Page 38 of Possess Me at Midnight

Near the cash register, an inattentive member of the waitstaff left their mobile phone. Quickly, I grab it, magic my way through the passcode, and punch in Duke’s number, grateful I remember it. With the device pressed to my ear, I glare out the window. Sabelle scans the area. What is that witch up to? One ring, two, three…voicemail. Bugger!

As I gather some scones and muffins, I leave the wizard a quick message: We have no phone, and we’ll call back when possible. I don’t dare hint at our location, in case Duke’s mobile—or Duke himself—has been captured by Mathias.

When I look up, Sabelle has vanished. My blood runs cold.

I ditch the mobile and slap a bit of human money on the counter for the pastries. Then I sprint for the French doors at the back, exiting onto the street.

I round the first corner—and breathe a sigh of relief. There’s my little witch.

But my relief ends there.

She’s sidled up to a human male, young and strapping. He’s far too near—and she’s drawing him even closer. Lust darkens his eyes. Clearly, he’s dazed by her beauty. Of course he is. Even from this distance, I scent the human’s arousal—a sickening mixture of sweat and hormones. My nostrils flare. My molars grind together until my jaw aches. Blast it all, Sabelle should carry my stamp of possession to ward off this stranger’s attention. But unless she Binds to me—highly unlikely—I just have to watch this fucking stranger paw her.

As she sends him an encouraging smile, he rakes her with his stare. My fucking temper flares even higher. And when she flips that golden hair I ache to wrap around my fists as I guide her mouth to my waiting cock, a feral possessiveness claws through my chest.

But Sabelle is oblivious to my rage. She merely reaches for the male’s hand and allows him to grip her fingers in return.

My vision narrows to a pinpoint, blood rushing in my ears. Every muscle in my body coils tight, primed to tear this stranger away and make it brutally clear who she belongs to, even if she hasn’t acknowledged our bond.

Hell-bent, I stalk across the car park. “Sabelle!”

She whips her gaze in my direction, glaring a nonverbal demand that I get lost.

Like bloody fucking hell I will. That look might send other men running, but it only fuels my insistence to make her mine.

I barrel toward them, pausing mere inches away. She still grips the human’s hand. To his credit, he takes one look at my expression and tries to tug his from the minx’s grip. Unwisely, she holds firm.

“This is James,” she says as if she doesn’t see my fury. “He’s very graciously offered to let us borrow his car for a few days.”

When she holds up the keys, I try to beat back my fury.

Sabelle is manipulating the man for a new ride that facilitates our escape so we can continue this vital quest. My brain knows I should feel thankful, not homicidal. My body doesn’t give a fuck about logic. Every cell in me screams to rip her from this human’s grip, press her against the nearest wall, and claim her mouth until she can’t remember his—or any other man’s—name.

I can’t give in to either impulse.

“Nice to meet you.” James extends his free hand in my direction.

I barely suppress my scowl and shake the man’s hand. It’s sweaty. Shaky. He’s afraid of me. I smile, baring my teeth. The expression isn’t nice.

“Ice is my very protective…cousin.”

“Cousin?”

Just like that, what little remained of my tolerance snaps. Cousin is one step from brother. Does Sabelle see me in that light? Hard to imagine that since she’s allowed me to strip her bare and suck hard on her pretty pink nipples, her little pants resounding in my ears. If she’s forgotten the way she arched against my mouth, I’ll be more than happy to remind her in the most scorching way possible—and ensure she sees me as a lover—the moment we’re alone.

Though my pulse thunders in my ears, I force myself to breathe evenly, each inhalation a battle against the urge to show this human exactly what happens to any man who touches what’s mine.

James glances nervously between me and Sabelle, as if he senses something dangerous. But Sabelle’s grip on him mutes his logic.

She ignores my low growl and leans closer to the man. “Thank you so much. We won’t keep your car long. See you in a few days. Cheers!”

I smell the human’s lust thickening. I gnash my teeth and jerk Sabelle away. Touching her is a mistake. It spikes my desire and sends my head swimming. She shoots me a wave of soothing peace that smothers my jealous rage.

In that moment, she approaches James and leans forward, her expression soft and welcoming as she plants a kiss on his cheek. Her mouth—the same one I fantasized about for weeks before I finally tasted—presses against his skin. Every second feels like an eternity, a knife twisting between my ribs.

When she pulls back, he’s wearing a dreamy smile. “Take as long as you need, love.”

Love? I’m going to kill him.