Page 29 of Cursed Magic

Her words hung in the air, and when the scent of a lie didn’t hit, I realized she truly meant what she said. I could feel the weight of her statement, the unspoken questions it raised. Still, it didn’t change the fact that theyhadheld her captive and chained to a fucking bed.

Ryker growled low in his chest, a sound that vibrated through the room. “Don’t,” he warned, his voice sharp. “Don’t even think about trusting him, Ember.”

His using my actual name had a lump forming in my throat, but my blood heated with anger. All my attention landed back on him. “I’m not trusting him,Ryker,” I said, my voice firm. “I have no doubt hiskindness”—I placed air quotes around the word—“was an attempt to gain her trust so she might tell him something that would help them locate me. But I still need to know why he’s doing this. Why he’s asking to speak to me alone, especially after we were attacked on his land.”

Briar fidgeted, her movements hesitant. “Maybe…maybe he wants to talk about the attacks and explain what happened. Or about the Blackwood pack. Or maybe he wants to apologize.”

I frowned, my mind racing. The Blackwood pack had never been a thorn in our sides before, despite their ambition and cunning ways. Our pack had never viewed them as a threat, but we’d clearly underestimated them and the fact that they were a dangerous enemy. To make matters worse, we’d viewed Bruce Shae as a pack friend. Both packs coming together to take us down didn’t make sense though. We just wanted to be left the hell alone, but the death of theshifter royals had changed things for everyone. Maybe this was another change.

Ryker stepped closer to me, dominating the space. “I agree we need to know what he wants, but I don’t want you in there with only Raven.”

I stood my ground, my heart pounding against my ribs. “I have to. This is about more than just me. It’s about the pack, about Briar, about all of us.”

Briar’s shoulders sagged. “I trust Raven, but it would be nice for Ryker to be with you. I don’t want anything to happen to you,” she whispered.

I felt a pang in my chest, my resolve wavering. But I couldn’t back down. Not now, not when so much was at stake.

Raven’s words echoed in my mind.This is the way of war.She was right. This was a game of power and strategy, and I had to play my part. We couldn’t miss out on whatever Bruce had to say, and having Ryker there could freeze him up.

“I’m sorry.” I bit my bottom lip. “I have to do this. But I promise you, I won’t go in there unprepared, and if anything goes sideways, I can alert Briar through our pack link. Besides, you already look exhausted, so it’s better if you stay in bed and get more rest.”

A muscle worked in Ryker’s jaw, and he scanned me. “Fine.” His face tightened. “But I’m not staying in bed. I’ll be right outside the door with Briar, so if anything goes wrong…”

Butterflies somersaulted in my stomach, and my chest expanded to the point that it hurt. A small smile tugged at my lips. “I know, and thank you.”

The room fell silent, the tension thick and heavy. Icould feel the weight of the coming meeting pressing down on me, the unknown looming like a shadow on the horizon.

I took a deep breath, my wolf stirring anxiously inside me. I could feel her fear, her uncertainty, but also her determination. We were in this together, and we would face whatever came next as one.

Standing in awkward silence wouldn’t accomplish anything, especially with the way my skin had started crawling with dread and anticipation while Briar and Ryker studied me with worried expressions.

I’d had enough. “I’m going to change and get ready.” I hurried out of the room, eager to process things without being scrutinized. I walked toward the bathroom, hoping that whatever Raven had left for me would make me look strong. I needed to present myself as a force to be reckoned with. I couldn’t let Bruce Shae see any weakness, especially since we were in a house full of vampires.

As I stepped into the bathroom, the cool marble beneath my feet made me shudder. The outfit Raven had laid out for me was a stark contrast to my disheveled appearance—black leather pants, a form-fitting top, and a jacket that screamed power.

Thank Fate that Raven had understood the assignment. I shouldn’t have doubted her; she’d proven time and time again that she was wise and knowledgeable.

I dressed quickly, visualizing each piece of clothing as another facet of armor that protected the vulnerability I felt inside. Once dressed, I worked my hair into a tight braid, the copper strands gleaming in the faint light. The mirror reflected a determined face, but my eyes betrayed the turmoil within. I placed my hands on the sink counter, trying to get my feet back underneath me. I had to give theillusion I was in control and confident in every way—eyes, posture, and even how I walked and spoke.

When my heart finally calmed to a normal rhythm, I knew it was time to go. Raven wanted me to be in the room with her before Bruce arrived, showing a message of unity and that he was clearly the visitor.

When I exited, Ryker was leaning against the wall in jeans and a black shirt. I could see the outline of the bandage around his rib cage, but him being dressed made his intentions clear.

He would make sure Bruce saw him.

His eyes narrowed as he took in my appearance. “You look the part, but that doesn’t mean you have to do this alone. We can still do this together.”

Together. I really liked the sound of that, but I couldn’t jeopardize this chance to get information. I cleared my throat. “If he wanted to meet with you alone, would you turn down his request?”

He opened his mouth to answer, but Raven cleared her throat as a gust of wind hit us and her scent surrounded the two of us. She said, “He’s pulling into the driveway. We should get set up.”

Set up? I wished there were something we could do to set ourselves up, but we were at the mercy of whatever Bruce wanted to dangle in front of us. Luckily, the only leverage he’d had over me—Briar—was back in my possession.

“Okay.” I moved to follow her.

Ryker grabbed my arm, turning me back toward him. His eyes glowed, his wolf coming forward, making me swallow hard. “I’m getting your sister, and we’ll be right outside the door. I don’t care if he looks cross-eyed, farts weird, orsneezes funny. If something seems off, I need to know you’ll let your sister know. If something were to happen to you…” He trailed off, his expression twisting into agony.

My heart thundered as if it were trying to break free from my rib cage. The space between us hummed with electricity, and I wanted to take him into my arms and tell him everything would be okay. But I couldn’t for many reasons, so I did the only thing I could do. “I promise.”

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