Page 18 of Cursed Magic

The sudden shift in his demeanor caught me off guard. One moment, he was demanding I leave; the next, he seemed worried. My head spun, unable to keep up with the rapid changes.

I paused, trying to find the right words so I wouldn’t smell like another big fat lie. After breathing the scent of blood for as long as I had, I wasn’t convinced I could stomach the stench of rotten eggs. “I’ll be fine. Just some battle wounds that aren’t nearly as bad as yours.” I nodded to his ribs and gritted my teeth so I didn’t wince in discomfort. The injuries were scabbing over, getting tighter and more uncomfortable.

Ryker’s eyes narrowed as if he could see through my facade. Without warning, he walked around me, his chest brushing mine. A spark jolted between us, but he moved behind me before the moan I swallowed could escape.

His fingers gently brushed my hair aside, exposing the wounds on my back. The light touch sent sparks racing across my skin, a contrast to the dull ache of my injuries. AsRyker’s breath ghosted across the nape of my neck, a shiver rolled through me.

Kendric stood with his back against the wall, his clothes wrinkled and frumpy. Xander slumped across from him with his head hanging low while Gage stood centered behind them with his arms crossed.

“When did this happen?” Ryker’s heartbeat remained steady despite the dark tone.

The warmth of his body was intoxicating. Heat emanated from him, seeping into my own skin. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, yearning to lean back into his solid frame. However, I refused to doanythinglike that since he’d made it clear he didn’t want me here.

“During a tea party,” I quipped, trying to defuse the situation.

He gritted his teeth, the faint sound of grinding enamel making it evident he didn’t find me amusing. “Not funny, lil rebel. I need an answer, or I may lose my mind.”

I stepped toward the other three to gain a little distance from Ryker and clear my head then used the wall to steady myself.

“I was slashed by one of the attackers when I was trying to protect Gage.” I wanted to focus on why Ryker was desperate for me to leave.

He blinked and then scowled. His brows furrowed into harsh lines across his forehead. His eyes darkened, and he hung his head. “I can’t believe I forgot that happened.”

I lifted my hand to touch his arm, but my shoulders and back screamed in protest, and my mind yelledno.He’d made it clear he wanted me gone.

Instead, I forced a small smile. “You were severely injured and losing blood like crazy. I don’t even know howyou held up that long, so I’m not surprised that the end of the fight is fuzzy for you.”

He ran a hand through his already disheveled dark hair, his slightly trembling fingers betraying his exhaustion and the toll his injuries had taken. “That’s still no fucking excuse. Did you get hurt anywhere else that I should remember? Or after I passed out?”

His gaze raked over me. The intensity of his stare made it hard to breathe, and I reacted as if he could see right through me. I fidgeted under his scrutiny, hyperaware of every ache and pain in my body.

“Other than my hand, there’s nothing too extreme.” I raised my right hand to show him the claw marks on my wrist. “Just some scrapes and bruises. Nothing that won’t heal.”

Ryker frowned, and he looked to his three packmates. The intensity in his gaze made me glad I wasn’t on the receiving end of it.

“How much trouble did she cause?” He arched a brow.

The three men exchanged uneasy glances, but Kendric cleared his throat and met Ryker’s eyes. “She fought well and didn’t cause any panic.”

Xander nodded, his stoic expression softening slightly. “She was instrumental in our escape this time. Without her, we might not have made it out.”

Ryker tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

The tension in the hallway thickened as Kendric opened his mouth to respond.

Before he could get a word out, Gage lifted both hands. “We should discuss this later.” He shot a warning glance at the others. “You need to rest, Ryker. We can fill you in on all the details once you’ve recovered more.”

Ryker tilted his head back and clenched his jaw as helooked between his packmates. “No, I want to know now. What aren’t you telling me?”

The air crackled with unbroken tension. Xander straightened from his spot on the wall while Kendric kept his expression carefully neutral.

Gage stood his ground, dropping his hands and facing his alpha head-on despite not being well. “All right, if you insist on knowing now…” He tilted his head to the side as if steeling himself. “After you were stabbed and lost consciousness, we were still surrounded. Ember… She ordered us to leave her behind so we could get you, Gage, and Briar to safety.”

Ryker’s eyes glowed and widened as his wolf inched forward.

I fought the urge to back away from him. I didn’t want him to think I was intimidated. I wasn’t—I just didn’t like seeing that anger directed at all of us.

A low growl rumbled in his chest. “She didwhat?” His hands clenched at his sides.

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