Page 34 of Curses and Casualties
“Thank the gods,” Scarlett breathes. “We thought you might be?—”
“Caught in the battle? No.” Darius’s usually impeccable appearance is marred by soot and blood. “Though the Úlfhéðnar are showing no mercy. The enforcers severely miscalculated.”
“Ragnar’s fury is legendary,” Amara adds, her eyes distant. “I haven’t seen the ancient ones fight like that in... well, centuries. Your pack will learn what it means to violate sacred law come the supermoon.”
“Will they be OK?” I ask, glancing back at the settlement where fires now burn bright. “This is our fault?—”
“This is the Elders’ fault,” Amara corrects firmly. “The Úlfhéðnar understand that. They chose to honor guest-right, knowing the cost. That’s what makes them noble.”
We take a moment to catch our breath, to process what just happened. I lean against Ryan, feeling the weight of how many people are now fighting—dying—because of us. Because of what we represent.
“Hey,” Ryan murmurs, sensing my spiral. “This isn’t on us. The Elders made their choice when they sent enforcers into the settlement. The Úlfhéðnar made theirs when they defended us. All we can do is make sure it means something.”
I nod, drawing strength from our bond. Luna has settled somewhat, though she still radiates frustration at our inability to shift and fight.
Soon,I promise her.We’ll find a way to break this curse. Soon.
“We need to move,” Amara says. “The pack will send more enforcers, and they won’t make the same mistake twice.”
She raises her hands, portal magic already swirling between her fingers. The familiar tear in reality opens before us, showing a glimpse of city lights and urban decay.
“Sugar City?” Ryan asks.
“The supernatural quarter,” Amara confirms. “I know where Nicolai’s club is. Stay close, stay quiet, and whatever you do, don’t make eye contact with the blood dealers. The neighborhood can be... interesting after midnight.”
Scarlett groans, pressing her hand to her ribs where bruises are already forming. “Great. Just what I need. More supernatural bullshit.”
“You’ll be fine,” Ethan says, but his grin has an edge of wildness to it, the adrenaline of battle still singing in his blood. “Vampires are more civilized than wolves, anyway. They like etiquette and tradition. Just don’t touch anyone’s drink, never mention the sun, and for the love of all that’s holy, don’t bleed on anything expensive.”
“Super helpful,” Scarlett mutters.
We take one last look at the burning Úlfhéðnar settlement—at the place that offered us shelter and paid for it in blood. Then, with Bjorn’s token clutched in Ryan’s hand and no other optionsleft, we step through the portal into whatever fresh hell awaits us in Sugar City’s supernatural underground.
Chapter 15
Ryan
The alley Amara’s portal dumped us in reeks of piss and rotting garbage, but after the blood and smoke of the Úlfhéðnar settlement, it might as well be perfume. My wolf is still on edge, hackles raised from the fight, and I have to force myself not to shift when a drunk human stumbles past the alley mouth.
“Everyone intact?” I rasp, helping Georgia to her feet. She nods, but through our bond I feel more than exhaustion—there’s a deep, gnawing guilt that makes my chest tighten.
“Define intact,” Scarlett mutters, pressing a hand to her ribs. “That enforcer got in a good hit. Pretty sure he rearranged some internal real estate.”
“You need someone to look at that?” Ethan asks, hovering near her.
“I’m fine,” she says, then winces. “Mostly fine. Just sore and royally pissed off. Those assholes interrupted a perfectly good feast where I was finally starting to enjoy giant wolf hospitality. Shifting completely destroyed my buzz.”
“At least the Úlfhéðnar are on our side now,” Georgia offers, but her voice cracks slightly.
I pull her closer, feeling her tremble. “Hey. Talk to me.”
“They’re dying back there,” she whispers. “Right now, they’re dying because of us. Because of what we are.”
“No.” I turn her to face me, tipping her chin up. “They’re fighting because the Elders violated sacred law. Because they believe in what we represent.”
“Pretty words don’t change the fact that blood is being spilled for us,” she counters, her green eyes bright with unshed tears.
Mate grieves,Kane observes.But battle was honor for old wolves. They chose this.
