Blood's Fury (Deadly Beauties 1)

"Shit. What'd he do to you?" he almost growls while examining me a little closer.

I flip my hair down, bringing it over the mark I still haven't seen, and then I push away his scrutiny.

"Nothing I didn't thoroughly enjoy. Why are you materializing in the bedroom?"

He leans up, his eyes still studying the spot where Kane left his mark, though it's not visible with my hair blocking the view.

"I was wondering how long you were planning to stay. I need to head into town. I've got a source who spotted a couple of lycans roaming free. I want to find out if they're friend or foe."

"Um… Foe, obviously."

"Don't be so judgmental. You were running with lycans just last week."

"I wasn't running with lycans. I was grasping at straws and taking help where I could get it. Just because I tolerated them doesn't mean I doubted their dark core for one damn second."

"Just like me?" he asks, his eyes narrowing. "You still think the worst of me."

Breathing out heavily, I ignore his statement.

"It looks like I’m spending the night, but don't worry. I'll be on alert."

"If you're staying the night, cast a protection spell. It was far too easy for me to get in."

I suddenly feel a little inept.

"I tried," I mumble. "I did something wrong. When one of the girls tried to leave, it threw her backwards. Can you… um… help me?"

He lets out a laugh, making my embarrassment grow. What witch can't cast a simple protection spell?

Me.

"I would, but I have dark magic. My protection spell could injure you, even fuck with your white magic, if I tried casting it on your behalf. I'll just stick around. I can call a friend to go check out the lycans."

"The hairless beasts you mean."

He frowns while shaking his head in disapproval my tart remark.

"It's fine," I continue. "You don't have to hang around. Besides, I'm not sure I like you listening in on our… moments together."

My face blushes, and he chuckles a little more.

"Fortunately, I can't hear your moments."

What? Immortals have hearing unparalleled by anything else on the planet.

"So your weakness is your hearing?"

"Not in the least. This house is apparently very well insulated. I can't hear a word when the doors are shut. It's pretty nice actually. I don't have to hear all the mushy stuff. I'll stick around. I'll cast an awake spell so I don't drift off."

"You don't have to do that-"

"Believe it or not, I would like to see you still breathing in the morning. No one else is going to be keeping you safe. Your human sure as hell can't. If you're going to be foolish enough to sleep without a protection spell, then I'll stay vigilant."

I grip my head, feeling so... confused.

"That's ridiculous. You should just-"

He clamps his hand over my mouth just as Kane's voice comes into sound. It seems as though they're standing on the front deck.