Page 4 of Enchanting Her Monsters
“I will have to find a new baseline so I can protect you.”
“Speaking of your grandmother, uh, why did you call out to her during our mating?” Arran asks.
Maxum goes on alert and demands details with a growl. “What happened?”
“I felt her pushing on my senses when I was playing out my primal chase fantasy, and I put up my wall,” I explain. “But when Arran bit me, I lit up with symbols like Maxum said he’s seen on me. Then they sort of dissipated into the air. Almost like they dissolved in the wind. Is that how it happened before?” I ask Maxum.
“No. They lit up and then faded backintoyour skin.”
“Oh. Hmm. That’s weird.” I don’t know if this is a positive twist, but there’s not much I can do about it now. “Then my grandmother’s voice popped into my head and said, ‘You made the same mistake I made.’”
“What the hell does that mean?” Calder hisses. “Are you part supe?”
2
AFTERCARE
JADE
“Areyou a supe?” Arran and Flint echo Calder’s question.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask her, I was in the middle of mating so I told her to bugger off.” I bite my lip, wondering what I am. “Do you think that might be why you all are attracted to me? Because I’m not really a witch?”
“You’re a witch,” Maxum says with certainty. “However, it appears you might have something extra. But just so you know, that’s not why we like you.”
“But—” I argue.
“No. Stop trying to find reasons we don’t just like you for you,” Maxum says with his bossy tone.
“Okay…” I rub a hand over my face, feeling self-conscious. “I’m not usually this insecure, but?—”
“Rob made you feel worthless,” Calder interrupts with no malice. Damn, this guy is hitting the bullseye with all his comments tonight.
“Yeah. You’re right.” Magically suppressed and conscious memories trickle back. “He did say horrible things to me about my body and personality, especially toward the end. I now remember when he had me under his hypnosis spell to channel spirits, that also he used that time to degrade me. He tried to make me feel like I was unlovable. Probably so he could control me.”
“But it didn’t work, not completely,” Calder reminds me with a sympathetic smile. It surprises me that he’s saying such supportive words. He isn’t exactly my biggest fan. “You broke up with him. That takes strength when you’re being manipulated and beaten down on all levels.”
Maxum cups my face with his large hand. “He’s correct. You’re strong. Stronger than they know how to control. I believe those witches and warlocks are afraid of you.”
“Of me? Why?” I ask.
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out. Together.” Maxum’s gaze turns to my hair, his fingers comb through the strands. “Your hair… it’s silver.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I have gray hair.”
“No.Silver. Like an elf might have,” Arran agrees and then stares into my widening eyes. “And your irises… they’re glowing green.”
I need to see this.
“Jade green,” Flint adds. “Like the beautiful, powerful stone.”
“They are no longer hazel.” Maxum touches my hair reverently again. “Silver. That spell broke whatever was hiding your more obvious fae traits.”
“We’ll figure it out, but first we should bring our sweet witch inside. It’s cold out here,” Flint says and picks me up, clutchingme to his chest. He braces the back of my neck with his large hand and it feels like polished marble. His thumb skims the bottom of my jaw, and he whispers in my ear, “Are you sure you’re alright?”
I give my protective gargoyle a kiss on the lips. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I’m sore between the legs from the knotting, and I have some minor scrapes from tree branches and Serky’s claws, but nothing serious.”
Flint gently places me on the bed and makes me lie back. He pulls the blanket off me and inspects my body for the injuries. His smooth, thick fingers trace over my collarbone, over my breasts and stomach, to my thighs. I’m covered in drying mud and debris from when Arran’s berserker claimed me and fucked me into the ground.
