Page 30 of Cursed Magic

He exhaled, but he retained his grip on my arm.

“Ryker, don’t force things to become tense between us.” Raven took a few steps closer. “We need to get into the room before he does so he has no time to settle in.”

With a grimace, Ryker let my arm go, and I immediately missed his touch. But before I could do anything, Raven looped her arm through mine and tugged me in the direction of the conference room, the same place where we’d met the first night we’d arrived here.

We entered the house’s gigantic foyer with its staircase that twisted to the second floor and a massive window showcasing the mountains behind the mansion. A table to the left was decorated with four lamps and a towering Gothic black cross in the middle.

Raven led me through an archway into a massive office with interior walls made of stone. There was a huge television in the center of the wall directly across from the entrance, where Queen Ambrosia had joined us via teleconference that first night, and a colossal dark cherrywood table sitting in the center in front of it. This time the table was vacant, and the room smelled of old roses, not the copper tang of blood.

Not missing a beat, Raven seated us with our backs to the TV. When Bruce entered, he’d see us immediately.

“Do you have any idea what this is about?” This was the first time I’d gotten to ask her this question alone.

“None.” Raven’s crimson lips pursed. “But we’ll figure it out together.”

Somehow that didn’t sound as nice coming from her as it had from Ryker, but I believed the sentiment.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and soon the door opened, Bruce’s tall figure filling the frame.

As soon as his sharp green eyes met mine, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. All of a sudden, I realized that I’d done something horribly wrong.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Seeing Bruce without Ryker beside me felt unbearably wrong. However, I understood why a shifter wouldn’t be comfortable with Ryker present, given the stories that had circulated about him and his pack. That was the only reason I’d stood my ground about him not being here, but maybe I’d made a mistake.

Still, I had made the decision, and I needed to see it through. I could change my mind at any time and link with Briar.

Bruce stepped into the room, and when the lights hit his face, I could see the pronounced dark circles under his eyes. They were evidence that he’d had a long night after the attack. His shirt was wrinkled, and his jeans were smudged like he’d been working in the dirt. He shook his head, and bits of soil fell from his salt-and-pepper hair.

“Ember,” he sighed as he shut the door. “I’m relieved you agreed to meet with me, especially without the Grimstones.”

“To be honest, I’m not sure it was the right call toexclude Ryker, especially after you held my sistercaptive.” My voice trembled with rage, but I took a deep breath, trying to keep my demeanor calm. Losing it wouldn’t accomplish anything. I needed to pay attention to every detail, to notice whether he began playing with his words to prevent me from knowing he was lying.

He hung his head. “Despite what you think, I was holding your sister for her and our safety. These times have made trust hard, so I understand your position.” His gaze briefly shifted to Raven, who sat calmly beside me, a silent, steady presence. “And when the vampires came to protect us because of you, I realized you leaned toward trusting the vampire queen’s right-hand woman, perhaps because you’ve had to be cautious. Shifters did kill your pack, after all.”

I clenched my fists beneath the table. “I find it hard to believe that you held my sister against her will for her and your safety, especially since she knew I was alive.”

Bruce settled in the spot directly across from me. He folded his hands on the table and rubbed his eyes. “That’s why I’m here—to clear the air and to be transparent with both you and the vampires.”

What’s going on?Briar linked.Ryker is about to burst through the door.

A part of me wanted him to, but I feared that Bruce might stop talking if he did, and I was about to get at least an explanation.Tell him not yet, please. I do plan to ask him to join us soon, but I need time to get one answer.At that moment, I realized that Ihadto bring Ryker in. We’d agreed to be allies, and he’d proven himself to me. If I didn’t invite him in, my words wouldn’t match my actions. I’d be pissed too, if the situation was reversed.

“We’dloveto hear what you have to say.” Raven tiltedher head and smiled, though the warmth didn’t reach her eyes.

He dropped his hands into his lap. “I hadnothingto do with any of the attacks. I know suspicion runs deep because you were attacked on my land and I had restrained your sister, but I swear I’m just as much a victim as you.” He paused, and the room filled with awkward silence.

A sour taste coated my mouth. “If you don’t elaborate on that, then there’s no reason for me to stay.” I wouldn’t be appeased by general statements that could have been constructed to hide the truth and make me believe what I thought I’d heard because the scent of a lie never appeared.

He rolled his shoulders back. “Your pack was slaughtered the very next night after Reid publicly rejected and shamed you.”

I snorted so hard the back of my throat ached. “You don’t have to remind me. I’mverywell aware.”

“I’m sure you are, but this is part of my explanation.” He arched a brow and shook his head. “This is why young’uns don’t make the best leaders. They’re impatient and run their mouths.”

“In this instance, I must disagree with you.” Raven leaned back and crossed her legs. “I understand why Ember feels you’re evading the question. And I promise,Bruce…” She emphasized his first name to be clear that she wasn’t showing him proper respect. “I’m much older than you, so I believe my opinion carries more weight.”

He leaned his head back and glared at the white ceiling. “I’ve been mated for over thirty years; there’s no winning with one woman, let alone two.” He huffed and looked me in the eyes. “Even though I hated the way Reid rejected you, the Blackwoods have always been honest andforthright…or so I thought at the time. When he said something was wrong with you, it altered my view of your pack.”

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