Page 6 of Cursed Magic

Like there was some sort of barrier between us.

What thehellwas going on? The pressure had entirely vanished, and only the strange prickling remained. The sensation of new magic rearing its head confounded me.

I needed to understand what was happening, but I wasn’t going to figure it out now. I would take advantage of whateverthiswas and try to catch up with Briar and the guys.

Spinning on my heel, I took off after them, glancing in the direction the sensation of being watched seemed to come from. Once again, nothing looked amiss.

I had to be losing my damn mind, and yet, like it had in the woods the other night, something urged me to go over there—like somethingfamiliarwas there.

No. I didn’t have time for this. Whatever was keeping the shadows back might not do so for much longer. I had to go.

Calling my wolf forward using the warm, animalistic magic I knew as well as my human soul, I paid attention to that power. Despite my back screaming in agony, each step got easier until I finally broke into a run.

I glanced back, expecting the shadows to be right on me, but they weren’t.

Soon, the scents of Briar and the guys became stronger, and I could hear their faint panting. My shoulders loosened as I reopened my link back to Briar, not wanting them to think someone else was chasing them.I’ve almost caught up to you.

Cold tendrils of fear and the heat of anger came at the same time as she responded,Are you okay?

The icky feeling of guilt built in my chest—for what I’d done to her but also for realizing I shouldn’t have shut down our connection. What if other shadows had been stalking them through the woods and she’d needed to contact me? Dad would’ve thought of that, which further proved that I wasn’t ready to be an alpha…and yet, here I was.I’m fine but don’t slow down. We need to hurry.Even as I linked it, I glanced back, expecting to see the shadows. They weren’t there.

Something wasn’t right about this.

Xander and Kendric, carrying a still-limp Ryker on their backs in tandem, came into view just as I heard whispers from the direction of the car.

Fuck.

We were walking into a trap.

Don’t go to the vehicles!This had to be a trick to herd us to our deaths. Make us believe we were safe then kill us all.

After Reid had rejected me, I’d learned that humiliating people was something he enjoyed.

What? Why?Briar linked and then spoke aloud, “Ember said to not go to the vehicles after all.”

If I could hear her speak, that meant the shadows could too.Don’t say another word. Turn around.

What are you talking about? You’re behind us!Her anger intensified, making my chest feel hot. She again spoke out loud. “She’s insistent, but I—”

“Did you hear that?” a man’s voice asked as if he’d suddenly decided it wasn’t worth hiding in the shadows any longer.

My blood turned cold. When they’d stayed hidden, I’d been more confident that therecouldbe some survivors. If we saw their faces, it probably meant our lives were over.

Kendric and Xander stopped and turned carefullyaround, prepared to run back in my direction. Briar and Gage appeared behind them, my sister’s face lined in pure panic.

What do we do?she asked, her eyes meeting mine.

That was the problem. I didn’t know. This would be a good damn time for Ryker to come to once again.

As if Fate wanted to give me her middle finger, footsteps pounded in our direction, moving at a speed that shouldn’t be possible for shifters.

A lump formed in my throat.

There was no way we were getting out of this.

I glanced around for some sort of weapon, but it was too late. The enemy was here. It was time to finally see who was behind the veil.

My allies and my sister ran quicker, but it was no use. The footsteps were gaining on them.

---