Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten by C.C. Wood Read Free Book Online Page A

wolves.”
    However, it was Conner that answered my question. “You know we have information that suggests the Faction already has a warlock among their ranks and they are in search of stronger witches. You and Belinda are the strongest in the northern hemisphere.”
    “Why would they want us? They can’t compel us.”
    Lex’s face was harsh when he chimed in. “No, but they can torture you into submission.”
    I felt a stab of fear near my heart. “Belinda and I are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves,” I argued. I turned to the High Priestess. “Right?” Her face told me all I needed to know. “Seriously? You want to stay with Conner or Lex until they find a place to hide us? If the Faction has a warlock, what’s the use of hiding? They’ll find us eventually.”
    Belinda sighed. “Kerry, we have strength in numbers. What intelligence we have of the Faction suggests they are still a relatively small group. They won’t risk coming for us if they think the collateral damage would be too high. The vampires have their own security details and the pack lives together just outside the city. It will be safer for both of us. You and I both know that the knowledge we hold would be coveted by the Faction. Only the High Priestess and her successor have access to certain information.” She left out the fact that we were also two of the most powerful witches in North America and that alone made us valuable.
    I bit my lip against further argument, tasting blood when my teeth sank too deeply into the flesh behind my bottom lip. Fucking hell, she was right.
    Confident my arguments were done for now, Conner spoke up. “Lachlan has offered Belinda the pack’s protection.”
    I nodded. “Okay, so am I staying with you and Donna or Lex and Ivie?”
    “No, you’re staying with me.”
    I looked over at Finn, saw his triumphant expression, and lost my ability to control my tongue. “No fucking way.”

Chapter Six

    I couldn’t stop the self-satisfied smile that spread across my face as I pulled down the long driveway of my mother’s country home. After the meeting ended, Lachlan had taken Belinda to her home so she could pack a few of her things. Finn insisted on following me to my loft in order to “protect” me. More likely, he wanted to make sure I didn’t give him the slip.
    I had anyway.
    I managed to lose him in the crazy traffic that was part of everyday life in Dallas. I didn’t bother to go by my apartment because I knew that was the first place he would check. Instead, I pointed my car east and headed out of the city. On my long drive, I called Saundra Abrams, the assistant manager at my store and asked her if she could reschedule the clerks for the next few days because I would be unavailable. Though war was brewing, I needed to be able to pay my bills. She was worried and curious, but I managed to evade most of her questions and calm her fears somewhat.
    I knew my little house in the country would be the next place Finn would look, but I intended to have a few surprises waiting for him. I was sick and tired of the way he used my attraction to him against me. Somehow, over the last three days, I realized I could no longer deny that I wanted him. He’d managed to sneak past my shields. That was why I was so easily angered by his attitude and melted beneath his touch.
    However, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to make him work for it. I had a feeling that women came easily for Finn, in every sense of the word. Maybe it was selfishness or pride, but I wanted to be different from his past lovers. I wanted him to truly see me.
    My mother once said, “People appreciate the things they have to work for. If it comes too easily, then it can be just as easy to let it go.” I knew, in this instance, that her advice was spot on.
    I climbed out of my car, groaning when I realized that the cooler weather that moved through a few nights ago had been followed by warmer air. The temperature had to be in the