Page 70 of Cursed
“No, we’ve got that. I need you and Ash to get with First Lieutenant Morgan. I need you three to start interviewing all the Guards and Enforcers. Find out where they were this afternoon. You know the drill.”
“I’m on it. We’ll begin eliminating suspects right away.”
Garek tells Adele and Zayne, “I told Kane, Ash, and Morgan to open an investigation into the whereabouts of all Guards and Enforcers.” His concern for his Alpha is almost overwhelming. After eighty years of enduring that curse, he’s so close to breaking it. He hopes like hell they can find Nori in one piece.
Bade hears Ryland’s growl in his mind. “We will find her, and when we do, we will kill that kidnapper!” Bade growls in agreement. He can’t wait to rip apart the male who took his Mate.
chapter forty-two
Awoman’s voice rings out. “Wake Up!”
Opening her eyes, Nori finds herself lying on soft, green grass, the blades cool against her face. The gentle lapping of water draws her attention to a nearby pond, sparkling under the glow of an impossibly large full moon.
Warm air brushes against her skin, and a soft breeze carries the faint scent of flowers to her nose. Disoriented, Nori pushes herself up, sitting on her hip. Her gaze sweeps across the night sky where billions of bright stars stretch endlessly above her.
She frowns because it’s winter at the Blood Moon Castle.
She should be cold. There should be snow on the ground. There should be…
“Hello, Norina Valcrest!”
Nori turns toward the voice, barely able to make out the figure of a woman because she glows with such an intense light that Nori lifts a hand to shield her eyes.
“Oh, sorry. Is that better?”
The light dims, and Nori’s jaw drops open. A woman of breathtaking beauty sits next to her. Her skin shimmers with an ethereal glow, and waves of raven hair cascade over her shoulders. Every feature of her face is flawless—large, striking, golden eyes, a perfectly delicate nose, and full, ruby-red lips. The power radiating off the woman’s divine body floats all around Nori.
Suddenly remembering the woman tried to greet her, Nori responds, but her words come out in a stutter. “Y-Yes, that’s b-better, and hello. Wow, you are truly magnificent. Who...Who are you? Where am I?”
“I am Freya, Goddess of the Moon, of course.” Nori’s whole body flinches in surprise, her eyes grow wide, and she almost chokes on her gasp.
She whispers to Aylin, “Holy shit!”
Aylin must be in shock because she doesn’t respond at all.
An exquisitely radiant smile slides over Freya’s face. “Your body is currently on a horse in front of the male whotook you. While I didn’t orchestrate the kidnapping, I am pleased with this turn of events.”
Nori remembers following the Guard Bergeron down the stairs, and the rest is blank. “I was kidnapped from the Blood Moon Castle, and that pleases you?”
“In a way, yes.”
Frowning now, Nori asks, “So, you…you wanted me to be taken away from Ryland? Are you saying I should reject the Mate Bond?”
Aylin finds her voice. “No way, Nori! We are not rejecting them!”
Freya laughs the most charming, lyrical laugh, making Nori smile, despite her concern over the Bond.
“Definitely not, silly girl! I sent you directly into his path at precisely the right moment. I’m not quite sure why you haven't accepted your true Fated Mate yet.”
“Well, he did accidentally almost kill me,” Nori replies. “Plus, we are still getting to know each other.”
“I see you’ve let him Claim you, though,” Freya says with a smirk.
Nori rolls her eyes, and her lips curve into a soft smile. “Well. That couldn’t be helped. I lose all the thoughts in my head when that man puts his hands on me. Wait! Did you sayFatedMate?”
That musical laugh erupts from Freya’s mouth again. “Yes, Nori. Ryland is your Fated Mate, dear.”
Aylin laughs joyfully in Nori’s mind. “I told you we should accept the Bond! Fated Mates! Wow!”
