Page 75 of Cursed

And I already know that the true power behind the mortal realm works in the shadows. He would only need to infiltrate and take over from there.

Holy conspiracy theory.

We werealltotally fucked.

And I just walked into his trap. If I can’t break out of here, I’m damning all the realms to his whims—and his whims are cruel. He already showed me how depraved he can be.

I have only one option—I have to escape. He can’t be allowed to have my power.

I can’t comprehend why the Goddess chose me to carry this burden. But I won’t let her down.

So I prayed for her to give me strength and maybe even some luck.

If she is the master of fate, she could spare some luck for me, right?

23

THE TROOPS

ARDEN

I’ve never been as disconnected from nature and the earth as I am right now.

I can’t feel a thing… except rage.

I feelthat.

I didn’t even feel this shut down when I lost my parents as a child. Perhaps that was because I had my grandmother and aunt. Or maybe it’s because I’m the reason my love has disappeared.

Ifailed her.

Even being bonded, the wards around the asylum are keeping me from sensing how she is. I only know that she’s alive, but not what condition she’s in or for how long.

I’m stuck with two coven mates I’d rather not be with. It doesn’t help that I blame them for failing her as well.

Flat on the ground, I’m sprawled out at the spot where Shayla and I bonded. The energy still lingers from our mating. I can almost see the sparkles of her magic.

But then I realize it isn’t her magic, but faeries fluttering nearby.

“What?” I snap.

“We want to help.” Tavi moves to the edge of my sacred druid circle but doesn’t cross the threshold. “You need to get into the evil place, yes?”

“The asylum? Yeah. In and out, with Shayla and her other two mates.” My voice softens a bit, wondering what they could offer. “But it’s impenetrable. Wards all over that building.”

“We have an idea.” Tavi looks over her shoulder at the cottage. “We’ll need the dragon.”

I grumble at the thought. I don’t like relying on Rourke, but if it means getting Shay, Landis, and Hollis back?

I’ll do it. I’ll do anything—even sacrifice myself.

Storming into the cottage, I find Branden and Rourke in post-coital bliss, arms and legs tangled together. I curl my lip in anger. Not anger over them being intimate, but that they’re doing so now with Shayla in danger.

Branden sees my expression first. “I was feeding my magic. And it’s an inevitable outcome of my bite. Believe me, I need her back as much as you do.”

His reason makes sense, but my body aches to have my dyad back in my arms, tangled up as they are.

I growl, “Get up, lizard. The faeries want to talk.”

---