Page 114 of Rescued By the Beast
"I'm sorry! I forgot about your injury again!" Her voice is tearful, full of guilt.
I chuckle softly and pull her towards me once more, this time guiding her hands to my shoulders, keeping her close but without pressing on the wound.
"I wasn't complaining, was I? I hadn't finished hugging you yet."
She sighs and hides her face in my neck, taking a deep breath. I do the same, inhaling the scent of her hair. The smell of my female.
"We really need to talk, I have to tell you something before I lose control again," her voice comes out low, hesitant.
I frown, tense.
"What?"
She pulls away slightly, meeting my gaze.
"I... I didn't stay in cat form just because I was too weak to transform, Mark. I was cursed."
My whole body shudders, the beast slipping beneath my skin, roaring, begging to be let out. Every fibre of my being, every instinct, every damn part of me screams to protect my female.
My breathing quickens, air rushing in and out in irregular gasps. My jaw clenches until the pain radiates across my face. My fists clench, ready to tear apart whoever dared to touch her, imprison her, curse her.
"Who?" My voice is low, but laden with a fury that makes Sandra flinch. "Who did this to you?"
She hesitates.
"Mark..."
"Tell me his name, now." My body vibrates, adrenaline burning in my blood, driving me to action. "I'll make him bleed, suffer, and beg for mercy until his last breath."
It doesn't matter that I'm injured. It doesn't matter that I can barely breathe without feeling pain in my ribs or that my essence is crawling like a slug inside me.
I'll find whoever did this and rip their throat out with my own claws.
"You need to calm down." She holds my arm, trying to restrain me, her warm palm pressing against my skin. "You can't go out like this, you're still weak. It's not that urgent right now, I can force the transformation for a few minutes... sometimes even a few hours. It seems like the curse is weakening."
I breathe in through my nose, trying to contain the rage that threatens to blind me. My body trembles with frustration. I should have realised. I should have protected her.
"Are you sure?" My voice comes out hoarser than I intend.
"Yes, Balthazar mentioned something about me being able to break it... if I know the key. But I have no idea what that is." She sighs, pressing her lips together.
The mention of his name ignites another spark of rage inside me.
"Balthazar knew this and did nothing?!" My roar fills the space. The window glass creaks with the vibration of my contained power.
Sandra flinches slightly but holds tight to my arm, anchoring me.
"It wasn't the right time, you were dying, Mark. We were trying to keep you alive, trying to understand what was preventing your healing, what was poisoning you... and then we had to take you to the old witch..."
The heat of hatred dissipates in an instant, giving way to a bitter cold that plummets into my stomach like an ice cube, sending shivers down my spine.
"No..." The whisper escapes before I can stop it. "You didn't go to her, did you?"
Sandra closes her eyes briefly, as if gathering strength to continue. My chest tightens even more when I see a single tear roll down her cheek.
"Balthazar did what he could, but he wasn't strong enough for the ritual that would save you. Few wizards are. The only option was the elder, Mark. He guided us to her, Ted carried you in his arms and..."
My eyes close tightly, and my body falters for a second. I know what this means. I know that no one gets away with making a deal with her.
