Chapter 2
Abram
Ilasted twenty minutes after Della left my home before I stopped pacing around and used my magic to go to her coven.
I told myself that this was just checking on a witch who was part of my duty.
When I arrived, I was surprised to see that the party was outside.
The coven had decorated the woods with small candles and flowers hanging from every surface.
Gods, it looked beautiful. Even the spell on the house was gone, showing its true beauty. It was a large black mansion, with stained glass windows, a small porch, and a stone chimney. The home was stunning. Laughter made my head turn toward the crowd that was gathered.
There were dozens of men walking around, some talking with each other, some speaking with the witches of the coven. I stepped toward the table of food so I could hear what the men were saying when they pointed at Elowyn and smiled.
My magic swarmed around me so that no one could see me and to hide from Elowyn. I didn’t need her knowing I was here; she’d ask questions, and I didn’t have answers for her.
“She’s hotter than I thought she would be.” The man in the middle laughed.
My body tensed immediately. My fist clenched as they stared at Elowyn like a piece of meat.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind marrying her. I thought she would be ugly,” another agreed.
“I could fuck one woman for the rest of my life if it was her,” the last one joined in, and they all laughed. “Look at that body; it was made to be enjoyed.”
Rage punched through me so hard my vision flashed red. I took a step forward before I realized I’d moved.
“Something has to be wrong with her though, if she has to find a man this way.”
Nothing was wrong with Elowyn.
One of the men turned his head, watching another witch from the coven walk by, and the other two followed his lead. The blonde witch smiled at them, liking the attention.
“Hell, maybe some of these other witches would want to share,” he sighed. “Since it is a marriage of duty, maybe Elowyn wouldn’t mind if I had a consort or three.”
They laughed again before downing a drink.
Fucking pigs.
My attention moved to the red dress out of the corner of my eye.
I paused and looked over Elowyn as she smiled at some man talking her ear off.
It was her smile she did when she was being polite.
Gods, she looked miserable. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, letting me know she didn’t care what he was saying.
“Watch me seal the deal,” one of the pigs in front of me said as he headed toward Elowyn. He was a nobleman, his robes far fancier than anyone else here. I watched her face, trying to see any sort of reaction. Did she like how good-looking he was?
Her eyes tracked the man’s movements, and I hated the way they widened slightly when she saw him. But as soon as he said something to her, her eyes immediately shifted away. He was smiling, but she seemed lost in thought.
I watched her for a moment as the man began talking.
Gods, she looked fucking bored. She shouldn’t have to endure this.
She deserved to be chosen, not negotiated over.
All of a sudden, the man held out his hand, and she took it.
He smiled at his stupid friends when he pulled Elowyn against him for a dance.
His hand touched the bare skin of her back, and it pissed me off.
Heavens above, that dress was made for her. It hugged every perfect curve of her body and left little to the imagination. It made me swallow hard. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the jealousy I was feeling. But when I saw his hand slide farther down, it became too much.
Before I could stop myself, I walked straight toward them. My magic swarmed around me as I appeared so everyone could see me.
“I’d like to cut in.” My voice was firm when they both looked at me.
Elowyn’s eyes widened like I was a ghost standing in front of her. “Abe.”
The man gave me the once-over before looking at Elowyn who was still gaping at me. I stared at her.
“She’s dancing with me.” The man glared as he pulled her into him.
My gaze moved from him and back to her. Her cheeks flushed as if she were embarrassed.
“Elowyn, tell this man that you’d rather have my hands on you.”
She looked at me with confusion before glancing back at him. Her lips tilted into a frown. She wasn’t saying anything, so I stepped in for her.
“Listen, asshole. Get your slimy hands off her and take your two friends over there and get lost.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” he asked as he finally dropped his arms from her.
“I’m the man who will snap your fucking hands off if you touch her again.
” I stepped forward and glared him down.
My magic pulsed around us, purposely smothering the air he was breathing.
He didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her.
“I heard the disgusting things you said about her and the other witches, so leave. Now.”
For a moment, I thought he would fight me, but he backed down when I flashed red eyes at him. He rolled his eyes before leaving.
Elowyn stared at me as I moved forward and grabbed her, pulling her into a dancing position.
My fingers curled against the bare skin of her back, and I immediately regretted it.
She was soft. My hands would never touch something so perfect again.
She gripped me as the man retreated out of the party with his friends in tow.
“Why are you here?” she whispered.
“I wanted to see how your pool of husbands was. Turns out, not so great.”
She stared at me oddly.
“Why do you care?” she snapped. “You barely tolerate me.”
My gaze dropped to hers.
“You don’t deserve to be tied to a bastard for life because he charmed you with his stupid smile. He was disgusting and vile.”
The song ended, but we didn’t move away from one another. A woman appeared next to us; it was the blonde witch the men were watching earlier. I didn’t spare her a glance and kept my eyes on Elowyn.
“May I cut in?” she asked.
Elowyn looked at me. “Sur—”
“I’m only interested in dancing with Elowyn,” I said as politely as I could. The woman’s face fell before she nodded and left.
Elowyn started to move away from me, but I pulled her back against me.
“Dance with me.”
“I’m supposed to be finding a husband, not dancing with a man who hates my coven.” But even though she said it, she didn’t leave. She moved closer to me, her body pressing slightly into mine. We started swaying to the music again.
“Tell me who is on your short list for being your husband.” I glanced at the men here.
None of them were worthy of her.
“Why?”
“Because I’m interested in what type of man will sweep you off your feet.”
She scoffed.
“Only three men have not completely annoyed the hell out of me tonight,” she admitted, and I smiled.
“Is that the only qualification, little weaver? That’s pretty low.” I twirled her. “Point them out. Who are they?”
My insides coiled with jealousy that three men had managed to catch her attention.
I knew I should leave before I got irrationally pissed off, but my feet didn’t move.
My eyes flickered around, taking in all the men watching her.
Yeah, they knew she was a godsdamn prize, and they’d be lucky to marry her.
Her eyes scanned around us. “The man in all black standing by the food table, with dark hair and pretty eyes.”
Well, I didn’t like that description. My head turned toward the table so I could size him up, and I hated that he was good-looking.
“And the one he is talking with, the blond man.”
Hmm. They were good-looking and of noble blood based on their clothing. They would likely be able to care for her material needs.
“Where is the third one?” I glanced around.
Her body tensed for a moment, making my fingers press into her flesh.
“I’m dancing with him,” she said confidently. My head whipped back to her. “But obviously you don’t count, so those two are the only ones that I didn’t recoil from.”
I swallowed hard, not sure if the bitter taste in my mouth was from her dismissing me or from knowing I couldn’t be an option. Elowyn was watching me, and I needed to pull it together.
“Tell me what you liked about them.”
“Well, they are both fine-looking, I suppose. We would have good genetics for children because they both have magic.”
My pulse roared in my ears at the casualness of her words. Children. She’d sleep with this man for the rest of her life. I hadn’t thought about that part of her getting married, or maybe I purposely pushed it to the back of my mind.
My face burned hot.
“They both have titles, so they will be busy a lot and leave me alone.”
I chuckled softly.
“That’s what you’re looking for—to be left alone?”
“I like silence and peace. I don’t want someone who hovers around me. And both of them know the coven is mine, and they will have no power with the title of king of the Deathweaver Coven.”
“So which one will you go for?” I asked, just so I knew who to scare off.
“The one with dark hair is more the type I pictured myself with. I’m more attracted to him, but the blond was more polite. He has kind eyes.”
Her type. I immediately looked at the guy and sized him up, trying to see if there were any similarities between us. We were both tall, both had dark hair, bronze skin… gods, we looked similar. I was pushing boundaries I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“He looks like he could be a brother of mine,” I said casually.
Elowyn’s cheeks heated as she rolled her eyes.
“You’re a god. You know you are good-looking.”
I knew women found me conventionally attractive, but I hadn’t cared about a single one of them.
But knowing she thought I was good-looking felt different.
I didn’t understand why others always tripped over themselves when they saw my face, but now I desperately wanted her to be one of them. I wanted her attention and compliments.
I wanted her to say I had kind eyes.
“What?” she asked. “Don’t let that go to your head.”