Heart of the Witch (40 page)

Authors: Alicia Dean

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Fantasy, #Paranormal

BOOK: Heart of the Witch

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Through the thin silk of her robe, his touch was warm and hard. Disturbing. She tugged against it. "Let go of me. Now," she commanded in a low voice.

Pain flashed in his eyes. "You really don't remember. Not at all."

Her chin lifted, and she pulled free of his grasp. "Please, just leave. It's been a hell of a few weeks, and I don't know who you are. You're a mortal, I know that. I can't imagine that I fell in love with you. If I did… the truth is, I don't want to remember. I don't want to know you. I just want to be alone." Lifting a weary hand, she brushed the hair back from her face and shakily added, "Please."

He watched her intently. Suddenly, his expression softened and he seemed to come to some kind of decision, because he nodded. "So that's it then," he said, his voice dejected. He let out a long breath. "Okay. I'll go. For now. The last thing I want is for you to hate me. I'll give you some time, then we'll talk. You're alive. You're okay. That's all that matters. That's enough." He stared at her a moment longer, then said, "For now, that will have to be enough."

He turned and walked to the door. She held her breath as she waited for him to leave, and he stopped with his hand on the knob. She saw his shoulders tense, and then he turned back and growled, "The hell it's enough."

He stalked back over to her. She lifted her fingertips, pointing at him, but before she could do anything, he reached her and grabbed her hand in his. "It's not enough," he bit out. "I don't care how goddamned selfish that makes me—I won't lose you again. I don't know what might happen if I walk out that door, and I can't risk it. I've learned my lesson. I'll never turn my back on someone I love again. I've been hurting so long, I'd forgotten how it feels to be happy. Until you. And I know you felt the same. I won't go back to that. I won't let
you
go back to that."

She was so startled by his outburst that at first she didn't react, just let him hold her hand as the words poured forth. Somehow, she knew he wouldn't hurt her. And she no longer wanted to hurt him, mortal or not. Someone had done enough of that already.

He looked down at her imploringly and said, "You have to remember, Ravyn. You have to." His words were a whispered plea.

"I can't help you," she said, her voice gentler. "I'm sorry. I don't know you."

"You
do
." And then, more firmly, he said, "You know me." With that, he jerked her hand to his chest and held it against his heart.

Her first reaction was sudden and unexpected: pure, raw lust. Her desire was so potent that she was almost dizzy with it. She spread her fingers out against his warm, hard chest, and a small gasp escaped her lips. Her knees went weak and she looked up into his face, which was so close to hers.

Brow furrowed in confusion, she opened her mouth to speak, but then the images came. One after another. Vivid, real. Memories, not illusions.

The first time she'd seen him—his intense blue eyes, his white teeth flashing in the darkness of his beard.

Him, holding her on her kitchen floor as she wept over Sorina.

The first time they'd kissed.

The last time they'd kissed, when he'd offered himself as a sacrifice to Kayne in order to save her.

"Nick," she choked out. Tears surfaced, clogging her throat, filling her eyes.

"You remember?" he said, his voice hoarse.

One hand still on his chest, she lifted the other and ran her fingertips gently along his bruised face. "You could have walked away," she said softly. "But you fought for me. You chose me, your love for me, over your life. Over your soul." Yet Kayne had chosen evil over her love. A mortal had shown more strength of will, more strength of character, than the most powerful witch she'd ever known. Not just
a
mortal. Her mortal. Her Nick.

"Oh, God, Ravyn." He crushed her to him, her hand trapped between them as his lips came down on hers. The kiss scorched through her, sending a trail of heat down through her body. She tried to ease off, mindful of his injuries, but he was not so cautious. His lips continued to devour hers as a starving man devours a feast.

After a few moments, he lifted his head. "You're wrong about one thing. I could never have walked away. Not from you."

She moved her hand from his chest and cupped his face. "I can't believe I ever forgot you. Even for a minute. Magic or not." Her breath hiccupped in her chest. "Never again," she whispered. "I promise, never again. I love you, Nick. Forever."

"I love you, too. And I promise I'll make
sure
you never forget me again." He grinned happily at her, then kissed her once more. Ravyn allowed the thrill of it, the wonder of it, the emotion of loving him to course through her.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized this would end her dream of becoming high priestess, but the thought brought no regret. This was the beginning of a whole new dream. One she hadn't even known she had… until she met Nick.

She thought of what Sorina had said. About love making everything better… about the glow inside. Finally, against all odds, Ravyn knew that now. And she knew her sister was watching. And she knew Sorina was pleased.

Epilogue

Ravyn paced the lobby of the precinct, waiting while Nick spoke to the captain. It was two days later, and all safety was gone; real life had come thundering back with a phone call. What would Nick say about everything that had taken place? Would he expose her coven? Would he be forced to take the side of mortals, despite all that they'd shared?

No! He'd promised he wouldn't. He told her he'd take care of it, not to worry. She just had to believe him.

In the time since the battle with Kayne, she and Nick had helped Marvin home from the hospital and met with Vanora—to explain why Ravyn couldn't ever replace her as high priestess. The elder had been clearly disappointed, but the sparkle in her eyes had let Ravyn know the woman was also happy for her.

Ravyn had also called her mother and grandmother and asked them to meet with her so they could talk. She wanted a chance to put all the pain, all the bitterness, behind them. Her grandmother had been the one to show her the true power of love, had convinced her to trust Nick. Gwendyl had sacrificed herself for Ravyn in another life. It was true that in this life, she was far from a perfect mother, but the three women were all that was left of a family. They could build on that. Also, if Sorina was aware of what was going on—and Ravyn believed her sister's spirit had to be—reconciliation between them all would make her almost as happy as Ravyn's finding love would.

The door opened, and Ravyn watched anxiously as Nick came toward her. In spite of her apprehension, she couldn't stop the wave of pleasure that moved through her. Although his wounds still showed, the cuts on his face and black eye, they didn't detract from his appeal. He was handsome and sexy—and hers.

Barely able to wait until Nick had steered her outside, she turned to him on the steps of the precinct. "What did you say?"

"That Kayne was demented and had some kind of unexplainable powers, but whatever they were, all danger ended with his death."

"And?"

"And what?"

Ravyn sighed in exasperation. "About me? The coven? Did you say anything about us?"

"Yeah."

Her eyes widened. "Nick—!"

He grinned. "I told them you had bewitched me, put a spell on me, and I was captivated by your charms."

A relieved laugh escaped her. "Did not."

"No. I didn't. I didn't tell him anything about you or your coven. In fact, they're disbanding the task force. I don't think they ever wanted to believe any of that 'nonsense' anyway." He laughed, then his mood turned serious as he took hold of her shoulders and gazed intently into her eyes. "You never have to worry that I'll hurt you. That I'll betray you. No matter what. You can trust me. Always."

"I know," she whispered. And she did. Above all else, she knew she'd found happiness and peace. She felt it in her heart.

ALICIA DEAN
moved to Kansas City, Missouri, from Moore, Oklahoma, in 2006, but left a multitude of friends and family behind and now divides her time between both cities as much as she can.

She has been writing most of her life, but has only been able to avidly pursue publication in recent years, after her three children were grown. Alicia loves reading almost as much as writing and has been influenced by several great authors, such as Dean Koontz, Dennis Lehane, Sharon Sala, Michael Connelly, and Lisa Gardner.

Visit Alicia at
AliciaDean.com
.

Table of Contents

Heart of a Witch