Page 64 of Curses and Casualties
“Were you followed?”
“I don’t think so. But that doesn’t mean much when you’re dealing with man-sized wolves.”
I walk him back inside the perimeter, so we aren’t so exposed, and he immediately glances past me to where Georgia waits by the fire.
“Is that her?”
“Georgia,” I call, and she approaches cautiously.
Owen studies her with doctor’s eyes, taking in the silver glow beneath her skin, the way she moves with a slight limp still. “It’s good to see you well, Georgia.”
“It’s good to see you too, Owen,” Georgia says with a wry smile. “Although, I’d love to see you one day when my life isn’t on the line.”
“I’d like that too,” Owen says with a smile. “In fact, when all of this is over, Honey and I would love it if you’d both come to our wedding. Hell, we’d love it if you all came to our wedding.”
Scarlett gives an appreciative whistle as she leans on the table. “Well, look at you, Mr. Grownup. Who knew Ryan’s brother was the impulsive one? How many weeks has it been since you and Honey hooked up?”
Owen shrugs off the heat in his blush. “It’s not impulsive when you know you’ve found your One.” He touches the piece of heartstone hanging around his neck. “Besides, this world has enough reasons to put things off. We’re not waiting to bind our lives together.”
I’m about to ask if he needs food or rest when Owen reaches into his bag, producing a silk-wrapped bundle. “Luna’s fragments. It’s all I recovered.”
Jules steps forward, examining the wrapped bundle with professional interest. “May I?” When Owen nods, she carefully unwraps a corner, revealing the glowing shards. “How much did Evanora say you need?”
“A half teaspoon,” Georgia says, and Jules nods.
“Perfect. These will work beautifully for the ritual.” She hands the bundle to Georgia and steps away.
“It’s enough?” Owen asks, looking between us.
“It is,” I say. “Thank you.”
Owen grips my shoulder. “Half the pack wants you to succeed, Ryan. Parents who’ve buried human children, wolves who’ve watched their bloodline wither—they’re desperate for hope.”
“We’ll give them more than hope,” Georgia says quietly. “We’ll give them a future.”
“I believe you might,” Owen says, studying her before he turns back to me. “Listen, I don’t know how helpful this will be. But from what I’ve gathered, the Alpha’s moved most of his forces to guard the compound and the main approach to the Soulcave. The main entrance will be a killing field.” Owen pulls out a hand-drawn map, marking positions. “He’s expecting you to come in force. Use that arrogance against him.”
“We will.” I pull him close again. “Now go. Take Honey and get to the human side of the valley. Stay there until this is over.”
“Ryan—”
“You promised me.”
He nods reluctantly. “We’ll be staying with the Valentines in town. But if you die?—”
“I know, you’ll be bringing me back to kick my ass.”
He gives me a worried smile. “See you at the wedding, yeah?”
After he leaves, we refine our plan. Jules and the silver-haired witch cast subtle protections while Erik coordinates with the Úlfhéðnar via some sort of runic sending. Lucien produces an impressive array of weapons from his pack, humming what sounds like show tunes. The fae seem to be communing with the forest itself, their forms flickering as they weave spells I can’t begin to understand.
“Six months ago, I was writing a paper on the post-volcanic sedimentation rates in the Pacific Northwest,” Georgia says, shaking her head as she runs her palm over the wood grain of the picnic table. “Now I’m planning military tactics with vampires, witches, and beings from another realm just so you and I can go have glow-in-the-dark sex in a cave to reboot the magic grid. Life is pretty wild.”
“Regrets?”
She turns in my arms, eyes blazing silver-green. “Only that we have to wait until tomorrow night for the sex part. Luna’s so close to the surface I can taste moonlight.”
“Soon,” I promise. “Tomorrow, when the supermoon rises, we end this.”
