Wraiths could suck out life, like ghosts, but didn’t drink blood. Their kills were far less messy. Wyrms were large burrowing creatures, and if one of them was doing the killing, there’d be no cow left to examine. He really wished he hadn’t read the details on some of the creatures because he’d be getting nightmares for months.
“I will take your word for it.” Mack picked up a half slice of chocolate cake. “A rogue shifter would have been easier.”
Which is what Jude had first thought and hoped for, but he didn’t add that. He just nodded. He ate his piece of cake in silence, too aware of the shifter only two feet from him. The light caught Mack’s eyes, and they reflected green for a second, betraying what he was to any witch or other paranormal being. Mack ate delicately and licked his fingers. Jude wanted to lick them for him. He glanced away, not sure if the rising heat in his body was because of the small workshop, the familiar bond, or the simple reason that Mack was a good-looking guy and Jude already knew what his lips felt like.
“I’m sorry for thinking it was you.” Jude could think of one hundred ways to make it up to him. He tried to rein in his imagination and failed. He had never been so twisted up with lust before.
“I can see why you’d think it was me. Bears do have a reputation for destruction,” Mack said softly, as though that was now forgiven. He watched Jude carefully. “This bond…”
“Yeah?” Did he sound too hopeful?
“It’s better for you than me.”
Jude swallowed and nodded. “I know the history.”
Some witches had abused the privilege, and shifters had grown wary and distrustful.
Mack poked at the lemon tart. “This is a partnership or it’s nothing. I will not blindly obey.”
“That’s fine…probably for the best.”
“You say that now, but you might change your mind and compel me.”
“I won’t.” But it was just words. And Mack already didn’t trust him that much. “I swear by the Fates I will not compel you.” He shivered as the words left his lips. He hated swearing by the Fates. He was never sure if they were listening and would follow through with some kind of retribution for breaking his word.
Mack studied him; his gaze unflinching. “We will catch the creature, and then I’ll petition the Coven for my freedom, as required for them to break the bond. I’ll tell them the truth, that it was an accident, so you won’t get into trouble.”
“I won’t argue to keep you.” That was the wrong thing to say.
Mack’s eyebrows lowered. “I’m not yours to keep.”
“I know. It’s a good plan. Work together, then get the Coven to fix this. But in the meantime?” Jude said a little too hopefully.
Mack drew in a breath. “You honestly weren’t faking attraction in the bar? I wasn’t sure last night. I don’t know if it’s the magic in the bond anymore or if it’s real.”
“It could be both.” He’d thought Mack had lost interest, but every so often there’d be a half smile or a look that made Jude wonder. Now he knew. “Does it matter for the moment when we plan for the Coven to break the bond?”
As much as he didn’t like the way Mack was so keen to end the bond, it was for the best. He’d never wanted a familiar or the responsibility that came with that. Even now they were linked, though not as solidly as they would be as they got closer. Sex would bind them tightly, as would working together. Even now if one were to die the other would pine away. Their magics would alter as the bond thickened. He had no idea how his magic would change, or how Mack’s abilities would be strengthened. But some changes would only happen as the bond developed with time and use. The bond wouldn’t get a chance to develop, though. They’d catch this creature then part ways.
That should be all he wanted.
Mack took a step closer. “I’m sorry for punching you.”
“I’m glad you did.” He meant that. Mack had saved him from making a terrible error. He closed the distance and hesitated for only a moment before brushing his lips over Mack’s. He rocked back to assess Mack’s reaction, not sure if he’d gone too far, too soon, but unable to resist any longer. The magic of the bond shimmered in his blood, and his heart beat faster, and lust tugged much lower. Beneath that immediate draw was the spark of attraction he’d felt when he’d first seen Mack.
Maybe the bond needed that spark to even work. Why else would two people kiss?
Mack’s tongue traced his lower lip, then he used Jude’s shirt to pull him close and kissed him again. Hot and hard the way Jude had wanted the night they’d met.
The static was on Mack’s tongue the moment Jude’s lips parted. It spread fast, sliding through his blood and over his skin. This time he knew it wasn’t a spell, or at least wasn’t one Jude did consciously. It was a taste of the witch’s magic and the shimmer of the familiar bond.
While he didn’t like the bond or what it meant, he liked Jude.
He shouldn’t.
Witches had a history of trapping shifters and binding them as familiars—it was old history, and the practice had been stopped two centuries ago—and he fully intended to ask for his freedom. He didn’t want to think what would happen if it wasn’t granted.
Right now, he didn’t want to think at all. For the moment there was nothing he or Jude could do about the bond. He could handle being tied to the witch, metaphorically, for a few days or even a week.
Mates. He didn’t even believe in fate.
But of all the witches in the
