Chapter 19

The Wolf

Irun until I can't anymore. My legs eventually buckle, and I land face down in the dirt back in my human form. Pix rolls off me, her body limp as she lies beside me. Her eyes closed with dried blood beneath her nose and all around her ears.

Her heart beats slowly, and her breathing is steady. I lie there, utterly spent, with no power to shift and no energy to move.

What the fuck was that?

Not just the wave of power from Neve, but the magic Pix used?

The sheer force of it. The complete destruction!

Nature turned on us in a way I only ever imagined in horror stories. The trees turned black and grabbed at the unseelie, tearing them limb from limb. The ground came alive, swallowed others whole, and the air became toxic. Vines erupted upwards and strangled, pulled and snapped.

As I looked back, I saw the devastation spread. I saw the coven get turned into a plague-ridden wasteland.

I reach over and sweep her hair from her face.

That magic came from her. But it wasn't her. It was something else.

Someone else.

Her familiar pokes her head out from around her neck, and I freeze. I loathe that fucking snake. All snakes, in fact.

Her soulless, beady eyes look at me, and I run cold. Unblinking, I watch her slither to my hand and wrap around my wrist before stopping. Her tongue darts out, and I wait for her to lunge. But she doesn't. She simply slithers off into the grass and disappears.

I fall back and watch the sky. The canopy above dances in the breeze as the sun sets.

Holy hell.

That was intense.

It's been a while since I've been in a fight as brutal as that. Unseelie. Fire fucking witches.

Neve.

I've run miles upon miles at full speed. I smell the blood from my hands and feet.

‘Pix?' I say quietly, my mouth as dry as anything. ‘Pix. Can you open your eyes for me?'

She's completely out. That last bit of earth magic was apocalyptic. I've never seen that much power come from a single witch. Not once.

It felt different than usual. Older. Archaic. Chaotic.

And the spell Neve cast. It destroyed the entire coven, travelling through the whole village and killing every earth witch it touched. And when Neve knew she would not get Pix from me before the spell was cast, she told me to run. To take her and get her past the village borders, or she would be killed.

Sure, she sent me a welcoming party. But this tells me she needs Pix alive.

I guess that's a good thing. Better than wanting her dead, I suppose.

Something in the trees moves. I watch and see a rabbit hop through. I'm so spent, not even a damned rabbit fears me. I crawl to my sleeping Pix, dragging myself as my weary legs and bloody feet trail behind me.

Blood. I need blood. I grip her wrist and bite, drinking her down.

But she's spent, too. And what would usually give me a bit of a boost barely heals the sores and blisters from my running.

She needs charging up. If we get cornered now, we're both as good as dead. And I can't just lie here helpless when so many of our enemies are hunting us.

Hunting her.

Leaning in, I open her eyelid. White. She's dreaming, and Shaw is walking in her mind.

If he's walking, then he's alive.

Thank fuck for that.

I only hope Dorian made it out in one piece as well.

‘I hope you don't mind, Pix. But I need to get my strength back, or we're sitting ducks like this.' I smooth her hair to one side as her lashes flutter. ‘I wonder where that expression comes from. Sitting ducks.'

She's so fucking beautiful when she sleeps. So at peace. It's a rare sight to see.

Her at peace. Without the nightmares. Without the spirits haunting her. Without the attitude I love to be on the wrong end of.

I'm unsure why her anger is such a turn-on. But it really fucking is.

I lower myself, stopping when my face is level with her hips, and bunch her wedding skirt up around her waist. It's a torn-up and filthy mess at this stage.

Shame.

Pressing a kiss to her thigh, I move aside her underwear and widen her legs. She's out cold still and mine to move as I please. Her skin breaks out in the cutest little goosebumps as I trail kisses towards her pussy.

My tongue flicks at the little bundle of nerves between her legs, and she releases a gasp. The scent of her arousal overcomes me.

Such a good girl.

I get to work, licking and sucking her clit, feeling her wetness coat my lips and seep into my mouth. My fingers glide up her thigh before sinking inside her. Her opening makes the most beautiful sound as I fuck it with my fingers.

I'm slow. Almost lazy as I work on her, and I relish the little gasps and moans she gives me. Even sleeping, she knows who she belongs to.

Her breathing quickens. Her muscles clench, and she cums around me, her toes curling and her hips twisting.

Perfect. I sink my teeth into her. Right around her clit. Her blood, mixed with her pleasure, fills my mouth.

Complete and utter perfection.

I drink her down and feel the effect of her charged-up blood instantly. My strength. My stamina. My inner wolf.

It all returns.

Bless this little witch of mine. An impossible half-breed with all the greatness that comes with a blood bitch, but without the sadistic nature the dark magic turns them into. No. She's got a sweet nature if permitted to show it. She cares about others. Cares about life. Even earlier, her innate urge to protect her old coven won out despite what they had done to her.

Her orgasm eases, and I lick clean the wound. My tongue heals the bite, and she's as good as new.

I slump, my head resting on her belly as I catch my breath.

‘That's better.'

I jolt when her hand slides through my hair, and I look up at her. She blinks through hooded eyes, the lingering effect of her pleasure making them glassy.

‘You make it a habit of going down on unconscious women?' she asks, still playing with my hair. I know I'm not in trouble. She's smiling.

‘No, Pix. That was my first time.'

‘I can't hear anything,' she groans. ‘My ears. What did you say?'

Of course! How could I forget? I climb up her body, and my wrist is at her mouth in an instant. She feeds from me, healing herself with every gulp.

She pulls back and licks her lips sleepily. Her eyes still struggle to open all the way as she keeps running her hand through my hair.

‘Do you feel better?' I ask.

‘Yes. Thank you.'

‘You deafened yourself. Sent roots straight into your ears. That was crazy, even by my standards.'

‘And I'll do it again if they get too close.' Her body tenses and her fingers slow in my hair. ‘They killed my coven.'

I nod, my face nestling into her stomach as I look up at her. She looks at the canopy above, struggling to meet my gaze. The sun is starting to rise, and the carnage of last night's fight has dried on our skin. Blood. Plenty of it.

When she blinks, tears slide down her face. There are no words I could say to make this better for her. They know her trigger, and they will use it if they get the chance. They will take her.

And I may not care, but she has lost her coven. Her home. She saw them die.

My arms are firm around her as I watch her try not to cry. Each of her swallows looks pained, and her breaths are juddered. But her fingers keep stroking my hair.

I've never had a woman run her fingers through my hair like this. Feels kinda nice. I'm not usually one for the soft touches, but I find myself enjoying them with her.

‘How did we get past Cole?' she asks.

I blink at her. She doesn't know?

‘You used your earth magic and knocked them out of the way,' I lie. ‘Then you passed out.'

I don't want to upset her even more with the truth. That she created a plague and turned her home into a nightmare.

‘The others?' I ask, worried to find out if they're hurt. ‘Are Shaw and Dorian okay?'

She looks down at me and smiles. ‘They're both fine. They got out and are hiding in a human village by the coast. Shaw told me to tell you not to let anyone else see us. We're to find somewhere secluded with a clear landmark. Then I'll sleep and tell him where we are. They will come to us.' She looks around. ‘So. Where are we?'

‘South. Somewhere.' Her fingers stop. I wriggle my head, and she starts again. ‘Your snake went off. Think she's done a runner.'

‘She's checking we're safe and getting herself something to eat.'

‘How do you know that? You were out when she left.'

‘I just know. And I gave her a name. She's called Poppy.'

‘I like it. Good name.'

There's a rustle in the brush. I'm up and on my feet, watching for any movement.

The sharp end of a stick emerges first. It's low to the ground as if being held by a child. The gnarly green hand comes next, gripping it tightly.

‘A goblin?' I say, utterly dumbfounded, looking at the rugged little beast slowly walking towards me. It holds that sharp stick as if it's a great sword. I can't help but laugh. ‘Piss off. Would you?'

I turn to Pix, who is sitting up and watching the goblin walk closer. I offer my hand to help her up, but she's too distracted to take it.

‘OW! What the fuck!' I look back and see the stick embedded in my lower leg. Ripping it out, I point it at the ugly little toad. ‘Do not fucking poke me!'

When I go to toss it back, Pix grips my wrist and shakes her head. The crazy girl is smiling.

‘I know you,' she says to it. ‘Don't I?'

The goblin keeps glaring at me as more emerge from behind it. All the little shits are carrying sticks or rudimentary sling shots filled with rocks. And all are looking at me with a desperation to attack.

Pix steps in front of me, her hands up as if to soothe them.

‘Don't hurt him. He's a friend to you. Like I am.'

‘Pix? You know these little beasts?'

She walks towards the one who pricked me and kneels. The fucker spits at me before looking at her with kindness.

Strange. Not seen a goblin smile before. It looks ridiculous.

‘You got out,' she says. ‘You clever girl.'

They rest their foreheads against one another.

‘An explanation?' I urge. ‘Why are you chummy with a goblin?'

‘I regularly opened their cages and carriages when I could in the human village,' she says, her voice bursting with pride and joy as the goblin picks a daisy and offers it to her. ‘She was in a carriage heading out of the village the day I met you. I opened the lock so they could sneak out when they got on the road.'

The goblin hisses at me when I take a step towards her. I hiss back at it, and the bitch spits at me again.

‘He's a friend,' Pix says to it, pointing at me. ‘Not a threat.' She looks up at me, still grinning.

Not true. I've killed a fair few of them in the past and sold others to humans when I needed some coin. But I'm not about to admit that right now, or I'll end up with one of those sticks up my arse.

The goblin lifts its hand, and Pix laughs as she takes her familiar from its palm. The snake unfurls and slithers up her arm.

Then she turns to me.

‘They have somewhere safe for us to go,' she says, getting to her feet and holding out her hand for me to take.

‘We're not going anywhere with them, Pix.'

She steps closer.

‘Please, Archie. Trust me.'

We walk for an age, led by these critters and their pointy sticks. Pix has been painfully silent, lost deep in thought as we're led through the thickening forests.

She told me everything. About seeing Hel on that shore. About the manacles and the mark. About Athir. She's shown me the grimoire, and although I am glad it is back in her hands, I worry.

Because if Athir is real and alive, and he is her father for real, then this is a huge concern.

Not that she would hear anything against him. Her precious earth god.

I knew something felt different when she used earth magic against Cole. She said she reached for her grimoire and couldn't remember anything after that.

Part of me is relieved the magic performed wasn't hers.

And another part of me is terrified of the alternative.

She staggers and winces as she cuts her foot on a rough stone. I catch her before she stumbles.

‘You good?' I ask. I'm surprised to find her skin hot to the touch. ‘Do you have a fever?'

She tuts and swats my hand away when I feel her forehead.

‘I'm feeling warm. That's all.'

She lifts her foot to inspect. A bead of blood seeps to the ground, and my mouth fills with saliva. I'm filled with her magic and ready to go.

I don't need to taste her, but fuck, I really want to.

She lowers her foot back down. A patch of dense moss blooms beneath her foot. She wriggles her toes.

‘I can shift. You can ride me,' I offer, the words coming out before my brain truly comprehends them.

"You can fucking ride me?"

What am I? A horse?

‘I'm fine,' she replies, still utterly distracted. ‘Let's keep moving.'

She places her hand in mine, and we walk on. With each step, more moss grows beneath her feet and disappears when she leaves it. I don't even think she realises she's doing it. Her eyes are unfocused, and her brow furrowed.

Her earth magic is growing stronger every day.

But I know that what happened at the coven was not her earth magic. It was something else.

And it frightens me.

She's holding my fucking hand. Her fingers are entwined with mine like it's nothing. Like I'm not… me.

I squeeze it. She squeezes me back. And I smile like a damned child.

We walk for several hours, travelling deeper and deeper into these ancient forests.

Something prods my dick.

‘Oi! Cut that out, you little freak!'

The goblin pokes at me again and snorts with laughter, watching my knob sway from her jab. Pix giggles, watching the creature.

‘Can you tell her to stop poking my dick? It's not a plaything.'

‘I don't know. I find it quite enjoyable to play with,' Pix chuckles back at me.

‘Well. You can play with it whenever you like. But ugly goblins? Not so much.' The goblin walks on with its little gang after a final look at me.

Pix wipes her brow clear of sweat. She shouldn't be sweating. It's fucking freezing.

‘Seriously. Are you sick?' I make her stop and press the back of my hand against her forehead. ‘You're burning up.'

‘I don't know,' she finally admits. ‘I feel hot on the inside, and my head is really starting to hurt.'

‘Why the fuck didn't you say something?'

‘I didn't think it was important.'

I take her face in mine.

‘You're important, Pix. Here. Let me taste. If you're sick, I'll know.' ' I lean in and run my tongue up her cheek, lapping up the beads of sweat dripping from her skin. ‘Ahhh… shit. That's unfortunate timing.'

‘You say that, but you're smiling. Also. That was gross.'

‘You're not gonna like it,' I giggle.

Her eyes narrow. ‘Spit it out.'

‘You remember me telling you that you could hear me when I was a wolf because you're my Mate? And you sort of brushed it off.'

‘Yes,' she groans back.

‘Well, there are things about being someone's Mate that kind of… affect you. As the female.'

‘I get sweaty?'

‘I'm pretty certain you're in heat, Pix.'

‘Heat?' she repeats.

‘Yes. Heat. It's a wolf thing.'

‘I'm not a wolf, Archie,' she grinds back through gritted teeth.

I fall to my knees and press my face between her legs to inhale.

‘Fuck. Your scent is intense. You're definitely in heat.'

I look up at her as she frowns down at me.

‘Get your face out of my vagina.'

‘You will get worse, Pix. And be in unbearable agony for five to ten days until I'm given what I crave. It's biology and magic. I have no control, so unless you want to burn from the inside for days on end, I suggest you let me look after you.'

‘That's how shifters get their females?' she replies. ‘By making them succumb to your desires, or they burn alive?'

‘I didn't do this intentionally.'

‘And yet you look so happy.'

I force myself to lose the smile and attempt to look upset. I'm not. I'm fucking thrilled.

I love this girl. I know it. I fucking throb with it in every part of me. Inside and out. What I failed to mention is that she would only fall into heat with me if she feels exactly the same way as I do.

She's unwilling to admit it, and I would rather she hate me for this than be forced to face a truth she simply isn't ready to face and hate herself.

‘This isn't your fault,' I tell her. ‘It's just nature, Pix. Think of it as medicine.'

I rest my hand on her ankle and slide it up to her inner thigh. My fingers stop at her underwear as she looks anxiously around us.

‘You'll have to wait. The others- fuck!'

My fingers sink into her slick and starving pussy.

‘This will make you feel better,' I purr.' She clenches around me and lets out the most adorable little breath.

I massage her, slowly twisting and spreading my fingers before adding a third, filling up my girl so her head falls back. Her temperature has already started to drop.

I know it's cruel to make the object of our deepest desire suffer if they refuse us.

But shifter nature is cruel.

Blood witches are even crueller.

She winces as I jar my fingers roughly, an unintentional reaction to the thought of her as a blood witch. Her eyes peer down at me, and guilt grips my heart.

‘Sorry,' I tell her, focusing on being gentle. ‘I didn't mean to.'

She is not a blood witch. She's an earth witch.

She's Pix.

She's my Mate.

My focus returned, the betrayal that flickered in her eyes fades, and she relaxes.

She likes pain. And I like to make her squirm. But there's a difference between being rough and being nasty.

Her scent is intoxicating and driving me mad. My cock strains against my trousers, desperate to get inside her. To claim her as mine. As my Mate.

My Mate… I never thought it possible that I would ever find my soul mate.

I go beneath her skirts and seal my lips around her clit, sucking and licking her up with eagerness. My fingers are soaking wet and slide in and out of her with the most satisfying sound.

She's moaning in pleasure as her orgasm builds, and when she cums, she clenches tight around my fingers, and her taste only gets better.

I free my cock and grip her hips before pulling her down onto my waiting length with a firm and desperate movement.

‘Shit…' I groan, relishing in filling her. She moans and grabs onto me, and her fingers dig into my arms as she feels a little more relief.

I thrust into her hard. A human would scream, but she's no mere human. Her moan is music to my ears.

I pull out, flip her over on her hands and knees, and slam into her again. Pulling on her hair, I lift her head and smile as I fuck her hard and fast.

I yank her head back and drive her mouth onto my cock. I'm down her throat, rutting into her as I hold fistfuls of her hair.

‘You taste good when you're in heat, don't you Pix?'

I pull her away again and return to her pussy. I fuck her hard and then make her taste us both again.

She gags around me as I sink straight down her throat, but she doesn't pull away.

I move her again, this time… I want her arse.

‘If you fuck me there,' she pants, ‘You can't fuck my mouth again.'

‘I could,' I grin. ‘I think I would like that.'

‘No. Archie, I don't want to do that.'

‘Okay, Pix. You got it.' I return to her wet cunt and work her hard.

I'm about to make her taste me again. To push my dick in as far as it will go and empty myself right down her throat.

But something is happening.

‘Shit…' I whisper. ‘Oh shit, no!' It's too late. I try to get out, but I can't.

‘Archie, don't you fucking dare shift when you're inside me!' she warns. ‘Don't you fucking dare!'

I let out one hell of a moan, and she cries out in a high-pitched scream.

‘I'm sorry!' I tell her. ‘I'm so fucking sorry. I didn't mean to. It was a fucking accident!' I insist. ‘Just… give me a minute, and I'll get it down.'

I love to knot. Don't get me wrong. But unless the female is a shifter, it hurts her like hell. The Banshee let me do it. She was the only one crazy enough to endure it.

This was not what I had in mind.

‘Archie!' she cries.

‘I know, Pix. I'm so fucking sorry. Just stay as still as possible.'

An orgasm rips through her and doesn't stop. Her hand slams into the ground as she is torn apart over and over by pleasure.

‘It doesn't hurt?' I ask, completely confused.

‘No! Keep fucking me!' she screams. ‘Archie! Please!'

I'm more than happy to oblige and resume rutting into her.

I laugh. This is perfect. Utterly perfect.

She's my mate and can not only take a knot but relish in it just like a wolf would.

Her temperature drops right down to normal, and I know all the pain in her head has gone.

She'll crave this now. My dick. My knot.

I spill into her with a groan.

She belongs to me.

She'll never be without me now.

She falls back with a satisfied smile, dragging me down with her.

I only just realise the goblins are stood there watching, a curious look on their ugly little faces.

‘We're gonna need a minute,' I pant, my dick still trapped inside her.

My head falls forward, and I laugh at the ridiculousness of this situation.

We're on the run, surrounded by goblins, and I have my cock stuck in a witch.

When my knot finally goes down, we resume our walking. Pix retakes my hand, and we continue following the voyeuristic goblins.

Little perverts.

‘So, how often will that happen?' she asks.

‘It varies. Are you mad?'

Peering up at me, she softly shakes her head.

‘No. I'm not mad. It's actually kinda nice to have physical proof that I'm wanted. Not had that before.'

‘You've never had a wolf Mate?' I laugh. ‘I'm shocked.'

‘I've never been wanted, Archie. You guys are the first. Everyone else put up with me or wanted to own me. No one ever… wanted me.'

My smile fades. That is such a heartbreaking confession to hear from the most perfect girl to be born. The world must be mad to treat her so badly. I know I've done some shitty things too. But for all her days, I will be the Mate she deserves.

After another hour or so, I start to smell the fresh waters of a river. Through the trees, we approach a clearing where the goblins come to a stop at the edge of a hole. A few meters below is a dark pool of water. Lush green vegetation hangs over the edge and dips into the water. The goblin in charge, Pix's dick-obsessed little friend, points at the water and starts to grunt in a guttural language I have no understanding of.

‘She wants us to jump,' Pix says.

I tighten my hold on her hand.

‘I'm sure she does. No, thank you,' I tell the little cretin. ‘We will not be jumping into a black pool of water deep in the ancient forests. We choose life.'

‘Pussy.'

I look at Pix with a raised brow.

‘What did you call me?'

‘I called you a pussy,' she teases.

Pix pulls her hand away and steps over the edge before I can use my claim mark to order her to stop. There's a splash a few seconds after she goes over the edge, and she doesn't come back up for air. The goblin points again to the water as if bored of waiting.

‘Fucking goblins,' I grind out before leaping in after her.

If she's hurt, I will tear them apart.

The water is icy, dark and filthy. My fingers search for her. I feel nothing. I begin kicking for the surface, but there's a pull on my body as if I am entangled by rope. I'm pulled down.

Deeper and deeper into this swamp I go. The faint glimpse of the surface quickly fades, and darkness surrounds me.

Pix didn't submerge because she, too, had been pulled down. Down to her death in the dark.

Fucking goblins!

I claw at the water and reach out in the darkness for any hope I might find her, but all I feel is water.

That, and impending doom.

Suddenly, the darkness lifts as I pass through an invisible line. The water becomes blissfully warm and crystal clear. Above, I see the ripple of a blue sky instead of the murky swamp.

Down. Down. Down.

My lungs are getting desperate for air, and I continue to fight against this drag.

I look down, expecting to see an endless depth.

Instead, I see a fucking town protected by a barrier like an orb of glass on the sea bed. Homes and roads. Trees and life!

The tugging sensation grows and I'm soaring towards it until I finally break through. I take a deep gasp, filling my lungs with much-needed air, and land face down in the dirt.

‘Owwwww…' I groan, spitting a load of it from my mouth. ‘Just… owwwwww…'

When hands settle on my back, I sit and wrap my fingers in the mess of her hair, pulling it tightly and making her yelp. It would be her throat if I knew she wouldn't go catatonic and suffer flashbacks.

‘It's me!' Pix gasps, slapping at my hand.

‘I know,' I reply angrily, refusing to relinquish my grip. I pull her closer, enraged that she jumped. Furious that she did so, knowing I would never have allowed it. And raging that her disappearing scared me half to fucking death. I twist her hair tighter between my fingers. ‘Not. Happy.'

A vine wraps around my throat, and I'm yanked away from her. In the blink of an eye, I'm completely entangled and unable to move.

But she blinks in surprise, watching me be dragged away. I land at the feet of three women, their hands stretched out in my direction, and the stench of earth magic, air magic and water magic shrouds them all.

Witches I have never seen before. And I should have, considering their strength.

I can't shift. My wolf is as pinned as I am.

‘Witch killer,' the oldest of the three sneers at me. Her fist clenches, and the vines around me tighten further until my ribs threaten to snap. ‘You will do well to keep your hands to yourself. This is a place of sanctuary and peace. You are not welcome here!' She looks at the goblins who brought us here. ‘You bring a witch killer to this coven?! Are you mad?'

The goblin grunts and waves his hands in the air as he argues his case.

‘He saved her?' she says, listening to every word. Fuck knows how she is understanding a single sound. ‘They all helped her to protect the earth coven, you say?'

The goblin nods, and all three of them look at me.

Her long grey hair is perfectly smooth. Her face bears the deep grooves of a long and weary life.

Crone.

The word just pops into my head at the sight of her, especially when I look at the two witches on either side of her.

An air witch of no more than fifteen stands on her left. And to her right is a water witch with a sizeable belly.

Not possible.

The Maiden. The Mother and The Crone.

Shit. This is not good. Talk about a bad omen. Seeing a sight like that is a warning. End of fucking days type shit.

Well, according to my pack, anyway. I remember telling Shaw that once, and he just looked at me like I was insane.

‘Ifyouioonooetmmmguh, I wllkllyoo,' I warn through the vegetation over my mouth.

‘I did not catch that,' the crone scoffs. ‘No matter. I know your vile reputation and do not desire to hear you speak.'

The vines tighten further, and I hear a groan inside as my ribs reach their literal breaking point.

The crone and her two witches suddenly yelp, and the ground beneath them sucks them in. Red vines whip around them in a flurry and bind the witches' hands together.

‘He said,' Pix says, stepping towards me with her palm outstretched as she wields her magic. ‘That if you don't let him go, he will kill you.'

With a brief wave of her free hand, the vines confining me rot. I break free easily and leap to my feet at her side.

‘Kill them,' I encourage, readying myself for a fight.

‘Who are you?' she asks the three women. ‘And where are we?'

‘Kill them, Pix!' I urge.

‘We are a friend to those who have none,' the old woman replies. She glares hatefully at me again. ‘We offer sanctuary to those in need. Not to mass murderers. You have to leave.'

A couple of males step closer. On one, fire dances on his fingers. Another has an orb of air. And the third… is human!

‘You're a coven?' Pix asks. ‘With more than one kind of witch.'

‘Release us. We are no threat to you.'

‘I will let you go when you swear not to attack him again.' Pix nods to me, and the surrounding witches all throw me a glare.

‘He is a witch killer.'

The Crone is not wrong. I'm certainly that.

‘He was. Not anymore,' Pix argues.

Awkward.

‘What is this place?' she asks.

A male steps forward wearing a hood.

‘It is a coven for those who have nowhere else to belong. Where all the misfits or outcasts can find peace.'

I frown. I know that voice.

He lowers his hood.

‘Leo?' I stare at the air witch, who smiles warmly at me. ‘What the fuck, man?'

Leo looks at the crone.

‘He won't hurt us, Avalyn. Archie will obey our laws whilst he is here. I vouch for him.'

He shouldn't. Little shit ran off and abandoned me. I should tear his throat out and spit down his neck.

‘Ashe,' Leo tries. ‘Please trust us. Here is the safest place for you. Let them go.'

‘I will. If they promise not to hurt a hair on Archie's head,' she replies.

‘Why would you ever protect a witch killer?' hisses the pregnant one.

‘Because I need him. Because I love him. And because if you hurt him, I will destroy every single one of you.'

I look at her, my mouth open and my heart sputtering in my chest.

Did she just say…

‘We vow no harm will come to either of you as long as you cause no harm to us,' she agrees.

The vines around the witches retreat, and they stand tall as they face us.

‘Welcome to Nua Valley,' the crone says dryly, gesturing to the sunken town. She looks both Pix and me up and down and takes in the sight of her destroyed wedding dress and me still completely naked. ‘Follow us. We will find you some clothes and food.'

Pix looks back at me and holds out her hand.

I take it and smile at her.

‘What?' she asks. ‘Why are you grinning at me like that?'

‘You love me?'

She sighs and rolls her eyes but smiles softly as she does. ‘Yes, Archie. I love you. Now let's find you some trousers before the goblins start poking your dick again.'