Free Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten by C.C. Wood

conversation, neither of us was in the mood to continue talking. Finn reclined on the pillows and watched me as I slipped on underwear, shorts, and a t-shirt. Once I’d washed the remnants of make-up and mud from my face and brushed my teeth, I returned to the bed.
    Surprising Finn and myself, I pressed myself into his side, resting my head on his shoulder and curling my leg around one of his. He hesitated only a moment before bringing both arms around me and holding me closer.
    At first, my body relaxed into his and I felt myself drifting toward sleep, both giving and taking comfort in his closeness. When my eyes began to close, a moment from the fight earlier flashed in my mind. Just after I released my power and it swallowed the vampires surrounding my home, a shard of dark pleasure pierced my soul. I had taken life and enjoyed it.
    Despite vampire lore, they weren’t the undead, merely changed. It was similar to lycanthropy. It could be inherited or shared through blood. However, their change was facilitated by magic rather than a virus. The magic ran in their veins, mingled with their blood.
    Tonight, I had killed a living being, the worst of the crimes a witch could commit. Our purpose was to help, to heal. It was one of the first edicts we were taught as children.
    Shudders began to wrack my body, shaking me down to my bones. Though the fire burned bright and hot, I was ice cold. A fine sheen of sweat broke out on my skin. Dear Goddess, what was happening to me?
    Finn tightened his arms around me. “Just breathe, Kerry. Focus on the sound of my voice.”
    “W-w-what’s happening?” I gasped.
    He was silent for a moment. “If I had to make an educated guess, I’d say that you’re having a panic attack or an adrenaline crash.”
    “But I was perfectly fine before.” I stuttered over every other word in the sentence, making it nearly impossible to understand.
    Another strong tremor twisted my body, tightening my muscles to the point that they ached. My teeth clacked together violently.
    Finn shifted us so that I lay panting, sweating, and shaking beneath him. Unfortunately, it was the least sexy thing I’d ever experienced.
    “Look at me, Kerry,” he said, his eyes boring into mine. “Listen only to me. Stay here in this moment.”
    I blinked rapidly. My vision was becoming hazy and my head spun sickeningly.
    “Kerry!” Finn snapped. “Breathe!” I sucked in a deep, shaky breath, the dizziness receding. As I exhaled, he said, “Good girl. Again.”
    I kept inhaling and exhaling until the shaking in my limbs calmed and my heart rate slowed to its normal pace. When I knew I would be able to speak, I croaked, “For future reference, if you call me good girl again, I’m going to bite the shit out of you.”
    Finn’s eyes lit with humor. “Little witch, did you forget that biting is foreplay for vampires?”
    I sighed, too tired to give him shit as I normally would. “Whatever. You know what I mean.”
    He smiled slightly, smoothing my hair back from my face with his hands. “Yes, I do.” He studied my face for a few seconds. “Do you feel more like yourself?” he asked.
    I nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay now.”
    Finn placed his lips against my forehead in a soft kiss. “Good. Let’s get some rest. We both need it.”
    He rolled to the side, reaching out and turning off the lamp beside the bed. Then he pulled me into his side, the same position we’d been in earlier before my panic attack or adrenaline crash, whatever it was.
    Though I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep after such a traumatic night, I cuddled with Finn, letting his body and his warmth seep into my soul. We lay there silently in the dying light of the fire. Surprisingly, after a long while, my eyes grew heavy and I sank into sleep.
    *     *     *
    The screams woke me.
    I sat straight up in bed, my head twisting, searching for the source of the bone chilling wails. It wasn’t until Finn’s face filled my vision, his