Page 63 of Wicked Fate

Briar climbed from the Accord and opened the back door for the wolves to jump out. They ran after the taller man, no doubt wanting to shift back into human form.

Ryker met Cassi’s eyes and linked,How do you feel about that? I know we don’t trust her.

I think having Cassi there to vouch for us when the witch comes to might help.I didn’t want to think about all the horrible stuff that had been done to her.

“That’s fine, but if you try to manipulate any bonds, you’ll regret it,” Ryker growled, allowing his anger to show.

“I swear to the goddess, no more manipulating bonds…ever.”Cassi placed a hand on her heart.

That was a big promise for any witch to make. I didn’t need to be around them much to know how important the goddess was to them.

Cassi followed the others down the path, limping slightly but determined.

“Do you need anything else from us?” Briar asked the group as she came and took the other spot next to me.

For the first time, I turned and looked at the cars. There were claw marks and dents everywhere, broken and cracked glass, and a chunk of hair stuck in the grill of the car I’d driven.

Vomit inched up my throat as I remembered how it had felt to run over the vampire.

“We’re as good as we can get,” Sun answered. She looped her arm through Reid’s. “We just all need rest and answers when the witch wakes up. Will you inform us?” For some reason, Sun’s focus landed on me.

“Of course.” I smiled, though it was strained. Something had changed between Sun and me, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on what. “And you’re right. We all need to rest and eat because I suspect the vampires won’t stay gone much longer.”

Reid hung his head. “I agree, unfortunately.”

“We need some time before we begin planning again.” Ryker placed his gun back in its holster. “Maybe we meet up for dinner?”

“That sounds good to me,” Reid answered and patted Ryker’s shoulder.

Taking my hand, Ryker led me toward the house, Briar falling in on my other side. The small house came into view—quiet, secluded, just far enough from the main pack’s chaos. It felt like the first real breath of peace we’d had all day.

Then something shifted in the air.

Warmth pulsed through my chest, a soft thrum of magic, not my own but one all too familiar.

The strange man again.

I glanced toward the trees where I sensed the magic, but as usual, no one was there. Not even a shadow, but the warmth clung to me like sunlight on skin, buzzing against my ribs like a warning—or maybe a promise. I reached out with my senses, but the presence vanished before I could pin it down.

Ryker noticed. “You okay?”

I nodded, forcing a breath. “Yeah. Just searching the area.”

“For now, we should be safe, or Cassi would be running out to alert us,” Briar replied, bumping her shoulder into mine.

We reached the porch and pushed open the door. The house smelled like old cedar and dust, but it was dry and safe.

The witch had been placed gently on Kendric’s couch. A blanket was draped over her, and her pale face was turned toward the window. She was very still.

Cassi settled into the chair beside her, eyes locked on the woman as if she was willing her to awaken.

“Let us know if you need anything,” the tall man said as he walked out the front door, not even taking a moment to glance back.

For a moment, we all stood in silence.

“I’ll get a meal started.” Briar went into the kitchen.

There was no way I wasn’t going to help her. That was one thing we’d always done growing up—when one of us cooked, the other came to assist.

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