Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae #1)(67)

“You’re supposed to be some sort of brutal magical warrior,” Devon said without thinking, eyeing the contents of the cart.

She scoffed. “Fat chance.” She chewed on that plump lip again, drawing his gaze. “This is going to cost a lot of money, Devon.”

He gently moved her out of the way and pushed the cart forward. “Then you had better cook some good stuff.”

As the items were slid across the scanner, Charity got increasingly agitated. “We shouldn’t have gotten so much.”

“It’s not like this is an extravagant purchase. It’s food, Chastity. It won’t go to waste.”

Her eyes got larger and larger to match the total. He pushed the cart through the lane and took up his position at the credit card machine, watching the bagger organize and bag the items. The total was at $156.78 and climbing rapidly.

Charity lightly grabbed his upper arm. Electricity sliced through his body, sucking his attention to her. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. The total was now at $231.23 and increasing with each slide of the checker’s hands.

“What did we do…” she said, nearly whimpering.

“Chastity, it’s food. I had nothing in the house. This is how much things cost. But don’t worry, I haven’t put in my club card yet. Savings are just around the corner—I saw you slipping in deals when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

“I’ll help. I’ll help pay for it. When I have money from payday, I’ll help!”

He pulled her shoulders so she was facing him instead of the mounting total. He placed his palm on her soft cheek, feeling the electricity surge between them. She sucked in a surprised breath, probably from his proximity, or from his touch. Maybe both.

“It’s fine,” he said softly, ruffling her long lashes with his breath. “This is going to save me money in the long run, I promise. I have the money to buy food; I’ve just never had the motivation. You’re my motivation. Relax.”

Her shoulders dropped, just a bit. The knot between her eyebrows smoothed. Her eyes held his, and the intense look in them unexpectedly stiffened his cock for the second time.

He froze. She took a step back, making him drop his hands. Confusion stole through her gaze, something he was sure mirrored his own.

“You’re a good alpha,” she whispered. “You lead with conviction and confidence. You inspire trust.”

“Well, if I can lead someone in the grocery store, I guess I have it made,” he said to lighten the mood.

Her grin didn’t reach her troubled eyes. She just nodded and moved behind him—without touching—to the bags being placed in the cart.

He turned to the credit card machine, needing to catch his breath. What in the hell was going on with him? Was this her magic somehow?

He tried to push it from his mind as he paid and followed her out of the store. Only a few cars loitered in the large parking lot, a couple up front, probably belonging to patrons, and a couple dotting the far spaces, waiting for employees, no doubt. It belatedly occurred to him that the store had been awfully quiet. It was strange for the early evening hours. Or maybe this supermarket wasn’t heavily trafficked; he didn’t know.

The early evening embraced them, cool but dry. Lights dotted the open space, showering fuzzy circles on the concrete, barely brighter than the sky

“Sorry about that, in there,” Devon said as he clicked his fob to unlock the SUV. He waited for the rear hatch to lift. “I was trying to get your mind off the total. I didn’t mean to invade your space.”

A bag crinkled as Charity took it from the cart. “It worked. For a moment, anyway. I wasn’t kidding; you’re a good alpha. You have this way about you…” She shrugged. “You inspire trust, like I said in there. You inspire loyalty. I think you’re going to go really far. As soon as you get rid of me, anyway.”

He laughed as he moved the bags into the car. “My goodness. All these compliments? I scarcely know who I’m talking to.”

She joined him in laughter, helping him unload. “Don’t get used to it. As soon as I get a good night’s sleep, I’ll be as surly as ever. I’ll get you fighting yet.”

He nearly joked about her never getting a good night’s sleep, but the memory of her curled up against his body cut the words from his mouth.

He organized the bags in the back of the SUV so nothing would fall over. As he was finishing up, he felt her hand on his arm.

“Devon…”

The smell hit him like a Mack truck. He’d been so distracted by Charity that he hadn’t paid attention to their surroundings. It was still early evening, so he’d thought it too early for the vampires to be out. Clearly he’d failed on two counts.

He whirled, keys in hand. Three vamps stood twenty feet away, and he recognized one of them immediately.

Vlad. The most ruthless and cunning elder that haunted the Brink.

He’d come to collect his prize, Charity, and Devon had no backup.





Chapter Twenty-Nine





“I am going to pass you my keys,” Devon whispered, his face inches from Charity’s. She must’ve been correct in her assumption that vampires had excellent hearing.

And then it was confirmed when her new BFF said, “Running is foolish, little puppy. She is the one I want, not you. Running might get her accidentally harmed, and neither of us wants that, do we?”