The COMPLETE Witching Pen Series, Boxed Set by Dianna Hardy Page A

know it puts a huge burden on you, what with you becoming a super powerful witch and all, but—”  
    “You know I don't care about that; I'll deal with it – we'll deal with it together.”  
    She looked at him, guiltily, and they both fell into a silence that was almost uncomfortable.
    “I have this horrible feeling I've ruined things...”  
    “No, never – I'm just … I've wanted you to say those words to me for most of my life.”  
    “That I want to make love with you?”  
    “That you love me. A part of me can't believe you're really here – that we're really here, like this.”  
    “Well, I do love you … more than anything.”  
    “I want you to be sure – I'm not going anywhere, Elena, maybe we should wait a week—”  
    “No, now,” she whispered. “Tonight. I want to be with you tonight. I've spend too many years scared of this. I've never let myself feel anything close to love; I've never even used my magic to its full potential. I've been so terrified of my lineage, of what it would mean to … everyone, if I did something careless and my powers got lost...” Tears sprang up in her eyes. “I've never lived. Karl, I want to live with you. And I want to start now.”  
    Another silence. She felt her tears trickle down her face, and smiled when she saw Karl's own eyes were shimmering. “God, we're soppy, aren't we?”
    He smiled. “It'll be our little secret.”
    Hesitantly, she leaned in and kissed him. Aware that he hadn't actually said yes to her little proposal, she pulled back, uncertainty ruling her heart. She didn't get very far.
    He held her fast against him and crushed his lips to hers. She heard him fumble for the remote and Buffy's voice disappeared as the telly went off. With her mind, she dimmed the lights.
    Karl grinned against her. “I thought you weren't supposed to use magic frivolously?”
    “I'm starting to think that a lot of things I've been told aren't true. Now are you going to take me upstairs or shall I teleport us?”  
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Amy stirred on the edge of consciousness. She felt groggy. Her head felt like she'd drunk half a bottle of Jack Daniels.
    With a groan, she gripped the edge of her duvet and pulled it higher, snuggling down into its warmth. Wait … what...?  
    A pair of yellow eyes flashed into her mind; a cut on a wrist; blood the colour of ripe cherries...
    With a start she sat up, and wished she hadn't. Her room swam around her as her head pounded.
    Oh, shit, I'm going to hurl...
    The room steadied. She dropped her head between her knees, taking deep breaths, forcing herself past the throbbing in her skull to try and remember what the hell had happened.
    “Amy.”  
    She screamed, momentarily forgetting her pain. There were those eyes, beautiful and dangerous all at once, lurching at her from the shadows of her room.
    “Pueblo?” she croaked out. If she could just stop her head from stabbing her, and quieten the pounding of her heart, maybe she'd get some kind of clue as to what was going on. “I'm home … why am I home?”  
    “I brought you back.”  
    “I don't remember...”  
    “No, I'm sorry. The meeting with my tribe was not successful. They asked me to make sure your memory was wiped so you would not try to find them again.”  
    “What? You … erased my memory?”  
    “I had no choice.”  
    Anger replaced the grogginess she was feeling. “There's always a choice.”
    “Well, my choice was, wipe your memory, or get us both lynched by my own kind. I chose the first option.”  
    “Why are you here?” she asked, suddenly more irritated than anything else. “And how am I back home?”  
    “I teleported us.”  
    It was then that she realised, to her horror, she was stark naked and flashing all her assets to the demon.
    With a squeal, she grabbed the duvet and pulled it flush against her body. “ Why am I naked?!”  
    He raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Do you know how hard it is to teleport