Page 28 of Cursed Magic

Considering the way Ryker strode over to her with his hands clenched, he must have felt the same way. With each step he took closer to Raven, the higher Raven lifted her chin.

“Babe, what’s going on here?” Kendric rubbed a hand down his face as he stumbled from his bed. “Why are you acting like this?”

She bared her teeth, revealing that her fangs hadelongated. “This hasnothingto do with the Grimstone pack and everything to do with the Sinclair alpha. I’m not sure how many times I have to say the same thing in varying ways. Normally, when my support role for the queen involves wolves, that means Ryker. But it doesn’t this time, and it’s not my duty to divulge the details to anyone but Queen Ambrosia and Ember.”

Ryker stopped about five feet from her. I could’ve sworn I saw fur sprouting on his arms, which, given the way his alpha power was radiating off him, made sense. I had to do something because him shifting would exacerbate the problem.

“Babe, we’ve been through too much to play games. Ember is on our team and an ally. Why can’t we know who and why?” Kendric asked as he hurried over and placed a hand on Ryker’s shoulder like that would prevent him from lunging.

I had to step in, or things were going to continue to escalate. I licked my parched lips. “If I ask who wants to meet with me, will you answer here?” I chose my words carefully, not wanting to make the situation even worse.

She exhaled slightly, her shoulders relaxing. “If that’s what you wish, I can. However, it’s your choice if you want to ask in front of everyone or behind closed doors.”

“Clearly, she wants you to answer here, or she wouldn’t have asked that fucking question,” Ryker growled, sounding more animal than man.

Raven glowered at him, her nose wrinkling.

Yeah, things were going to get out of hand. Maybe the Ember of three days ago wouldn’t have let Ryker hear what was going on, but the Ember of today didn’t want to hide things from him. “Who wants to meet with me and why,Raven?” I added her name so there was no question that I was speaking directly to her.

Her fangs retracted. “The Shae alpha sent a request to Queen Ambrosia via the returning guards to visit with you here around noon. He requested to speak to only you, in my presence, since he’ll be on vampire soil.”

I threw a leg off the bed and placed my foot on the cold, smooth wooden floor. Bruce Shae was the last person I’d have predicted would want to speak to me, especially since he’d kidnapped my sister.

A snarl erupted from Ryker’s chest. “Like hell she’s speaking to that bastard alone.”

Raven’s elegantly arched eyebrow rose, her expression a perfect mask of diplomacy. “This is the way of war. You should know that, based on your family legacy and your own experience. He’ll be here within an hour, so I wanted to provide you ample warning.”

I glanced down at my thin shirt and pajama pants. This wouldn’t do to meet the man I planned to kill since Reid had failed to do so during their attack. I needed him to feel intimidated. He had a reason for coming here, and I suspected it wasn’t good.

“I’ve placed an outfit for you in the bathroom. When you’re ready, come into the meeting room so we can wait for him together.” Raven turned and vanished, not looking back at Kendric.

Ryker spun toward me, and I inhaled. “Like hell you’re meeting him alone,” he snarled, his body trembling with barely contained rage. The muscles in his neck strained, and a thin sheen of sweat covered his olive skin. His wound had reopened slightly, a thin line of crimson seeping through the bandages.

“Here comes the temper tantrum,” Gage muttered.

Ryker rounded on him and gritted out, “What did you just say?”

Now that his glare was directed elsewhere, I felt like I could breathe again. I’d seen him angry a handful of times, but this was the first time it made me want to avoid his gaze.

Gage lifted his hands in mock surrender while a sardonic smile played across his lips. “Just making an observation to myself about what’s going on. That’s all.”

“So you’re good with Ember handing herself over to that jackass?” Ryker’s face flushed, reminding me of a tomato.

Xander hung his head. “Let’s not argue among ourselves. We have enough enemies without turning on each other.”

“Ember would never be an enemy of ours! To insinuate—” Ryker started.

I cut him off. “None of us are turning on each other.” I needed the drama to end so I could focus on the real target—Bruce Shae. “One of our enemies is coming to meet with me, so we need to stop wasting time and focus on strategy.” My voice rang a little louder than normal, my wolf lacing my voice with power. Though I wasn’t the Grimstones’ alpha, that didn’t mean they weren’t affected by my magic.

Head tilting back, Gage’s brows rose. “Damn. She’s stronger than I remember.”

Xander, Kendric, and Gage all looked at me with creased foreheads.

“She may be strong, but I hate that she’s conceding to that prick’s demand for a meeting.” Ryker’s breathing turned uneven, and he placed his left hand on top of his bandage. “I don’t want you to go in there alone.”

My knees weakened a little. “Raven will be with me. I won’t be alone.”

“I’m not sure if this makes things better, but while I was held captive, they were never cruel to me.” Briar sat in the middle of the mattress, watching the whole exchange go down.

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