by Anya Bast
She rolled her eyes and tried to push past him again. He tightened his grip, staring down at her. Words about how pretty he thought she was wouldn’t come. He wasn’t good at saying things like that.
Anyway, he shouldn’t say them.
Their relationship didn’t have room for bullshit like that. Still, he had trouble letting her go. They stayed locked that way for several long moments.
Finally, Sarafina ripped herself away from his grasp. “God, Theo, what’s your deal? Let me go.” He watched her stalk from the room and fisted a hand at his side when the door closed behind her.
* * *
“I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF HIM,” SARAFINA said to Mira. “He’s so odd.” She sipped her iced tea. “How can a man so gorgeous be so odd? It’s like a crime against nature or something.” She, Claire, and Isabelle were in the Conservatory, sitting at one of the tables in the communal area after dinner. It was late and darkness had closed like a fist around the Coven.
“He’s a powerful earth witch,” answered Mira with a shrug of a slim shoulder. “From an entire line of powerful earth witches, from what I’ve heard. His parents were a nightmare, and his childhood was pretty violent. Then there was that whole deal with the Duskoff when he was a teenager. He’s bit different because of all that darkness.” Claire took a sip of her drink and then said, “Adam and I were surprised you chose to stay with Theo, actually. He’s a wonderful man and one of the best people to have your back in a fight, but he’s so sullen all of the time. He’s so hard to communicate with.” Mira shook her head. “I adore Theo, but I don’t understand him.” Isabelle dragged her finger through some of the condensation left on the glass-top table and played with the water droplets, letting them whirl out into the air and dissipate. Show-off. “With certain people you have to keep your expectations low. Take what they’re offering and try not to demand too much more from them. Men had to keep their expectations low where I was concerned for a long time.” She looked at Sarafina and smiled. “Then I met the right man.” Sarafina returned her smile. “It’s not like I want marriage and children from Theo, but I do have to live with him for now. He’s a good man and all, I just. . I don’t know. He intrigues me, I guess.” There was no way she was going to tell them about the kiss she’d shared with Theo. That had just been a one-off, anyway. He showed no interest in ever kissing her again, only interest in dictating her behavior and decisions. That didn’t fly with her.
Claire laughed. “You and half the other women in the Coven.” “Oh, really?” Sarafina answered. “I didn’t know.” She shrugged and laughed. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though, he’s hot.” “And selective,” Claire answered. “According to Adam, Theo could pretty much have his pick of women, but he’s only taken one lover ever as far as Adam knows.” And Sarafina knew who it was. “Ingrid.” Mira nodded. “She was abrasive, but a good person in her heart. It was a blow to the Coven when she was killed.” “She was one of Thomas’s seconds, along with Jack,” Isabelle added. “It was a real loss.” Sarafina nodded. “Once he told me that all the women he was ever involved with turned up dead somehow.” Mira frowned. “That’s interesting. I only know about Ingrid, but Theo gives reserved a new meaning. He’s not exactly an easy guy to get to know.” “Yeah, that’s for sure.”
“So what was Alex like?” Isabelle asked.
“Alex? He was. . nice.”
“Oh. Nice.” Isabelle grinned. “I’m sorry.” Sarafina laughed. “He was really personable and friendly, very motivated in his career path. He was a man my foster mother would have called a provider. He treated me well, and we almost never fought. It’s just that there wasn’t that. . that. .” She trailed off, searching for the right word. “That spark.” She snapped her fingers, making fire flare. “You know?” All three of the women laughed. “Yes, I think we get it,” answered Mira. “That spark you’re talking about is pretty important to a fire witch.” “Alex was a great guy, but we shouldn’t have been together. It just wasn’t right. He wasn’t—” “Tall, dark, and mysterious?” Isabelle supplied, grinning. “Brooding and reticent? Complicated and just a little bit dangerous?” “Hmmm, sounds like someone we all know,” added Claire in a teasing tone of voice.
Sarafina glanced down at the table, letting a small smile cross her lips. “Can we add aggravating, controlling, uncommunicative, stubborn, and indecipherable?” Claire nodded. “We can.”
“I know what you’re getting at, though.” Sarafina shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe. Or maybe it was because Alex wasn’t a witch. We lacked that thing in common. I didn’t know I was a witch when I was with him, but somewhere deep within I always knew I was different.” “Honestly, Sarafina,” said Mira. “I can relate because I was in relationships with non-magickals before I found out I was an air witch. It’s just not the same with someone who doesn’t share in magick. I’m not saying that relationships with non-magickals can’t work. There are some in the Coven that do just fine in them, but I think it helps to have that shared base.” “Well, I guess I’ll find out sooner or later since I’m sort of starting a new life here at the Coven, turning a new page, or whatever. Maybe eventually I’ll be in a relationship with a witch and I’ll have a basis for comparison.” Isabelle leaned forward and grinned mischievously. “Maybe you’ll be in a relationship with Theo.” Sarafina relaxed back in her chair with a laugh. “I don’t think Theo’s looking for that. I’m certainly not.” “I did notice Darren looking you over quite a bit today.” Claire raised an eyebrow over the rim of her glass.
Sarafina felt a blush tinge her cheeks, though it had little to do with Darren’s attention and a lot to do with Theo’s fit of jealousy over it. Was she a bad person if she admitted she’d gotten some pleasure from that?
“Yes, well, he’ll be going back to Boston soon. Anyway, we’ve got more pressing matters to think about right now. Perhaps soon I’ll be headed back to the Duskoff.” Sarafina pushed away from the table and stood. “So, I better get to sleep. Theo’s all about training early in the morning.” The women said their good nights and Sarafina strolled back through the Conservatory smiling to herself, the light along the gravel path she walked glowing intermittently.
Apparently, Atrika had destroyed most of the Conservatory about a year and a half ago, as well as a good part of the rest of the Coven. They’d used a gift of diamonds from the Ytrayi to make repairs. Now the Conservatory was a beautiful place once more, and Sarafina was glad it had been salvaged.
She was grateful for many things at the moment. Grateful that she now knew her true nature and had an explanation for her mother’s insanity. It didn’t make the weight of those memories any easier to carry, but at least they were less perplexing. She was also grateful that she’d made friends within the Coven. Claire, Isabelle, and Mira were wonderful women and easy to talk to about her new life.
Could she count Theo as a friend? Sarafina frowned. No, he remained only an enigma. Still, she was grateful for him, and to him as well.
The Coven was dark now, settling in for the night. The corridors were empty and she knew she’d catch hell from Theo for staying out later than she should. She hurried up the stairs and turned the corner of the corridor leading to Theo’s apartment, her mind awash with a million things.
Sarafina looked up and stopped short.
Bai stood there.
Her mouth gaped and her mind stuttered to a halt. Over three weeks had passed and nothing. There’d been no sign of him. Now here he stood, between Coven walls.
And judging from the expression on his face, he wasn’t taking no for an answer this time.
FOURTEEN
“THEO!” SHE YELLED AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS.
Sure, she’d trained in defensive measures, but this was a demon standing in front of her. All six and a half enraged feet of him. She wasn’t dumb enough not to want backup.
Her power rose in response to the acrid scent of the daaeman in front of her. She parsed out a thread and threw it at him, twisting it just right in
order to get it past Bai’s natural elemental shields. It popped in his face like a firecracker and she took the opportunity to run like hell.
Bai made a low, animal-like sound of anguish and followed her. The tromp of his massive feet on the floor of the Coven echoed behind her. She careened around the corner and nearly collided with a couch. Sarafina knew she had to prevent him from touching her. If he touched her, he could jump her anywhere on the planet.
She so, so didn’t want that.
Feeling like she was playing a game of life-or-death tag, she pounded down some stairs with Bai close behind and raced down an unknown corridor. Good God, this place was huge and she had no idea where she was running. At any moment she could be trapping herself in a corner. Doorways on either side of her led to parts unknown. Every single one was a question mark and a potential pathway to death.
Sarafina came to a set of double doors that appeared to open into a large room. She rolled the dice, hoping there was an exit on the other side or at least a good place to hide.
She careened into the room and skidded to a stop, closing the door behind her. In the half light shining through the windows, it appeared she’d entered some kind of ballroom. Of course, owing to her recent trend of bad luck, it was completely naked of furniture.
And there was no exit.
Behind her, a roar shook the floor beneath her feet.
Sarafina did the only thing she could do; she turned and made a stand. Raising as much power as she could, she waited, balancing on the balls of her feet for the daaeman to come through the doors. She screamed when he jumped in behind her instead.
She moved from pure instinct, bringing her elbow back hard into his solar plexus. He grunted in pain, releasing her, and she scrambled away from him. As she went, she ripped power from the center of her chest and held it loosely, ready to wield.
“What the hell do you want from me?” she snarled.
“I want nothing from you, Sarafina. I simply want you. You will be mine soon. It’s been arranged.” The double doors crashed open and Theo walked in, the scent of earth magick filling the air. “You can’t have her, daaeman. She’s already mine.” Bai’s lips peeled back from his pointed teeth. “Do you think you’re a match for me, aeamon? I will come for her when this is over, and you won’t be able to stop me.” “Screw you both,” Sarafina yelled. She wasn’t about to be claimed as anyone’s property.
She unleashed the huge amount of magick she’d pulled from her seat at Bai. White-hot fire exploded around him in a magnificent flash that nearly blinded her. The hard and fast use of her power drove her to her knees, gasping. She gripped her chest, every breath an agony.
Theo let loose with a string of swear words. The air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth, vanquishing the hot scent of fire. What had been searing hot now went cool and dark as the deepest part of the Earth.
Sarafina forced her head up and saw that Bai had disappeared. Where he’d stood was now a scorched circle and a pile of dirt.
Theo’s hands gripped under her arms and he pulled her up and against him. “Damn it, Sarafina, what did you do?” She gasped, pressing her hand to the center of her chest as if she could chase away the pain. “I pulled. . as much. . as I could.” Theo scooped her into his arms. The action surprised the hell out of her, but she had no energy left to protest. All she could do was hold on as he bore her out of the ballroom and up to his apartment. Once inside, he laid her on the couch. Grosset hopped into her lap and wildly licked her face, perhaps sensing she was in great pain.
Theo stood back and gazed down at her. “You have to take care of your seat, Sarafina. You can’t rip out massive amounts of magick the way you did.” She glared up at him. “There was a daaeman standing in front of me.” The words sounded choked.
“Do not speak!”
Anger, even more acute than her pain, made her straighten her spine and try to shout at him, even though it came out more a harsh murmur, “Don’t tell me what to do!” She collapsed back against the cushions and closed her eyes, drawing a ragged breath and fighting unconsciousness.
He gestured inarticulately for a moment before seeming to gather his thoughts. He took a deep breath before speaking. “Look, Sarafina, you can’t just yank out huge chunks of power from your seat. If Bai were to show up again right now, you’d be completely defenseless.” “You’re right.” She nodded. “I know. . you’re right.” “Don’t speak.” This time he said it in a gentler tone. Theo held up a hand to stop her from continuing. “You’ll injure yourself further. I understand what happened. You were faced with all that daaeman in front of you, and you panicked. You yanked out a big chunk of power to throw at him, as much as you could.” She nodded. God, her throat and chest hurt.
“It’s a rookie mistake, right? Can you see that? We’ve talked about this.” Sarafina closed her eyes for a moment and nodded again. Yes, she saw that. She’d screwed up.
He knelt on the floor by the side of the couch. “I understand why you did it, but that has to be the last time. Pulling that shit in the middle of a battle can get you killed. You dole out power little by little, using it to best advantage. Don’t gamble it all away in one go.” “I see what you’re saying,” she whispered.
“Good. Now what can I do to help you feel better? You won’t have enough power to heal yourself for a while.” Sarafina blinked. The man was actually having a normal-type conversation with her, with eye contact and everything. It was jarring.
“Hot tea with lemon.” Her voice came out in a low rasp. He rose to go into the kitchen, but she laid a hand on his arm. “Let me.” “No way. Sit here and rest.”
Sarafina leaned her head on the armrest of the couch and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she was really glad that he’d insisted on getting the drink for her. Her head was pounding.
Soon she felt the press of a warm ceramic mug into her hand. She opened her eyes and saw Theo sinking into a nearby chair. “That’s lemon verbena tea. Mira is always dropping it off for me even though I never drink it.” She took a sip and let the warmth fill the aching empty place in the center of her.
It was funny how before she’d known she possessed magick, that place between her breasts had seemed like any other part of her body. She’d never given it much thought. But now that she knew she was a witch, when the seat of her power was damaged, it was the only part of her body that mattered.
“There are two pieces of good news. First is that you’ve learned your lesson and won’t ever do this again.” Sarafina rolled her eyes at his high-handed comment and the tone he’d delivered it in. God, she couldn’t wait until she could speak freely again; she had a lot to say. Did he even know how infuriating he could be? He seemed completely oblivious.
“Second is that you’re a strong witch and should recover quickly.” Well, now, that was good news.
Once her tea was mostly gone, she let her eyelids drift closed once more. Theo groaned in the chair next to her, an oddly sexual sound that made her come out of her half sleep with a spike of awareness. One day she’d love to make him groan that way using her hands, tongue, and teeth. The thought made her shiver.
It was incredible how one minute the man was pissing her off and the next she wanted to jump his bones.
There was something about him that flipped her switches, that was for sure. Maybe it was simply the challenge of bringing a man that big and that bad to his knees sexually. Maybe if she ever scratched that particular itch, she wouldn’t be so attracted to him anymore.
Nah, he’d be like crack. One taste and she’d be addicted.
There was also something nice about having a man as big and as bad as Theo watching over her while she drowsed, vulnerable and injured, on the couch. The knowledge that Theo would protect her if Bai decided to return warmed her inside as surely as the tea.
In his presence, she felt safe. Despite everything, she trusted Theo completely, no matter how annoying he could be sometimes.
He slipped the cup from her grasp, dropped
a blanket over her, and soon she drifted to sleep with Grosset at her side.
WHEN SARAFINA WOKE IN THE MORNING, THEO WAS still in the chair near her. He looked uncomfortable — slumped down with one arm thrown over the armrest. His head had lolled back and his dark hair trailed over the side of the chair. He still managed to look luscious, though. The hem of his black T-shirt had ridden up, exposing his washboard stomach and the enticing button fly of his jeans.
She swallowed experimentally and when pain didn’t shoot through her body, she sat up a little. The seat of her power was flushed and full once more, like a battery recharged. She closed her eyes, dragging in air through her nose and letting it out slowly. Ah, much better.
“Okay?” That was Theo’s gravelly morning voice. It sent goose bumps all over her body.
She looked over at him and smiled. “Worlds better.” Her stomach growled. “I feel so good I could eat a stack of pancakes, but since we don’t have those, I’ll go make coffee.” He moved a little and winced, instantly making her feel guilty. He’d slept in the chair because of her. “I’m going to shower,” he mumbled, pushing a hand through his hair.
Later, while she sipped coffee at the kitchen table, Theo walked in. . with just a white towel around his waist. Again.
Sarafina almost dropped her mug.
Apparently, he had no idea how good he looked like that. If he knew the thoughts that went through her mind every time he traipsed around the apartment that way, he’d put on some clothes.
Theo walked to the coffeemaker and poured himself a cup. She watched his rippling back muscles where she could see them through his damp dark hair. The man was a menace to any woman within a thirty-foot range, and he had absolutely no clue.
She directed her gaze down to her coffee cup. “Shouldn’t we be notifying Thomas about what happened last night?” He turned, cup in hand. “Already done. I called him as soon as I knew you’d be okay last night, once you’d fallen asleep.” She nodded. “What did he say?”
