Page 67 of Wicked Magik

The painting was filled with many flowers, their hues dark and lush. They were unlike the flowers in my pet's memories. It's always the same memory replaying, featuring a walk from a large, white house. In her arms, she carried many colorful flowers and always found herself in the same place—the edge of the forest, beside a small stone, where she would speak to it.

I tapped the side of my skull. I don’t know why she liked to talk to a rock, but I found one that looked similar to the one in her dream. Once we get enough flowers, I will find a nice spot for her to talk to it.

As soon as Benedict declared my work complete, I bolted into the house with a burst of excitement. My hearts pounded in my chest as I dropped to all fours, my paws thudded against the floor. The hallway stretched out before me, and with every leap, the carpets bunched up beneath my claws.

It’s only been two days of working with my Lord, but they have been the longest days. I ached to be near her. I sat outside his lab for nearly an hour before he let her go.

I’d wait all day there if I could.

This time, as I reached the bottom of the stone spiral staircase, my Lord stood there, his silhouette framed by the flickering torchlight. His brows were knitted together, casting a shadow over his intense gaze. The moment he noticed me approaching, his eyebrows shot up in surprise, creating deep creases on his forehead. "Oryx, what in the Shadows are you doing?" he demanded, his voice echoing off the cold, damp walls.

I stopped in front of him and raised to my full height. “Here to see if you both were finished for the day.”

He rolled his eyes and waved his hand in the air. As he did so, I could smell his scent, it was stronger than I had ever smelled it before. Cool, crispness of fresh mint leaves, like a breeze through a frosted forest, mingling with the warm, creamy sweetness of vanilla.

My tongue fell from my maw, my saliva threatening to drip from my mouth, but my Lord passed by me as I watched him ascend the stairs. As he did, the wind caught my nose holes and that was when I smelled something else… lavender and honeysuckle.

My ears pricked up and the hair on my arms rose. Did he get close enough to my pet to touch her to have her scent on him? Why? Why would he get that close? Did he hurt her?

A low growl rumbled in my throat as my limbs hit the ground, propelling me forward on all fours toward the lab. The flame of each candle I passed danced wildly in the draft I created. I skidded to a halt in front of the large double doors, my hearts pounding.

Inside, my pet was carefully shaking out a white sheet, its edges fluttering like ghostly wings before she draped it over one of the still, lifeless bodies. As the sheet settled softly over the form, she lifted her gaze, her eyes catching the light with an almost mischievous glint. Her mouth curled into a gentle, knowing smile as she acknowledged my presence.

“Orie, you’re here!”

Yes, she wanted me.

I bounded forward and grabbed her to take in her scent, but also to check for my Lord's.

She giggled as I picked her up and sniffed her neck, her chest, and then into her hair. “What are you doing?” Her hands ran through my mane.

Then I found it. The minty vanilla in her hair. I huffed in anger.

“He touched you,” I growled. “He touched what is mine.”

Her body stiffened.

“He did, didn’t he? His scent is all over you. What did he do?” I could smell his scent on her clothes.

I pulled her away from me and set her down on her feet. Her mouth opened and closed. “He did, but he didn’t hurt me. Veylor was angry that I looked at his door.”

That stupid door. No one was allowed to even look at it. A stupid rule.

I let out a feral snarl, spinning on my heel to hunt him down. He won't lay a finger on her; he won't dare approach her. She belongs to me, and I'll shred him into nothing. She's everything I have, the only thing I've ever desired, and nothing will stand in my way.

Vesper pulled at my hand. “No, Oryx, it was my fault. I pissed him off. Come back here. He was just in a mood.”Like he always is.

I shook my head, my hair flying over my skull. “NO! He cannot hurt you!”

“He didn’t! No oath was broken, otherwise his heart would be in my hand!”

I flexed my hands, the tendons tightening beneath my skin, and turned to face her. The air was thick with a scent that was unmistakably his, yet it wove seamlessly with hers, creating a fragrance that was both mouthwatering and unnerving in its complexity. I found myself irresistibly drawn to it, despite knowing I shouldn't be.

I needed to cover her in my scent, get rid of it.

I trailed my fingers down her back, feeling the warmth of her body and gently cupped her curves. A low groan escaped my lips as I pulled her closer, my arousal pressing against her hips. Shegasped, her fingers tracing down my chest, leaving a tingling trail in their wake, while her nose nestled into the crook of my neck, breathing in the mixed scent.

“You missed me that much?” She whispered. “I missed you too.”