“What?” Bishop asked as he took in my new acquaintance.
“Actually, I think you’re the prettier of the two,” the wendigo said as he took a step closer to my twin.
My protective instincts reared up, and I grabbed the wendigo’s arm.
He flinched and recoiled from my grip with a snarl. “Don’t touch me.”
“Then stay away from my twin,” I growled.
“Hey, easy Byron,” Bishop said softly and turned to the wendigo. “Sorry, my twin is very protective of me. What’s your name?”
The wendigo flicked his pale eyes between Bishop and me. “It’s Vee. Just Vee.”
“Okay, Vee. Nice to meet you. I’m Bishop and this psycho over here is Byron.”
“Great,” I snapped. “Now we’re all introduced, can we get the fuck out of here before the emergency services turn up?”
I walked away, irritation dogging my footsteps as I returned to the car. I’d taken one of Damyr’s out again, the all-black Mercedes G-Class. He’d been pissed when he’d found out I took the Ferrari and he’d forbidden me to take it again.
He hadn’t said anything about the rest of the collection…
It wasn’t that I didn’t have my own collection of cars, I did, I just rather enjoyed pissing off the boss. He’d never get rid of me, I was too useful, but I was curious to see how far I could push him. I’d almost lost my head when he’d brought Benji into the fold and I’d flirted with him quite a bit. I’d backed off when we’d found out they were mates, though. And I liked Benji. As much as I could like anyone, I guess. More than I liked most people.He was also really good at patching me up. Much better than the drunk we’d had as our in-house doctor before.
I turned on the engine and waited for the other two to climb in. Bishop helped Vee get in and then he jumped into the passenger seat. I didn’t even wait for him to put his seatbelt on before revving the engine and putting my foot down.
I needed to see Wilder, and I needed him right fucking now.
Chapter Ten
Wilder
By the time I got to Benji’s Christmas Bash it was in full swing. The mansion had been transformed into a magical winter grotto and it was clear that they’d spared no expense in throwing this party. There were catering staff, a live band playing all the big Christmas songs and a giant ice sculpture in the entrance hall.
I toyed with not coming at all, but then I’d thought about how disappointed Benji would be that I hadn’t shown up andI’d caved. My head was a mess. Flashes of memories kept resurfacing and my stomach rolled with them every time.
The damn ring was also burning a hole in my pocket. I could feel the faint imprint in my trouser pocket, but I didn’t want to touch it in case it set me off again.
Where was Byron?
I stood on the fringe of the party, my back against the wall and I was biting at the skin around my thumb.
“Hey,” Vlad said as he came to stand next to me, a glass of Acheron’s homemade punch in his hand.
I was so zoned out, I didn’t even notice him and I flinched. “H-hey.”
His brown eyes were soft as he stared down at me. “Are you alright?”
“Honestly? No.” I was very far from being alright. I was about to put my trust and faith in a man that both terrified and excited me in ways I couldn’t even comprehend. I spent most of the time bordering the desire to either throttle him or kiss him and I wasn’t sure which was going to win.
I’d always believed that doing the right thing was the right thing to do. That I should listen to Dara because she was older, and therefore wiser, but now I wasn’t so sure. Since when did Byron Blake become the best option for me? When did a psychopathic hitman become my best choice?
Byron was dangerous, unpredictable, and void of any real human feelings. He liked violence, enjoyed torturing people, and craved inflicting pain. He didn’t suffer remorse and did what he wanted without real thought to anyone else.
He’d broken into my house—twice—watched me sleep, no doubt gone through all my things and learned all that he could about me. I should feel violated.
But I didn’t.
I feltrelieved. He’d not run in the other direction after discovering I was a Shadow Witch and he was somehow tied to me. He’d stood by my side, checked in on me when I was having a panic attack and left me food to make sure that I ate something.