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Rurik cringed before settling back down to his stomach – like that would help him shrink away. He’d been rough, not just with his hips, but also his passionate, hungry hands and mouth.

Her throat and chest were covered in bite marks that were deep enough to show that he had broken through skin and there were fingerprint bruises trailing over her thighs – both inside and out – her waist, her shoulders, and even her cheek right below her eye. The worst ones were on her breasts, hips, and arse. He’d gripped them the hardest.

She trailed her fingers over her wrists with her mouth open. They weren’t bruised like the others, weren’t brown. They were nearly black with such a deep shade of purple.

She winced when she touched them.

The Witch spun to him while closing the furs. “You hurt me!”

She is upset. I have to fix this.He didn’t want her to shield her body away from his touch again because of this.

“I will let you heal yourself,” he blurted out.

“Pardon?” Her glare fell as her brows creased in surprise.

“I will give you the herbs and spices that will allow you to heal yourself of these kinds of wounds for now... and future times.”

If it meant he would be able to be intimate with her again, he didn’t care.

“You will let me use more magic? Will give me the ability to create teas and ointments?”

Rurik nodded. “Yes.”

Her face grew into one of the brightest smiles he’d ever seen upon her lovely face. Then she quickly scowled with her lips pursed together.

“That does not mean you can get away with doing this.”

She gestured to her entire body.

“I did warn you when I brought you here that I bite.” That didn’t placate her. “Fine,I will refrain from being so rough.”

I will just bite... softer.He didn’t think he would be able to do that, but he didn’t think he would grab her the way he did again. He’d been enraged, his anger giving him strength.

When she lost the tension in her shoulders, he knew he’d won.

“Come, bathe. I will give them to you after.”

He motioned to the tub with his snout, his tongue darting out to not-so-subtly lick at his jowls.

“Are you sure? I know you do not like to see me use my magic.”

Right then, he was too pleased, too triumphant. He was also sure he would see much more in the future and he would have to learn to separate what she did from what the rest of her kind did.

“Yes, it is fine.”

She hovered her palm above the tub, and it began to fill with water until it was full. Then she placed her hand inside the water, and eventually, it began to steam. He could see her concentration, could see she had been chanting in her mind rather than out loud.

Her magic glittered with white softly before it faded.

It didn’t have the red hue or the other colours the rest of her kind had. It also didn’t smell foul or corrupted. He still wasn’t completely comfortable with it, but it wasn’t as terrible to watch as he thought it would be.

Rurik wriggled against the ground to make himself more comfortable while he kept his head up. She turned and stared at him. When he didn’t do anything, she gave him a ‘what gives’ gesture with her hand.

He frowned at it.

“If you think I will be leaving while you bathe, then it appears you are sorely mistaken.”

“But-”