The Wolf's Witch (book 1)

44. I'm Keeping Him

Sethan

Kaitlin raced out of the car as soon as I shifted the gear into park. She stopped short outside, breathing air and reminding me of the boy who'd struggled.

I gritted my teeth, kept my wolf in his cage and stepped out.

Kaitlin flinched when the car door closed. When I didn't speak, she moved to the front door and hesitated with her hand on the doorknob. Her voice was as if she hasn't spoken in days, "I'm not doing this inside." Kaitlin reached for her necklace and uttered an enchantation. I felt a small buzz of magic stretch out and settle in our surroundings. She reached for another charm and without a word, Samhain materialized a few feet beside her.

I knew what came next.

Kaitlin opened the lid of the jar but the inky smoke didn't exit. My mate bent and set the jar on the floor. Samhain's grin likely resembled the one I often wore when I finally set out into the woods after a previously delayed hunt. He taps the jar, slaps it with his paw, watching it roll. The demon doesn't take the bait. It doesn't leave but we all know it wants to. Samhain's inner feline comes out and the playing grows aggressive. The demon shriek is unbearably high pitch that I cover my sensitive ears. A part of the jar had cracked and likely penetrated him.

Kaitlin doesn't watch. She went inside and this time the demon blocked the sound of her going upstairs. Part of him escaped from the jar when it cracked but Samhain had been swift in sending the jar flying into the wall with one swoop of his tail. I stayed back and went against every fibre in my being that told me to tend to my mate. Instead, I kept my word and watched Samhain enjoy himself.

He got creative and used his lava to fusion into the demon's smoke form. It kept it from setting off and let's just say, I wish I had earbuds. I didn't expect it to take this long but I agreed that the demon deserved it.

I also didn't expect Samhain to fix me with a hard stare. I'm perplexed but more than happy to teach him manners-Samhain disappeared before I could respond. I moved and paused at the door, wondering how much he hears around Kaitlin's neck.

My feet took me to my mate's room but it felt strange to enter. She hadn't locked the door but she didn't exactly invite me in. I leaned on the doorway and at the tousled sheet on her unmade bed. The smell of vampire was unmistakable but old. My jaw still locked and I shut my eyes when she stepped out of the bathroom.

From the gentle scent of cacao and vanilla espresso soap, I knew Kaitlin had changed out of my shirt that hung to the top of her thighs. I opened my eyes when she neared, wolf close to the surface but calmer now and curious.

The red sweater I'd given her when she'd slept over is folded in one of her hands, "Here's your sweater." My hand extended without my brain telling it to and accepted it. She tilted her head and reinsured me, "I'll wash the other clothes and get them back to you."

I don't care about the fucking clothes. Actually, I do. It pisses me off that she's returning them.

I tossed the sweater on her dresser and extended my hand out to her. I don't trust myself to talk. She should've picked up my calls. She should've told me she was safe. I would've asked her to wait for me until I got there to summon the demon. I would've looked after her better. Did she seriously trust the vampires to do that for her?

Kaitlin's head remained tilted as she studied my hand but her guarded eyes told me she knew I'm asking for permission to touch her. I wasn't delusional. We'd shared a few kisses but I knew she hadn't fully accepted me yet.

My eyes widened as I recognized her submissive posture. I don't know if she knew she was doing it.. How long has this- I think over to the car ride here.