The car passed them in a couple of seconds, and the gunfire stopped as it raced away. Winter instantly released Fox and climbed back to his feet, pulling Fox up with him. Rafe was already moving with Edgar as well.
“Get to your car before they can make another pass! Get out of here!” Winter shouted. He pushed Fox toward the open SUV door, getting him into the relative safety of the vehicle.
“Protect him!” Rafe snarled. “I’ll lead our new friends on a merry chase.”
Fox stared at Winter as he seemed to hesitate for the first time since they’d been spotted by Damon’s men. Fox had to wonder if they realized that the prophecy witch was with them or if the idiots were simply reacting to seeing Variks out in the wild. He was more inclined to believe they hadn’t realized he was with them. Damon surely wanted to get him back safe and sound so he could complete his part of the prophecy.
“Be careful,” Winter ordered and then ran around to the driver’s side to jump behind the wheel. They tore away from the curb in a squeal of tires and the smell of burnt rubber. Winter surged in the opposite direction of their attackers while Rafe’s sleek sports car plunged after them with a terrified-looking Edgar in the passenger seat.
Winter deftly wove them through the streets of Hartford, far from the loft for nearly an hour, before he finally turned the SUV toward home. Except it wasn’t home. So much of that damn prophecy didn’t make sense, but there was one thing Fox couldn’t argue. Damon had grabbed the right witch. That meant his nights with Winter were numbered. The Variks would have to kill him to protect their family, and Fox was so not ready to lose Winter.
Chapter 17
Fox didn’t start to breathe easily again until they pulled into the garage at Winter’s loft and the metal door rattled down behind them. His hands were still shaking, and his mind was a swirl of questions. Not to mention the new lead weight resting on his chest of worry, fear, and sadness. For days he’d clung to the belief that Damon had grabbed the wrong witch. He had no magic. He’d been positive there was no way in hell he could be named in a prophecy.
Tonight, Edgar had removed all doubt.
He was a threat to the Variks. He was going to “disarm” them, whatever the hell that fucking meant. Winter…Winter would have to kill him to protect his family. He didn’t blame the man. Winter had always been very clear that his priority was the safety and protection of his family. It wasn’t even so much losing his life that was upsetting. He was losing Winter.
The rumble of the car engine died, and Fox looked over to find a smile lurking on Winter’s lips. He…he was actually happy. What. The. Fuck.
“Are…are you having fun?” Fox demanded incredulously.
Winter cringed a little, having the good sense to look a little embarrassed even as his smile grew. “You’re not?”
“Winter!”
The blue-eyed vampire laughed and opened his door. “Come on! Secret meeting and then a car chase. I bet Rafe is having a blast leading them around the city.”
Well, maybe that was a little fun once he realized that they weren’t going to be shot up and left bleeding on the sidewalk. And racing around the city was a great adrenaline rush.
“What about the prophecy?” Fox pressed. He climbed down from the SUV and shut the door behind him.
Winter shrugged, and Fox stopped walking around the vehicle toward the stairs. He flailed his arms out to his sides, absolutely stunned.
“Are you serious? We know the truth now. I’m the witch. The witch that’s supposed to bring the destruction of the Variks. And what? You suddenly don’t care? Are you shitting me?” Fox’s voice got louder and higher-pitched with every question. He couldn’t believe Winter was treating this with such indifference.
The vampire turned, a smirk on his lips that Fox just wanted to smack or kiss away. He wasn’t quite sure which yet. “Yes, you’re the witch. You fit the description very well. No question about it.”
“Yeah, and—”
“ ‘Destruction of the Variks’? I think that’s a little extreme.” Winter gave a chuckle as he slowly walked toward Fox, causing the witch’s heart to skip a beat. There was something very sexy in that predatory approach, and Fox was stunned to find his body growing harder. Was…was Winter turned-on? “You’re supposed to ‘disarm’ us. What the fuck does that even mean? Is it referring to your ability to block the ghosts? Fine. That will never stop me from ripping Damon’s heart out with my bare hands.”
“You’re…you’re not worried?” Fox asked a bit breathlessly.
“Oh, I’m still worried. Damon believes in the prophecy and that he’s the lost king. I don’t doubt that. And that means he’s going to want you back so you can do your job. He still a danger to my family, but he’s also a danger to you.” Winter slowly wrapped his arm around Fox’s waist, pulling him in close enough to feel Winter’s hard length pressing into his hip. He lowered his face so that his lips were right next to Fox’s ear. When he spoke again, his voice was barely more than a growl. “And I’m not letting him anywhere near you.”