Page 2 of Curses and Casualties
She considers this, eyes narrowed in playful suspicion. “OK, fair point. And for the record, the caves in the Gobi were freezing, damp, and full of shrieking bats.” She tries to mimic the sound, waving her hands. “But there were no roaches the size of baby rats, so I’m afraid this place still wins.”
She relaxes into the pillows.
“So that means I’m wrong and there’s somewhere worse than the Gobi Desert.”
Georgia grins. “There are many. Geology is a pretty filthy field—lots of mud. And while that cave in Gobi was pretty awful, I think the worst conditions happened on the dig in Vietnam that got me a job with the Geological Survey. That was intense.”
“Vietnam?”
Georgia nods. “It was a dig in a rural area that had been ravaged by floods,” she explains. “The villagers were so welcoming and generous despite having not much to give. They invited us into their homes, offered us food and shelter even when they barely had enough for themselves. It was humbling.” She pauses for a moment, her eyes reflecting a mixture of admiration and sadness. “But the mud... it was relentless. And the humidity along with the smell of decomposing vegetation. Gosh, I can smell it again just thinking about it.” She lifts her hand to her nose and shakes her head to push away the memory.
“We all ended up getting sick. But our budget didn’t allow for any delays. So we powered through. Every day we’d work in shifts, digging and documenting all the minerals we found while also battling horrible stomach cramps.” She shudders.
“Sounds like a nightmare.”
“At times, it was. But it was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Georgia says, letting out a wistful sigh. “We discovered a vein of rare earth elements that could potentially change the technological landscape. It made all the suffering worth it and paved the way for my job offer with the Geological Survey.”
As I set the bottle down, I look back up at her and smile. “It still sounds better than here.”
She laughs. “The food was definitely nicer. Even if it did make us all sick. But the company…” Her voice lowers to a whisper as she leans into me. “It’s way better here.”
I brush a strand of fiery hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Once this is over, I’ll take you somewhere warmand sunny. No mud or decomposing vegetation. No shrieking bats. No roach-infested motels. Just you, me and forever stretching out in front of us, I promise.” My voice softens as I look into her eyes, the intensity of our bond making my chest tighten with a different kind of urgency.
“I’d like that.” Georgia smiles up at me, but it quickly fades as she looks away. “It’s just so hard to imagine this ever being over. Our lives are so...complicated now.”
I take her hand, stroking my thumb over her knuckles soothingly. “This is just a rest stop on the journey, my love. Nothing can stop our destiny.”
Georgia’s lips quirk up slightly. “You really believe that?”
“I have to believe it. The alternative is unthinkable.”
At my solemn tone, Georgia shifts closer, curling against my side. Her warmth and soft curves press into me, igniting my desire to be closer to her. But I restrain myself, simply wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m scared, Ryan,” Georgia admits. “Everything is happening so fast, and there’s still so much we don’t understand about this bond between us. And then there’s Scarlett to worry about. What the Alpha did to her...”
I rub her arm gently, wanting to soothe away all her worries. “Scarlett is tough, she won’t let the Alpha control her.”
Georgia takes a ragged breath. “And what if they’re wrong? What if this bond of ours isn’t some magical cure-all? What if the more we bond, the bigger the target on our backs?”
I pull her closer, seeing distress in her eyes. “Our friends made their choices willingly because they want a better future. Trusting in this bond gives them hope.”
She bites her lip. “Hope won’t heal Scarlett’s mental wounds or remove that mark.”
“No,” I murmur. “Which is why tomorrow we’ll find the witches on Caspian’s list. They have protection spells that canmask the Alpha’s connection, make it harder for him to track her through the mark. Maybe one of them can weaken the bond or remove the mark altogether.”
“But what if their magic isn’t enough?” Georgia whispers, trembling.
I cup her face between my hands, holding her gaze firmly. “Then we keep fighting until the Alpha is nothing more than dust and heartstone. I swear to you, Georgia, Scarlett will be free.”
She searches my eyes, uncertainty still lingering in her gaze while she nods slowly. I can still feel the tension coiled within her, so I lean in and kiss her forehead softly, needing to comfort her, to reassure her that everything will be all right.
As my lips brush against her skin, her breath hitches. Our bond hums. A low, steady vibration that seems to resonate through every cell in my body.
Mate needs us,Kane rumbles, his presence stirring with interest.
For a moment, we’re both still, caught in this delicate balance between comfort and desire. I can hear her heart racing, feel the slight tremor in her hands as they rest against my chest.
Then she tilts her head up, her lips barely grazing the edge of my jaw. It’s a tentative touch, more of a question than a demand. And I remain motionless, letting her set the pace, even as every instinct screams at me to pull her closer.
