Page 42 of The Powerless Witch

“Tell your sister to get out of my house or I won’t be responsible for what happens next,” Roman warned. I hadn’t heard him sound so serious since I watched him cradle Celeste’s dying form in his arms. And all of this for a little girl who wasmysister’s mate. Was she really that important to him? Or was he just guarding her because she was Celeste’s human? “I won’t say it a second time, wolf. Get her out or you’llbothbe banned from the house indefinitely. I can’t kill you because of Celeste, but I have no qualms about her.”

I bared my teeth, stepping next to Alice. I doubted she missed the fact that Lily was standing so close to Roman, he could break her neck before we could even cross the foyer. And unlike me, she didn’t know what his relationship was with the human.

“She is her mate. She has the right to—” I started, digging my fingers into my sister’s arm as she tried to free herself from my grip.

“No.” Roman bared his fangs. “Not when her ‘mate’ is shaking with fear because of her.” The words made Alice take a step back as if she had just now realized what he was saying. The smell of fear was flowing around the human and from where I stood, I could see the girl’s pale, frightened face.

I wasn’t sure what exactly humans felt when the mate bond activated, but it was probably overwhelming for her too. And considering everything going on…

“Alice, let’s get you some fresh air,” I whispered, tugging her back. She shook her head, giving me such a pleading look that my heart broke. There were actual tears in her eyes and the desperation that leaked from her, the need and longing, made me wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Let her process it. She is safe here, so you can meet later when she’s calm. Do itfor her.”

That seemed to work because Alice’s shoulders dropped in defeat. She sent Lily one last look, then allowed me to guide her to the door. The butler opened it for us before hurrying to Roman’s side.

I turned to face my sister once I had her through the threshold.

“Wait for me in the car. Do not move from there, Alice. He was serious.” She opened her mouth as if to argue, but I shook my head. “I will make sure you speak to her soon, I promise. Just sit in the car and calm down.”

She clenched her jaw, but then spun around and stormed down the steps. I watched her climb into the vehicle and slam the door before turning around. The butler and Lily had disappeared down the corridor, their steps moving further and further away. Roman was still there, watching me.

“What happened to her head?” I looked to where the butler had taken the human, but the faint whisper of movement made me switch my attention back to the vampire. “We were attacked. So were the other packs.”

Roman stopped on his way to me, the red in his eyes darkening. His jaw worked for a few seconds as if he was deliberating what to say, and in the end, he just nodded.

“They attacked the nest too. We were there. Luckily, I got Lily out in time.” I nodded, holding back a sigh of relief. If he hadn’t, Alice would have never met her mate.Her mate. Herfemalemate. Goddess, I had been so blind. I should have figured it out. “I got one of them.”

“Alive?” I gasped in surprise and the look he gave me made me feel like a complete idiot.

“Of course, I got her alive. Dead witches can’t answer questions unless you have a necromancer at hand and the last time I checked,minewas supposed to be with you. Don’t tell me you left her alone with the Fae,” he finished with a full-blown snarl, his eye twitching with barely contained violence.

How the fuck did he know she was with the Fae? And why did he look more angry about me leaving her there than taking her there in the first place?

“The witches couldn’t fix her, they just woke her up. She said something about her magic being locked and that only a High Fae could heal her since the wound was inflicted by a Fae blade,” I explained in an attempt to placate him. In the mood he was now, I doubted he’d let me have a glass of water, let alone a pick at his garden. Even though it was probably nothisgarden. Roman definitely didn’t look like thegardening type. “She made a bargain with Malakai for his help and protection and sent me away since my pack was attacked. I will go back the moment I—”

“Don’t bother.” Roman waved his hand dismissively as he moved past me, suddenly looking relieved. “If she’s with Malakai, she’s safer than she’ll ever be with you.”

I scoffed at his back, following him into the room he had come from. There was a big bowl with crimson water set on the table, with several more red cloths beside it and a shirt draped on the back of one chair, so dirty and torn that it looked worse than the rags.

“Are you sure we are talking about the same guy? He is a drunk and an airhead. He isn’t exactly what you’d call a protector type.”

Roman gave me an unflattering look over his shoulder.

“I see you still cling to your prejudices,” he muttered, picking up the half-full glass from the table and taking a big sip. It took me a moment to realize there was blood inside and another to school my expression into something other than disgust. At least he wasn’t drinking from a person.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“Malakai can wipe the floor with both of us at the same time,” Roman said mildly, staring at the window as if his mind was not entirely there with me. “That is, if he would just get over himself and his morals. But as long as he made a bargain, and she got him to promise to protect her, she should be fine. Better than us, anyway.”

I was just going to ask what he meant again when he turned, his dark eyes boring into mine. It was awkward and unsettling to stare at him half-naked, but since he looked like he wasn’t bothered, I wasn’t planning on saying anything.

“The witches are preparing some kind of spell that is supposed to expel every supernatural being out of the city. That’s why they attacked, to weaken us. So we would stay out of their way until they are ready. Or at least that’s what the witch in my dungeon says.”

I wanted to ask about his dungeon and what happened to the witch, but I decided it wasn’t the best idea right now. If he was right—and the blood told me he worked really hard to obtain that information—we had a real fucking problem.

“We need to find out exactly what they are planning and how to stop that spell,” I said, and he just nodded. “I also need a favor.” He looked at me, the movement almost lazy, but the red did not return to his eyes. “Alice needs herbs. She said she couldheal my people who were hurt during the attack, but she is out of supplies. And I remembered your garden…”

I bit the inside of my lip, willing my heart to settle. I expected him to smirk, to say something about begging or being friends—both equally ridiculous—but he just waved his hand dismissively.

“As long as she stays out of the house, she can have what she needs. I hope she knows how to gather them because if she ruins the crop, Celeste will be pissed when she gets back. And so will Chester—he’s worked for years to get them to grow so well.”