Page 92 of Curses and Casualties
“I know. But I can’t.” The words come out rougher than intended. “The other guests?—”
“Would probably have heart attacks,” Georgia finishes with a sigh, understanding the weight of what we carry.
I don’t need to explain further. My scarred face, my imposing size, the predatory stillness that marks me as other—I’m the monster from their childhood nightmares. The pink claw marks raking down my right cheek would be explained away as a bearattack, but my ice-blue eyes would give away my true nature to anyone who looked close enough. Better to stay in the shadows, where our kind has survived for generations.
Too dangerous,Kane agrees grimly.Humans fear what they don’t understand. And they destroy what they fear.
The old stories are filled with cautionary tales—soul-bonded pairs discovered by humans, burned as witches or demons. Even with our power, even with magic flowing freely again, humans still outnumber us a thousand to one. One panicked phone call, one viral video, and everything we’ve built could crumble.
Georgia slips her hand into mine, and I feel our bond pulse warm between us. “It’s still not fair. He’s your twin.”
“Life rarely is,” I say, but squeeze her hand in thanks. “At least the world is changing, even if slowly.”
She nods, understanding the subtext. Since the supermoon, reports have been filtering in from across the globe. New Soul Bonds forming. Witches finding their power amplified. Even some vampire clans reporting increased fertility. The magic we released is spreading like ripples on water, but change takes time.
“Four new bonded pairs confirmed this week,” I murmur, keeping my voice low. “Including that pack in Montana you mentioned.”
“And three more witch covens reporting power surges,” Georgia adds. “Amara says the old bloodlines are awakening. Magic that’s been dormant for centuries. It’s all coming back tenfold now that the Soulcave released all that power back into the world.”
But with the awakening comes danger. Humans are beginning to notice—strange phenomena they can’t explain, people going missing only to return... different. The Supernatural Council may be fractured, but their warningsabout exposure ring truer than ever. We walk a razor’s edge between freedom and discovery.
“I wish Scarlett was here,” Georgia says, voicing what we’re both thinking. “She’d find some way to make this more fun for you.”
My chest tightens at the mention of our missing pack member. Three months since she left with Fenris—Magnus—whatever fractured combination they are now. Three months of radio silence, just that brief note:Need to figure this out. Don’t wait for me.
“She’ll come back,” I say, though the words feel hollow. “When she’s ready.”
“When they’re ready,” Georgia corrects gently. “All three of them need to heal. Although, it’s kind of wild that Scarlet’s Soul Bond was a vessel and not a born wolf. I wonder how that would have worked if Magnus had always remained human—would he still be her soulmate? And then, what would happen if they bonded somehow and then her wolf’s mate showed up. That could get super complicated.”
“I don’t think there’s a guidebook for any of this,” I say, watching as more guests arrive. “The old ways were lost for so long. We’re figuring this out as we go.”
Georgia leans against me, her warmth steadying.
The music starts. Owen stands tall at the altar, his face a perfect mirror of anxiety and joy. I feel my throat tighten and watch the small gathering turn in their seats. I recognize the Soulwink Society members—Jade and Kellen, Clementine and Rafe, Jack and Jolie—along with Georgia’s brother, Jason. They’re the humans who discovered the magic of the heartstones, the reason Georgia was up in the cave that day looking for answers. And even though most of them don’t know who or what I am, I owe them a debt of gratitude I can never repay.
Honey appears at the end of the aisle, radiant in flowing white with a floral crown in her hair. She looks like something out of one of those fairy tales she’s always referencing.
“She’s beautiful,” Georgia whispers.
“She’s perfect for him.” I watch my brother’s face transform as he sees his bride. All the walls he built after my attack, all the guilt and isolation—gone. He’s just a man in love, waiting for his mate. And somehow, against all odds, he’s managed to live with a foot in both worlds—the supernatural realm where I dwell and the normal human existence I left behind ten years ago.
The ceremony is intimate, personal. When Owen speaks his vows, his voice carries to where we stand, and I hear the tremor of emotion in it. This is what we fought for. This right to love, to choose, to build lives beyond survival.
We remain hidden as they dance under the stars, the celebration moving to the open area near the lake. I should leave now. It’s not safe for me to linger where the other humans might catch a glimpse of me. But I can’t tear myself away, not yet.
“She sees you,” Georgia murmurs.
I follow her gaze to find Honey looking directly at me, her eyes finding mine despite the distance and shadows. She mouths “thank you” with a smile that holds genuine warmth. I give her a solemn nod, acknowledging the bond between us—not a pack bond, but something equally important. Family by choice.
Owen follows her gaze, spots me, and his expression softens with a mixture of gratitude and regret. I know he wishes I could stand beside him as his best man, just as I wish I could have been there. But we both understand the necessity of the shadows.
“Dance with me,” Georgia says suddenly.
“Georgia—”
“No.” Her eyes flash with silver fire—Luna’s influence. “We deserve this too. Dance with your mate, Ryan Blackwell.”
So I do. I pull her deeper into the forest, where the music still reaches us, but we’re safely hidden from human eyes. I hold her close, swaying to the distant melody while the humans celebrate love without fear, unaware that just beyond their sight, supernatural creatures dance to the same song.
