Page 15 of The Witch’s Fate (The Lunaterra Chronicles #13)

“But the wedding,” Jorge continues, and a growl catches in my throat. The wedding . I had intended to trade my service in gathering the florals in exchange for being excused from attending the ceremony. “You cannot miss it. We will recover you before then.”

I nod in understanding. “Yes, sir. I’ll stay here until it is safe to leave,” I tell Jorge firmly, as if I am agreeing with him, and end the call as soon as he nods at me so that we cannot discuss the wedding anymore.

As his face fades away, the breeze carries a heady floral scent to me, and my body hums with a new awareness of Idalis.

She’s behind me.

I gather the crystals in my hands first, then turn to face her. My shoulders straight and at attention.

“My commander wishes for me to stay here,” I repeat, because I think she has been listening for a minute or two.

“So long, of course, as you will have me.” I swallow thickly as I catch sight of her.

My breath leaves me. She is a vision with an umbrella held above her and the rain falling gently around her.

Idalis watches me, the hem of her dress moving in the breeze.

Then her stormy eyes lift from my face to the skies, which are beginning to clear, the clouds slowly rolling up into a bundle somewhere out of sight.

I find myself wishing it wouldn’t go. I’d prefer to stay here for as long as she’ll have me. However she’d like me, in fact.

Again desire forces me to stifle a groan. This is a need like I’ve never felt before. It didn’t only overwhelm me this morning, when the scent of her sent me running to the bathing room to fist my own cock. The urge is back, and stronger than ever.

I exhale through my nose and scan the open land around us. The mud is on its way to drying, but it will be some time before it is back to how it was before the rain came.

“The moon is nearly full,” Idalis mentions, her full lips staying parted at the last word, tempting me, her eyes returning to mine. “Do you have control of your wolf?”

Your wolf. The manner in which she speaks is haunting in a beautiful way.

“Of course.” This is true, for the moment, but my wolf pushes against me from the inside, desperate for control.

He wants to have free rein over the body we share and the ability to get closer to Idalis.

To nip at her and discover her submissive side.

I long for such things as well. To have her writhing under me in complete submission.

She narrows her eyes, peering up at me through thick lashes, and even her mild suspicion makes my cock jerk with desire. Yes, of course, I would rather have her look at me with the same want I feel, but the way she doubts me and my wolf?—

It’s almost playful with curiosity. It’s almost as if she knows me well enough to know that my wolf is a hunter. Though I keep him in check, I’m also extremely sensitive to his wishes.

It seems like she may say something but stops herself yet again before changing the subject. “Did you sleep last night? Even for a short time?”

“No. But neither did you.”

Idalis lifts her chin with a soft sound of indignation, then begins to stroll to the cottage.

She peers over her shoulder as if to tell me to follow.

Like I'm some sort of puppy she can command to follow. It’s fucking intoxicating how she toys with me.

Puppy or not, she’s aware I’ll follow. It is not far at all, but she takes her time with it.

I slip my crystals into my pocket and fall into step beside her.

During our short journey, the wind blows warmly through my hair and the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, bathing the grass in light and making the raindrops that still cling to it glisten.

I can imagine how it would be to live here. The land surrounding this cottage is quiet and peaceful, unless there is a heavy rainstorm, and even then, there is shelter and warmth and a gorgeous witch. I wouldn’t mind spending hours walking by her side. Following her as she wishes.

She opens the door to the cottage and steps inside. My eyes take some time to adjust to the changed light. At first, the cottage seems dim—almost dark—but finally I can see that it is not. The sun shines in through the windows whenever the clouds let it through.

She pauses again where my blankets are still arranged on the floor at the foot of her bed.

“Perhaps you should rest now,” she suggests, her voice low and suggestive, and then she lifts her hand and waves at my face.

I am lightheaded in an instant. Is that because all the blood has rushed to my cock? As soon as the thought comes to my mind, I know it is not true, and I jerk backward, Jorge’s suggestion that this is the witch’s doing coming back to me with a thunderous warning.

“Do not put a spell on me, witch,” I murmur the words at her, letting the threatening growl of my wolf out in full force, but she does not flinch.

“Come to me.” Her voice is melodic, soothing, and her gaze never leaves mine.

Idalis reaches out her palm to me, offering her wrist and I swear I can hear her heart beat with mine.

My body responds to her. It’s like I’m walking in a dream.

It cannot be more than a few steps to where she stands, her hand still extended.

I put my hand in hers, my wolf nearly whining with satisfaction.

My knees start to bend when I reach my blankets, but Idalis guides me past them to her bed. Fuck yes.

I’m used to sleeping rough, but the sight of the bed makes me ache for it. I cannot resist the temptation. With a flick of her other hand, Idalis pulls back the covers, and I sink down into the mattress without even a whine of protest. My head lands on the pillow, and I let out a groan.

Why am I so weak? Why can I not stand up to her magic?

Idalis strokes her fingers lightly through my hair, and this time, the purr of a growl from my wolf escapes out of my mouth. It roughly vibrates up my chest.

I think I see her smile, but I cannot be sure, because my eyes are too heavy to keep open. She is blurrier, and blurrier, and then it is dark. And in the darkness there is comfort and warmth and a peace I’ve never known.

“I should not do this,” I mumble. My orders were not to sleep. They were not to take the witch’s bed and succumb to her magic. They were to?—

In this moment, I cannot remember.

I’m fucking tired.

My body is exhausted from the search for the witch and her cottage and from the attempts to summon the portal and from a long, sleepless night spent listening to the rustle of her body on these same sheets.

The bed smells of her, and only of her. No one else has ever slept here.

I know it in the marrow of my bones. I nestle deeper into the bedding in spite of myself.

Idalis’s fingers are still in my hair. Her nails scratch lightly at my scalp, and another loud groan of gratification slips between my lips and fills the space between us.

“See?” There is fondness in her voice. Perhaps a bit of amusement.

When she tugs the blankets up over me, there is nothing I can do to stop myself from settling in.

It feels too comforting and too peaceful.

I do not think I have ever felt this relaxed before.

“You’ll rest,” she murmurs. “And perhaps then whatever has come over this land will pass.”

With her lips at the shell of my ear, and her warmth so close, sleep takes me under.