Dark Tide (A Mated by Magic Novel) Read Online Free Page A

coffee.”
    “It’s just refried beans. There’s the perfect amount of starch and protein to help you regain your energy. I had to expend mine to make it for you.” He pursed his lips.
    Had she finally insulted him? Good.
    “My energy is fine.” She took another sip of the bitter brew, then curled her legs underneath her, leaning back on the kitchen chair.
    Josh pulled up another chair and straddled it. “Suit yourself. Could be another day before you can get to a healer. I know I could use one right now.”
    “A healer?”
    He squinted at her as if she’d grown another pair of limbs. “You’re kidding right?”
    “My father mentioned them once or twice, but as far as I know, there aren’t any living near us.”
    “Then what do you do when you’re injured?”
    “We go to a regular doctor, like regular people.”
    “But you’re not regular people. We’re not.” His voice rose as he stood, and she couldn’t understand the anger behind his words. He bellowed, “What do you do at solstice, or when the clans fight?”
    The witch was going ape-shit over nothing.
    “We don’t fight. And why would we need a healer during solstice?”
    He threw his hands up in the air. “I don’t know, maybe in case you drowned your intended mate.”
    She laughed at that, thinking he was joking until she noticed his intensity. “I don’t know how the magic thing works for you fire witch Yanks, but around here, we don’t go around killing our mates.”
    “That’s good to know,” he muttered. “Still, you should have healers. They can tap into the energy and actually seal up bullet wounds. I wouldn’t even be here if not for one.”
    His hand rubbed at his shoulder.
    She wanted to ask about it, but instead put her empty cup down and picked up the plate. Taking a small bite of the seafood-bean mixture, she grimaced and swallowed. It didn’t taste as terrible as it looked, but still, it was pretty bad. She stirred them around, thinking about what he said about mating, and wondering what other differences there were among the clans.
    “What’s it like when a fire witch mates?”
    The scowl, which had barely gone, returned. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been mated.”
    Well, of course not. If he’d been mated, she never would’ve felt the spark between them. Witches, no matter their power element, mated for life.
    “I just wondered–”
    “I said I don’t know,” he bit out. He scrubbed his hands over his face and exhaled a low, uneven breath.
    His guarded expression told her not to push it.
    Placing the plate down, she stood, stretched and went back into the warmth of the bedroom.
    She couldn’t help but notice how his gaze followed and roamed down her legs.
    The attraction was mutual, but she could tell he wanted no part of it.
    Obviously, he needed something more in a mate than she had to offer. Someone like his ex-wife. Her death had been plastered all over the internet. Classy, beautiful, always put together.  Something she would never be.
    No wonder he didn’t want to mate with her. Her hair was a mess, her breasts flat, her face plain. A dag. That’s what she was. Well she damn well wasn’t going to just lay around all day and lust after a bloke that wanted nothing to do with her.
    She grabbed a flashlight from the bedside drawer, and found a raincoat in the closet. Then she snapped her fingers at Willy. He gave her a doggy smile, wagged his tail, and trailed behind her. At least they were good mates.
    “Where are you going?” The fire witch eyed her suspiciously.
    “The storm is calming. I’m going to check on the damages.”
    “I can’t let you go out in this.” Josh followed her down the hall to the back doorway, the only entrance not shuttered.
    She rolled her eyes and opened the door. Sure enough, the rain had already stopped and dark clouds were rolling away. The wind still beat steadily against the house, but the energy in the storm had lessened. Twenty minutes from now, there’d be