Page 99 of Twisted

“And what if I don’t?Are you going to ban maps?”

“Why would I—oh, the fucking spell.I’ll ban magic.”

I shrug.“Okay, Daddy Russo.”The insult cuts, and I see the tiniest bit of regret on Xavier’s face for saying that.My nails dig into the map that’s tightly clutched into my hand and I stare right into Xavier’s eyes.

“You are so infuriating!”he growls.

“Infuriating?Seriously?What did I ever do to you?”

“You make me want to protect you!”His blue eyes burn into mine in a mix of passion and emotion, making my heart skip a beat.

“And that’s my fault?”

“Yes—no—I don’t know.You just do, and it’s maddening.”

“You want me to be sorry about that?I’m not,” I scoff.

“Good.”

“Good!”

“Ever since you showed up…”

My mouth falls open.“Showed up?Don’t you dare forget that you sent for me!”

“I didn’t send for you.I was specific in that.I never wanted a witch in this house.”

I throw out my arms, anger flooding my veins.“Well, I’m here!And I’ve been here.You could have kicked me out the moment you saw me.”

“That was my plan but then that moment came and I…”

“And you what?”

“The moment I saw you…” He trails off again, looking into my eyes for a beat before looking away.“The moment I saw you I knew I couldn’t kick you out because for the first time, I felt—”

“—Annoyed?”I interrupt, tone mocking.

His eyes meet mine again.“Alive.”In a flash, he’s in front of me, body just inches from mine, and his presence is consuming.“You make me feel alive, Wren, and I haven’t felt that way in seven hundred years.”

I can’t help but reach for him, hands landing on his firm chest.

“If it takes going to Hamden for you to get the truth, then we are go to fucking Hamden.”

My fingers start to ball the soft fabric of his t-shirt in my palms.He said we.He’s coming with—he wants to come with?“You’ll take me?”

“Yes, Wren,” he says and something goes through me when I hear my name come from his lips.Tipping my head up, I want nothing more than to succumb to him and his touch.He lets his lips brush against mine, but instead of kissing me, he says, “Let’s go.”

“Wait, now?”

“Yes.I’ll call our pilot.We’ll have to land in New Haven and drive to Hamden.”

The sun is just now starting to set, but there are ways for vampires to travel during the day.I blink a few times, glad my hand is on Xavier’s chest because the thought of flying to Connecticut and seeing my parents in just a few hours is making me dizzy.

“I…I should change,” I rush out.“I want to make a good impression when I see them.”

“Wren,” he whispers and tips his head down, resting his forehead against mine.I can feel what he wants to say, but this time, he doesn’t.“You are perfect just the way you are.”

“I’m in pajamas,” I blurt.After doing several locator spells this morning, I spent a lot of time training in the home gym.I showered and fell asleep, drained from doing magic, and never changed into anything else since.