“I don’t know. I’ve wondered the same thing every day since she dragged me away. Once we were in Austin, all she would say was that it was too dangerous for Evie to leave. She said splitting us up had saved our lives.”

“Interesting.” Samael said. “And she never explained why?”

“No. Every time I got mad and demanded to know, she’d just get this sad, frustrated look on her face. I was a teenager, and I missed my sister. By the time she left me in Austin and came to Durham, we were barely speaking. I’d told her I hated her, and if she didn’t let me visit, I was coming back myself.”

“And then she was murdered.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So am I. The hardest part was not knowing why we had to leave. Why Evie and I were separated. And why we were never warned. That day… we were just kids, and we were suddenly told that mom and I were leaving. The coven stood by and did nothing. No, worse. They used their magic to help separate us. They were our family. I trusted them.”

A tear had slipped from my eye, and it dropped onto Samael’s chest before I could stop it. His whole body tensed and then he pulled me even closer, wrapping me in his warmth.

“One day,” he promised. “You will have your answers.”

13

Danica

Samael reached for me again and again throughout the night, and my hands always reached for him too. I’d probably only had a couple of hours of sleep total.

He leaned over and kissed my forehead. I grunted, and he chuckled, the sound much too delighted for this early in the morning.

“I need to shower, little witch. Join me.”

I kept my eyes closed in an effort to avoid some of the temptation he presented. “Not on your life.” I was so sore I ached.

Samael laughed again, sounding far, far too pleased with himself. As soon as I heard the bathroom door shut, I opened my eyes, staring down at the gold mark on my arm.

I was an idiot. A stupid, horny idiot.

The shower started, and I sat up, slowly rolling until I could inch my foot out of the covers. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and winced.

Ouch. He’d ruined me. And it was taking every ounce of my self-control to not march into his bathroom and push him against the tiled wall. He’d lift me in his arms, slide his hand down and—

No. No fucking way. I needed to get out of here so I could think with a clear head. I was tempted to visit Samael’s healer on my way out of the building but what would I tell him? “Your boss fucked the life out of me and now I’m not sure if I can walk properly?”