Page 50 of Cursed Magic

For the first time, thinking of Reid’s rejection didn’tmake me ache. Instead, I could breathe better and relief washed over me.

Are you sure?

Yes, we’re starving. Whatever you gave us last night made us crave something to help our wolf sides heal better.

After a pause, she replied,I don’t think it’s a good idea. I’ll make the steaks because I know someone will eat them if you two don’t, but I’m bringing you the drink too. I have no doubt you’ll change your mind.

Ryker turned fully toward me and placed a finger under my chin, lifting my face to his. His gaze darted to my lips, and my wolf howled with anticipation as my stomach fluttered. As he leaned his head down to mine, I placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.

His eyes widened a little before his expression fell. “Are you still determined to fight what’s between us even after both of us almost died last night?”

Guilt knotted deep inside me. He was right; we’d almost lost each other last night, but that didn’t make things suddenly okay. “What I feel for you isn’t the problem.” My voice was more forlorn than I intended.

“If this is about that fucking vampire, then I don’t know what to say. I did what had to be done.”

My temper flared. “He was aninnocent. You can’t just attack people like that.”

“Ember, he wasn’t an innocent.” He closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled. “I know he wasn’t.”

I rolled my eyes and moved back a little despite my wolf and body protesting. “Do you think I’m stupid? I know what I saw! He was hiding from the attackers and witnessed his entire nest dying in front of him.”

“I know because of the magic that was placed on me,”Ryker huffed. “I can see people’s souls and read what type of person they are.”

I blinked. I hadn’t seen that coming. “So what had he done?”

His irises turned a more vivid brown. “I don’t know. I can only tell what type of person he is. But I promise you, I’ve never tortured someone who was agoodperson.”

For some reason, this sat worse with me instead of better. I pulled away even more.

“Are you seriously pissed because you were wrong about Simon being a good person?”

I bit the back of my bottom lip, scraping off a scab and causing blood to fill my mouth. Afraid of what I might say next, I shook my head.

“Then what’s the problem?” His tone was sharp.

I hesitated, the truth sticking in my throat like a knife. For the first time ever, I didn’t want to say the words because it would confirm that it was true. He was officially making me doubt my own sanity. Finally, I forced it out. “You proved what I always knew. I can’t trust you.”

Ryker’s face flushed. “What the hell does that mean?”

My chest tightened as anger and frustration crashed inside me. “It means you’re only coming clean now because you were found out.”

He ran a hand down his face and grimaced. “That’s not fair. When I found you that day and pulled you out of the water, we didn’t like or want to be around each other. It wasn’t one-sided; it was mutual, so when exactly was I supposed to tell you? We’ve been in constant danger, and you’re fighting our connection so damn hard.”

“Why shouldn’t I fight it? Feeling anything for someone outside of my pack hasn’t worked out well for me.” Thewords tore from me, leaving me bare in front of him. “I got rejected by my fated mate, remember? You were there.”

Ryker’s face twisted into pure rage. He grabbed my wrists and pinned me beneath him. His grip was firm but not painful, trapping me against the bed.

My breath caught.

“You betternever,” he snarled and leaned close to my ear, “everrefer to Reid as your fated mate again.”

His voice reverberated through me, leaving shock in its wake. Instead of rallying against the male holding us down, my wolf surged toward him with wild abandon. I gasped, my chest heaving, as I realized that part of me really wanted this.

He didn’t let go. Instead, he leaned closer, his scent enveloping me until it was all I could breathe. “You’re mine, Ember.” The words were possessive, a declaration. His eyes locked with mine, and he lifted his chin in a challenge.

I wanted to get lost in him and throw caution to the wind. But I couldn’t. Not with both of us being alphas and the repercussions that could happen with two alphas merging and sorting all that out while going into battle. Not when he’d kept something so important from me, and I sensed there was more. “You’re still not telling me everything, Ryker. I don’t even know what’s going on anymore.”

His grip shifted, and he released my wrists, but the weight of his stare didn’t lessen. “Haveyoutoldmeeverything?”

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