Free Warlock's Charm by Marly Mathews Page A

his father. You said your
grandfather lived ’til you were a teenager.”
    “No, he didn’t kill him though Dexter walked away with more
scars than I had and we never saw him again. My mother was so shaken she would
not let me out of her sight for a week. My father packed us up and we left with
no delay. The only thing I recall is my grandmother standing at the end of the
lane sobbing her eyes out. I don’t think she was as evil hearted as my
grandfather. I just can’t understand why she never accepted my father’s
invitation to come with us.”
    “As hard as it to imagine, maybe she actually loved the
monster. I don’t know how else to explain it, unless he had her indebted to him
in some way. Anyway, let’s think of happier times and of the people who never
let us down.”
    Pain shot through her heart. She had to stop thinking about
how Damien had let her down. If only he’d been open with her from the start—she
could have found a way to get over his family relations had he been honest with
her. Even now, she knew she couldn’t give him up so she had to find a way to
get past what he’d done to her. If she didn’t, it would curse their love—and
she couldn’t give them that dire of a fate.
    “Needless to say, the only side of the family we bothered
with after that day was my mother’s. She hired me two warlock bodyguards and
they never left my side until I was old enough to defend myself. After that day
she was more determined than ever to ruin the Ashers and all that they stood
for.”
    He kissed the top of her head and groaned when his stomach
rumbled. “Looks as if that heavy lunch you served me earlier has wasted away. I’ll
go downstairs and make us some poached eggs or something. I’m not as talented
as the cook but I’ll try to whip up something palatable.”
    His idea of palatable probably consisted of burnt toast or
something equally gruesome. She didn’t think he could manage a poached egg but
hey, he could surprise her. She giggled.
    “I’ll wait here for you and maybe take a nap while you’re
gone. I haven’t gotten much sleep in the last few months.”
    “I wonder why.” He gave her a lopsided grin and slipped out
of bed. Walking naked across the floor, he opened the wardrobe and reached in
for his dressing gown and slippers. “Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be back shortly. I
haven’t finished ravishing you yet.”
    She stuck her tongue out at him, climbed under the covers
and drifted off to sleep.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Anya woke with a start. The sound of the bedroom door
creaking open put her on alert. She raised her hand in the air and activated
her magic. She threw an energy ball and hit Damien straight in the chest. The
tray he carried clattered to the floor and teapot, cups and plates smashed into
a million pieces.
    Grogginess faded as she realized her mistake. She jumped out
of bed and rushed over to him.
    “Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” she cried, kneeling down.
    Damien looked struck dumb. He sat propped up against the
open door. His eyes were wide open and unblinking.
    “Say something, say anything, Damien!” She cupped his face
between her hands.
    “It’s a damn good thing I love you, Anya.” He finally
blinked and the sheer confounded look on his face made her giggle. He locked
gazes with her, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I shouldn’t get
after you for it—after all I am the one to blame for it.”
    “Goodness, look at you, you’re covered in egg.”
    “It gives a whole new meaning to having egg on one’s face,
doesn’t it?” he asked ruefully, looking down at the mess he was covered in.
    “I think you need a shower, and I’ll slip downstairs and
make something for us that would probably taste a whole lot better than what
you made up.” She stared in distaste at the charred toast and the overcooked eggs.
    She loved him for trying but it was obvious that he’d never
spent a day of his life in the kitchen. His was a privileged