Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)

by Keri Lake

Emotions I was forced to keep hidden for fear of looking possessed by evil, as girls were often perceived when they felt too much.

“If you didn’t go through so much trouble on my behalf, I’d almost think you loathed women altogether.” “I loathe the torment your kind puts me through.”

“I find it interesting that any time a girl is unusual, or dare I say, unique, she’s deemed evil, or cursed.” From

“You have a nice back.” The words tumbled haphazardly from my lips, and I slapped my hand to my mouth far too late to contain them. I turned away, covering my eyes and the humiliating blush that crawled over my face. “Bath. I meant you have a nice bath.” Before he wordlessly strode from the room, closing the door behind him, I caught a distinct dimple in his cheek.

He glanced over his shoulder, and I jerked my head up so fast, I nearly toppled backward. “Perhaps you should walk alongside me, unless you insist on staring at my ass the whole way.” A scorching heat warmed my cheeks, cooled only by the icy anger of having been humiliated. “Perhaps you shouldn’t walk like you’ve got two snapping turtles attached to your ass.”

“Don’t you feel just a small bit of guilt locking me in?” “No.” The obnoxious turn of the key emphasized his point. “Your heart must be the smallest organ you possess.” “And your mouth must be the largest.” Oooh, what I wouldn’t have given to smack him across the face!

“Zevander,” she said, and the sound of his name rolling off her tongue sent a chill down his spine. He turned his head to the side, refusing to let her see the yearning that was damned near beaming in his eyes. How ridiculous he must’ve looked, a man of his strict training and discipline, pining after her like a fucking prepubescent schoolboy. “Goodnight.” “Goodnight, Lunamiszka.” “Do I still annoy you?” she asked. “Endlessly.”

“So, what is it?” I toyed with one of the laces on my corset. “You read all evening. Surely, you enjoy other pastimes.” “I do. Tracking and hunting.” “Those you’re ordered to kill.” “Sometimes, yes.” “Do you enjoy killing?” “Sometimes, yes.” “Do you ever think you’d kill me?” “Sometimes, yes.” I elbowed him in the arm and let loose a chuckle, turning in time to catch the elusive smile on his face. How handsome, with his bright white teeth and the dimple in his unscarred cheek. When the humor died out, he lowered his gaze. “I think the world would be far duller, though.” I was the one who turned away from him that time, hiding my smile. “It seems you can be charming, after all, Lord Rydainn.” “I suppose I have my moments. Between bouts of rationality.”

“Everything is poison with the proper dose. Even you.” I bit my lip to stifle a smile. “I’m not sure if that’s an insult, or compliment,” I said, keeping my gaze from his, despite knowing the answer to that was probably written in his expression right then. “You’re implying too much of me is deadly?” He shrugged. “Depends on one’s tolerance for poison.” Linking my fingers behind my back I nodded. “Hmmm. It seems most would choose to avoid the risk all together. How unfortunate for me.” “I wouldn’t call it misfortune, but rather, a means of weeding out weaker prospects. There are those who fear flirting with death, while some of us find it utterly enthralling.”

“The whims of fate are an irksome intrusion, and yet …” He canted toward me, as if to kiss me, his lips mere inches from mine. “Who could’ve predicted that one touch of your pounding pulse would be so disarming.” Warm breath scattered across my skin, and my heart stuttered with anticipation as he thumbed the curve of my neck. “What wicked spells you weave, little witch.”

“I’ll be sure to pass along a goodbye kiss to her for you.” “Only if you intend to spend eternity in the Shadow Realm,” Zevander said over his shoulder, gnashing his molars at the thought of Ravezio’s lips pressed to hers. He shot one more glance toward her, noting she hadn’t moved from that window, as she watched him ride off.

“So jealous, you tried to assassinate me that night you came to my room while I slept.” He exhaled a forced breath. “I did.” “And why didn’t you carry through with it?” “Am I to believe you’re disappointed that I didn’t kill you?” “I’m simply curious as to why.” “You want the truth?” “Always, yes.” “Your snoring.” “What?” Heat flared in my cheeks. “I don’t …. I don’t snore.” “You do. Was awful that night. Scared me shitless.” I pressed my lips together, half burying my face into the pillow to hide a giggle at the visual of that. “You’re laughing. I can feel the bed shaking.” His comment made me laugh more, and the more I tried to hide it, the more my body shook with the effort. “I do … not snore.” My tone refused to be serious, no matter how much I fought to reel in the laughter. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see fire coming out of your nostrils.”

“Do you enjoy making me uncomfortable?” “If I’m being honest, yes. Blush looks good on you.”

“I’ll never know what in seven hells inspired the universe to send you to me, Maevyth.” “Some might call it a punishment,” I said, smiling. “If this is punishment, then I welcome an eternity of suffering.” The kiss that followed was gentle and teasing in the way he merely brushed his lips across mine. “You consume me entirely, little moon witch.”

“You are mine, moon witch. For all eternity and whatever lies beyond it. No soul has ever been more intricately woven into mine than yours.” My heart lurched with his words, the cynical creature inside of me loosening its grip. I ran my fingertips over his cheek and the wretched black scar there. “And you are mine,” I whispered.