Page 119 of Wolf Cursed
“Tell me how to break the curse, and I’ll let you go before Silas comes back,” I said.
He looked at me, considering.
Outside, a wolf howled, and I knew we were out of time. But I couldn’t leave without an answer. There was no way I’d get this chance again.
With my heart pounding, I grabbed a fistful of the hexerei’s disgusting shirt and shook him. “Tell me,” I repeated.
“The magic demands a sacrifice,” he said.
Damn. Okay. Apparently, that part was non-negotiable.
Outside, the growl and clash of wolves rang out between rolls of thunder that grew farther away with each new rumble. The rain had nearly stopped from the sound of it. The storm was passing. We were out of time.
“What sacrifice?” I demanded.
“Like I told your friend before, it’s a yin and yang. A hexerei and a wolf must become one. No more separation.” His eyes flashed with renewed hate. “But he reminded me why that will never happen. I will not help you anymore. He saw to that.”
“Who? Who did you talk to? Was it Silas?”
“No. His name is—”
Behind me, the cabin door crashed open. I released the hexerei and whirled in time to see a very classy-looking Silas barreling through the open doorway, his tie tossed over his shoulder. He glared at me and closed the distance, grabbing me before I could slip past.
“Hello, Ashes.”
I pulled against Silas’ hold, but his grip was like iron.
“Don’t even try it,” he snarled at me, and I knew, this time, there’d be no talking my way out. “It’s time to prove yourself once and for all. It’s time to fight.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Silas dragged me outside, and I hurried to keep up so I didn’t land on my face in the mud. My boots squished over the soft ground, and I surveyed the scene that had changed drastically from when I’d entered the cabin. Vinny was no longer lying unconscious. Now, a brown wolf stood in that same place, a lump clearly forming on the top of its head. When he saw me, he growled.
And he wasn’t the only one. Several more wolves lined the perimeter, and I sensed them closing in behind us as we made our way farther out. But then my eyes caught on something ahead, and I stared in horror at the two wolves wrestling violently near the trees.
Silas gave a shrill whistle, and they broke apart and looked over at us.
My stomach dropped as I recognized Kai’s wolf huffing breathlessly as he looked over, first at me, then at Silas’ hand on my wrist. Beside him, the other wolf looked at Silas expectantly. His cream-colored coat and sharp eyes were strangely familiar.
Presley, I realized.
Kai had fought Presley. For me.
My heart warmed at what he’d just given up for the sake of protecting me. At the same time, worry and sadness speared through me. I hated seeing him have to choose like this.
“We have a traitor in our midst after all,” Silas yelled.
At the sound of his voice, more wolves emerged from the trees.
I swallowed hard at the sight of them coming slowly forward. As they passed Kai, they growled in warning. The warm feeling Kai’s protection had given me was quickly replaced by cold fear.
Shit.
There were too many of them.
This wasn’t going to end well for either of us.
Behind them, two human figures raced out of the trees toward where I stood. Isaac and Idrissa—both with matching expressions of fury and determination.
