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  “Just how private is this garden?” he asked, nuzzling her throat.

  She snapped her fingers, a privacy spell locking into place around them. “No one will hear us,” she assured him. “And an alarm will trigger if anyone comes near.”

  He drew back enough for her to see his eyes. “There’s a spell I can understand the use for.”

  She grinned as he kissed her once more. Ciar cupped her breasts, flicking thumbs over her hardened nipples. Mikayla moaned against his lips. She undulated against him, parting her legs to lodge him more firmly between them.

  He was perfect on top of her. Even if he disappeared from her life forever, she’d never forget the way their bodies fit together just right.

  She pressed her lips against his collarbone in a light touch. With one hand she found his cock and wrapped her fingers around him. Ciar’s groan was guttural as she stroked him, rubbing him against her wet slit. She couldn’t imagine seeing him and not feeling this consuming, pressing need. She wanted him inside her. Now.

  His mouth closed over one nipple and she arched from the ground. Even knowing her spell should be strong, she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Ciar played with her with expert touches. He knew exactly how to touch her, when to be gentle and when to tease her with a light scrape of his teeth. She stared blindly up at the night sky and knew this was a man she wanted to be able to touch for the rest of her life.

  “I need you,” he growled against her skin.

  She nodded her agreement, wiggling against his cock.

  His hands dropped to her waist. One finger teased along her folds, delving into her.

  “You’re so wet,” he breathed.

  “You have that effect.”

  He smiled against her breast. “Good.”

  With a last playful touch he withdrew his hand and fitted his cock against her opening.

  Mikayla spread her legs eagerly. “Now,” she pleaded.

  Gripping her hips, Ciar surged into her.

  This time there was no stopping the cry he wrung from her. Ciar withdrew to the tip before thrusting into her again. Mikayla arched under him, ready to meet each stroke. Wrapping her arms around him she moved to his rhythm.

  His hot breath burned against her throat as he sank into her. Mikayla bent her legs to pull him deeper, groaning at the sensation. She tightened her inner muscles on him and heard his growl of pleasure.

  “Again,” he ordered against her ear.

  She was more than happy to comply. They moved together in synchronized motion, as if each could predict how the other would move. She wrapped her arms around him as he drove into her, each thrust taking her higher.

  Mikayla wanted to beg for more, wanted to tell him how close she was but there were no words. Nothing mattered but the rocking of their bodies.

  So close, she thought, her teeth scraping against his shoulder. More, more, more.

  With a last strong thrust she shattered. Mikayla’s cry rang through the night as her orgasm crashed over her. She heard his answering roar, felt his body stiffen above her. The sight of him, his head thrown back in pleasure, was seared into her memory.

  He collapsed on top of her, breathing hard. She wanted to speak but her body was still riding the aftermath. All the tension, the worry she’d been carrying around washed away. Now her body was languid and relaxed. She’d had no idea what she was missing.

  “You are incredible,” Ciar said, dropping a kiss on her naked shoulder.

  She turned to meet his black-eyed gaze. “We’re incredible.”

  A soft smile curved his lips.

  Mikayla twisted to her side to face him. She trailed one finger along his lips. “Don’t you see that? We’re incredible. Together.”

  His gaze met hers and he didn’t deny the words—she was acutely aware that he didn’t confirm them either.

  “Why do you hate my kind?” she whispered. It wasn’t the question she’d meant to ask. She’d wanted to bathe in the peaceful glow of their embrace a little while longer. But now the words were said and she couldn’t go back.

  Instead of the anger she’d expected, pain washed over his face. “Teivel died a few weeks before I moved into town.”

  She frowned, wondering what that had to do with his disgust of her kind.

  “He was a strong warrior, my brother. No demon could challenge him. So one of his enemies hired an outsider to do the job.”

  Her breath froze in her chest.

  “Witches killed my brother.”

  The words were said simply, without any damning anger, but she knew what they meant. Knew the final nail in her coffin when she saw it. They had no chance. In the heat of the moment she might have been able to pretend they belonged together, but if witches had killed his brother it was a crime he’d never forgive. One of her people had done something terrible to one of his. He had a good reason to loathe what she was.

  She dropped her gaze, her heart cracking. She should have left him alone all those months ago, should have thought that he might have a valid reason to despise her. How could he have stood being with her these few days? How could he hold her now?

  “Hey,” he said softly, tilting her face back up to his. “It was not your crime.”

  “I’m a witch,” she whispered. “How can you move past that?”

  His fingers traced over her cheek. “I didn’t think I could.”

  She tried to draw away but he stopped her once more. “Then you cast this infernal spell on me.”

  “I must have confirmed all your worst suspicions.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth. “You know what I’ve seen these past few days? A family willing to do anything to protect each other. I’ve seen how hard you fight to right your wrongs. Nothing about you is malicious or evil.”

  “Even though I did this to you?”

  A sardonic smile twisted his lips. “I didn’t say you are a gifted spell caster.”

  She hit his shoulder, smiling despite herself.

  When his chuckles subsided a seriousness crept back into his gaze. “I didn’t think I could care for one of your kind.”

  Her chest tightened. “And now?”

  In response he leaned closer and kissed her. The touch was sweet, not passionate. It was gentle, tender. A gossamer caress that nearly brought tears to her eyes. He touched her as if she were a treasure. Never before had he treated her with such deliberate care.

  “We should get back,” he said. “We will be missed.”

  She blinked, unwilling to relinquish the moment.

  “Mikayla,” he murmured, running a finger down her cheek. “We need to go.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  He inclined his head. “You know what it would take to keep me here. We wouldn’t have a deadline hanging over our heads.”

  “Your deadline.” The words were whispered.

  “Will you tell me?”

  She kissed him in reply, much the way he had her. She could tell him the truth, or she could answer him with her feelings. She brushed her lips over his as she tried to show him how much he meant to her. Everything she did was to save him.

  When she drew back there was no anger in his eyes over her refusal to answer. Instead his smile was almost sad.

  “Let’s go,” he said.

  As they dressed reality started to creep back into their idyllic time-out. By the time they were fully clothed Ciar’s expression had shuttered once more. With a last look at her, he turned and headed back to the house alone. Mikayla watched him go, wishing with everything she had that she could have made him stay.

  Chapter Eight

  Mikayla watched the sunset on her final day. She had spent every moment scouring books and trying out spells to no avail. She couldn’t reverse the curse and Ciar still hadn’t fallen in love.

  Especially not with her.

  She sighed as she looked out the living room window at the darkening street. What would happen, she wondered, when the clock struck midnight on their twisted fairy tale?
What would Ciar do when she had no answers to give?

  All day long she tried to ignore the weight of his gaze on her. Since their tryst in the garden everything had been both better and worse. Ciar had stopped sniping at her but now there was the unspoken promise hanging between them. Give him what he wanted and he’d be hers. For a little while, at least.

  It was a bargain she was far too tempted by.

  “Did the magic wear off?”

  The sound of her sister’s voice drew her toward the kitchen. She paused in the hallway, listening in.

  “Yeah,” Wyn replied. “Looks like Ciar is speaking in woofs again.”

  Mikayla heard the flipping of pages and figured her sisters were still in research mode.

  “I don’t know about you,” Wyn said, “but sharing a house with two demons is making me a little antsy.”

  “I’m not worried about their presence so much as I am worried about their departure.”

  Wyn sighed. “You mean, what their departure will do to Mikayla.”

  Tamsyn nodded.

  “Look, would it be so bad if he chose Alina?” Wyn asked after a moment. “A demon in the family does give new meaning to having a brother-in-law from hell.”

  Tamsyn sighed at the words. “Are you going to tell her she can’t have him? I see that doing a lot of good.”

  “Some people don’t know what’s best for them.”

  “And you do?” Mikayla demanded, pushing the door open before the conversation could continue.

  Both sisters looked up guiltily but there was no apology on their tongues.

  “Tell me I’m wrong,” Wyn said, not backing down. “Ciar belongs with Alina.”

  “He belongs with whoever can break the spell.”

  “Which doesn’t seem to be you.”

  Mikayla flinched.

  “Wyn,” Tamsyn said warningly.

  “No, we’ve all been pussyfooting around this and pretending it’s okay. It’s not. There’s a reason demons and witches don’t get together.”

  “I’ll be sure to return this tremendous support next time you bring home a lover,” Mikayla snapped.

  Wyn snorted. “Do I really look like the get-attached type, little sis?”

  “For that matter, does Ciar?” Tamsyn added, her gentle voice making her opinion all the more damning.

  “Look, I can’t explain what he makes me feel. I get that our kind are less than compatible but that doesn’t change my mind. When I’m with him…” She trailed off, thinking of the way he’d looked at her last night. As if she were the only woman in the world for him. It should have been just sex but when he touched her, she felt precious, treasured. How was she supposed to give that up?

  Tamsyn was watching her closely before her eyes widened. “Hell,” she breathed, “you love him.”

  “No, she doesn’t,” Wyn said. “She’s not that stupid. It’s just lust.”

  Tamsyn shook her head. “You’re not always right, Wyn.”

  “Mikayla?” Wyn demanded. “Please tell me this is infatuation.”

  She opened her mouth to agree but the words caught in her throat. The thought of Ciar breaking the spell with Alina was like a knife through her heart. Loving a demon was foolish, idiotic. Her sisters were right about that much. But now that she’d had him in her arms, Mikayla didn’t have a clue of how to let him go.

  “Hell,” Wyn breathed, echoing Tamsyn’s sentiment.

  “I didn’t mean to,” Mikayla tried.

  “We are all so screwed,” Wyn moaned.

  Tamsyn whacked her over the head. “We could at least try to be supportive.”

  “Of my sister getting her heart broken? Sorry, no.”

  “She’ll only get her heart broken if she can’t convince Ciar he’s hers.”

  An attractive thought, Mikayla mused. Her three days were up, after all. What did she have to lose?

  “Don’t you dare,” Wyn said. “Cut your losses and get out of this while you still can.”

  And go back to drinking at the Black Cat with her sisters, casting spells for those with money enough to afford it and spending meaningless nights with men who didn’t matter?

  Could she live with the knowledge she’d chosen to save herself pain over going after the one man who completed her? Even if only heartbreak lay in that direction?

  “How?” Mikayla whispered. How did she let him go?

  Wyn looked mutinous, Tamsyn just shook her head.

  “Tam, stop sitting on the fence. Get over here on my side and stop our baby sis from ruining her life,” Wyn demanded.

  “I can think for myself,” Tamsyn snapped.

  Wyn shook her head in disgust. “Mikayla, don’t be an idiot.”

  But she was very afraid that was exactly what she was being. An idiot who chose safety over the best thing to have ever happened to her.

  Still, there was one obstacle in her path if she were truly to pursue Ciar. “Where’s Alina?” she asked.

  “Outside,” Tamsyn replied. “Alone.”

  “Good.” With the new revelations spinning in her mind, she needed to have a chat with the woman.

  She headed for the door before opening it quietly and stepping out into the night.

  Alina paced the backyard, barely more than a shadow weaving through the darkness. Mikayla was about to call out when the woman’s words stopped her.

  “You wait,” Alina snarled. “When I bring home the true heir we’ll see how well you can keep your throne.”

  Instinctively Mikayla moved back into the shadows as she listened. Alina continued to pace, gripping the cell phone with white knuckles.

  “Don’t make me laugh, Rouke,” she said. “We both know what our relationship is.”

  She paused, no doubt listening to the person on the other end of the line.

  “I can’t have this conversation now,” she said at last. “You shouldn’t have called me here. No. No, Rouke, absolutely not. I can’t—that’s it. Goodbye. Don’t come looking for me.”

  She snapped the phone shut and sighed, tilting her face up toward the heavens.

  “Who were you talking to?” Mikayla demanded, stepping from the shadows.

  Alina spun. “You,” she hissed.

  “What’s going on?” She jogged down the porch steps to confront the woman.

  “None of your business.”

  “It is if it has something to do with Ciar.”

  Alina smiled but there was no pleasure in the expression. “And why is that?” she asked. “He was my fiancé. I’m the one who will break the spell. He doesn’t even want to be around you anymore. What I do with my future husband is none of your concern.”

  “Until the spell is broken, everything about him is my concern. Who is Rouke?”

  Alina narrowed her eyes as she stalked forward. “You may have Ciar confused, but not me. I know you want him for yourself, but thankfully you seemed to be doing an excellent job alienating the love of your life. If you try to press this issue, you will find out very quickly which one of us Ciar trusts. It’s your word against mine.”

  Mikayla narrowed her eyes. Something was wrong. She’d bet her last drop of magic on it. Alina wasn’t the kind of woman to put all her eggs in one basket, which begged the question, what was she hiding?

  “If you are doing something that will put my sisters or Ciar in danger—”

  “You’ll what? Turn me into a kitten?” Alina laughed. “You may have the power, witch, but you don’t have the training to take me on.”

  Calm settled over her. Alina was supposed to be the answer, but if Ciar chose this woman she’d curse them both.

  “I’ll ask you one more time,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. “Who is Rouke?”

  Alina crossed her arms and arched a brow in response.

  Mikayla inclined her head. Time to make another bad decision.

  Before Alina could pace away, Mikayla threw out her hands and slammed them against the other woman.

  Icy flowed through her
fingers, dropping the temperature of the garden so sharply she could see her breath.

  “What are you doing?” Alina whispered as her lips turned blue.

  “No one hurts the people I care about.”

  Foreign magic surged up against her powers, battling her attack back. Mikayla gritted her teeth as she swamped Alina’s show of defense. The demon powers singed her fingertips but they were no match for the waves of ice Mikayla pumped into Alina’s system.

  Slowly the demon magic faded as Alina’s movements became sluggish. When she could barely bat an eyelash, Mikayla dropped her hands.

  The freezing spell wouldn’t last long but at least it’d give her a head start.

  Mikayla raced into the house, leaving behind a woman-sized ice sculpture. Both her sisters looked up as she crashed into the kitchen.

  “What’s going on with you?” Wyn demanded, her eyes narrowed.

  “I may have done something we’ll regret.”

  Tamsyn pushed from the table. “What exactly have you pulled us into this time? Are you incapable of thinking before you act?”

  “Where is—” Mikayla’s question was cut off when the white poodle trotted into the kitchen.

  The dog froze for a moment when he saw her. He looked from Mikayla to her sisters and back again.

  “Wyn, Tamsyn,” Mikayla said, not looking away from Ciar. “Alina’s frozen in the garden. I know you don’t approve but if you could stall her, I’d appreciate it.”

  Mikayla streaked for Ciar before anyone could move. She scooped the dog into her arms even as her sisters surged from the table yelling protests.

  She raced through the house with a snarling dog in her arms. Black smoke started to envelop him the second they were away from the others.

  “Wait,” she demanded, throwing herself against the front door. “Please wait.”

  The smoke disappeared as soon as they hit the street. Mikayla nearly collided with a neighbor who quickly jumped out of her way.

  Ciar growled at the people strolling down the sidewalk. There was no way he’d be able to transform in the presence of all the strangers.

  “Don’t bite me,” Mikayla warned as she started to run.

  Ciar might be small, but it was a struggle to keep him in her arms when he wanted to be free. She raced down the block and rounded the corner, careful only to take paths she knew wouldn’t be deserted.