Lorcan & Evette

Chapter Forty-Nine

"Fuck, Evie- why are you down here?"

"I was just-" Her words turned to nothing squished against his chest.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. I thought-" He kissed her forehead, unfazed by the kitchen staff who watched them. "I thought you were gone."

"What do you mean gone?"

Frantic, the werewolf wasn't making any sense. He peppered hurried kisses across her forehead and hairline, holding her impossibly tighter. The werewolf clung to her like she was his lifeline. As though he had something to lose.

"Witches have been spotted at the portal. I thought you'd left with them."

"Witches," she said slowly. Suddenly, she felt funny. It'd been thirty years since she'd last seen a witch. Her mind skirted over his assumption. "Which ones?"

"Does it fucking matter?"

He had a carnal look about him. She realised he might spare Annaliese, but he had no love for any other witches. He'd kill the others regardless of how close she was too them. Even Seth. She barely restrained a gulp.

They were still at war. Witches in these lands could only mean the werewolves were under attack. He'd be within his rights. And yet that didn't make this any easier.

"Lorcan, maybe you should calm down."

"Calm down?" he asked through clenched teeth. She threw a nervous glance around at the kitchen staff. They were all watching now. "You want me to calm down when there's a bunch of witches in my realm?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means there's a group of enemies in my realm- dammit- and my biggest worry right now is them taking you. I won't let anyone take you from me Evie. I fucking can't."

She grabbed him by the shoulders and tried her hardest to calm him down whilst remaining calm herself.

"Let's go upstairs and talk about this, yeah? I know it might not seem that way, but the witches are reasonable. We can sort this." She swallowed what she'd planned to say after that. Who knows? Maybe we could come to an agreement with Annaliese.

The werewolf would learn soon that she'd never accept his mark unless he let Annaliese in. He didn't seem completely against negotiating with Annaliese. Maybe, and she crossed her fingers for this, they could all work something out.

"There's nothing to fucking sort," he scoffed. "The witches are here and I have you. I've already won, Evie. If they come for you, they'll die. None of them are taking you from me."

She threw another nervous glance towards his subjects.

They already thought of her as an asset. She didn't want to add war prize to that list.

"I know," she said peaceably. "Why don't we go and talk about this somewhere private? We can think this through and find a civil solution."

She grabbed him by the hand and led him away, back onto the main floor. Of course, this did nothing to ease his worries. He started to pace, glancing up every few seconds to make sure she was still there.

"What's being done about it?" she asked, now that those other werewolves were out of sight. After she'd spent the whole morning earning their trust, she didn't want Lorcan to put his foot in his mouth and ruin it. Living in a realm where everyone hates you was easier said than done. "You're not going to kill them all- are you?"

"I don't know," he growled. "The guards are out looking for them."

"Shouldn't we do something?"

He pointed a finger her way. "I'm not letting you out of my sight."