Page 26 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

“Yeah, it’s one of the closest buildings to the anchor. I lived here when my mother was still alive.”

Ah.

It was emotionally charged, then.

“If living there would be uncomfortable, we could move to a different one. I don’t care how close we are.”

“It’s fine. The rest are occupied, anyway. I’ll start cleaning it out after dinner.”

So he could stay with me until I was done working.

He reallywasparanoid.

I couldn’t complain about having him there to protect me while I was lost in my work, though. Especially when there were a bunch of vampires who theoretically hated me because Cecil did. And the fact that Liam had brought him up told me the vampire was a real threat.

“Sounds good.” I would help clean it out, if he let me. Probably. Depending on how exhausted I was after dealing with the wards.

I refocused on the bubble spell I was reinforcing. While I worked, Liam typed on his phone.

My body grew warmer as the hours passed, like it had the day before. Sweat slowly soaked my t-shirt and bikini. Need did, too.

I really needed to get an airier swimsuit coverup, because it was extremely uncomfortable.

Exhaustion setin faster than it had the day before. Between heat’s overwhelming pressure and the intensity of stretching my magic so much for the first time in my life, I was wiped out before the sun started to set.

Finishing up the last reinforcement rune that was really necessary, I leaned back against the bench and closed my eyes, panting.

The back of Liam’s hand met my forehead, and he swore under his breath. “I don’t think you should be this hot yet.”

“I’m—fine.” I had to take a deep breath between the words. I was getting dizzy, too.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“Not—lying.” My protest didn’t exactly come out right. Or believably.

“You can’t push yourself this hard during heat.” His hand left my forehead, and I felt more than heard him stand. I didn’t need to look to feel him towering over me, probably glaring down at me too.

“The wards—are—shit. Slowing—down—would be—bad.” I was sucking in deep breaths when I finally finished talking.

I needed water.

And food.

Soon, preferably.

Liam grabbed me by the waist and hauled me into his arms. The world swayed and spun as he strode away from the anchor, holding me tightly in his arms.

“You’re too fucking stubborn,” he gritted out.

“Should’ve—realized—that—before you—claimed me.”

“I need to be feeding you more.”

“Watering too.”

He tried to scoff, but it came out a snort. “I’ll plan on more food and drinks tomorrow. Unless you’re ready to seal the bond, so you don’t have to keep putting yourself through this.”

“That’s a hard—pass.” I was finally starting to catch my breath a little, though everything still felt like it was spinning.