explained.

Cliona caught Charles around the shoulders and started to walk him away. “You off for the night, Sailor?” she asked.

I laughed against Jordan’s chest muscles. He had removed his shirt and evidently showered. I was captured in the feel and scent of his skin, clean and spicy, all male. I looked up at his face. He still looked displeased and I remembered why I was there. I straightened myself as best I could while swaying. “I came to apologize to you, Sir.” I hiccupped.

“You’re smashed.”

Not a question, so I kept going, trying to ignore his rippling stomach muscles. His lip did a little quiver thing that usually meant he was trying not to laugh at me. I put my little wall back up as best as possible. “I have been informed that I inad…inaddve… That I hurt you. I am truly sorry. I had no intent…of making you a onesie.”

He cringed at that last part. He started to talk but I put my hand up. “No. I mucked this up. I have to fix it. I don’t know why, because we fight like angry badgers, but I want you all the time. Over there on that couch would be a good place to start.”

He just stood there looking at me. I couldn’t read either of his faces. They were both a little fuzzy. “I accept,” he finally said.

I took a second to let that sink in. The time didn’t help.

“The apology or the couch?”

“The apology. You’re too drunk to take advantage of on the couch.”