Page 57 of Cursed Love
Chapter 21
Ryan woke up on the couch and found Peter shaking strangely next to him. His glowing eyes were filled with anger and confusion. Ryan neared Peter’s immobile form and noted the remnants of Brandy’s magic.
Peter pulled free a moment later. “What the fuck did she do to me?”
“I don’t know. Where is she?” Ryan asked, moving to the room she was sleeping. He pushed open the door and found it empty. “She’s not here.”
Peter said he wanted to find her and was eager to rip into her, but he also forced them both to hold off until after they communicated with her. He wanted to give her the time she needed, since she needed it enough to put a whammy on them. When her cry for help came in, they hauled ass, fearing what the lycan would do to her.
A growl pulled Ryan from his memories. “Peter,” Ryan warned. Deep inside, he knew Peter would not hurt a hair on her head, but he did not like the predatory way his friend was watching her.
His friend’s head cocked to the side, his eyes meeting Ryan’s. A snarl tore through his large body before he snapped at air and trotted away. They watched until his tail disappeared around the wall.
“How the hell are we supposed to know what the lycan knows?” she asked, putting her hand on her hips.
Ryan gathered Peter’s clothes and glanced from her to the dead lycan. “He wouldn’t have killed him until he either got all the information or realized he wouldn’t get any.”
“He said he wasn’t sure if it would work. What if it didn’t, and he killed him anyway?” she asked, flailing her arms toward the body.
Ryan did a quick spell to make the lycan the size of a domestic dog. They did not need humans questioning more than a stray dog being killed or the large wolf running through the streets.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her away as she rattled on about Peter and how he had acted impulsively. “Brandy!” Ryan snapped at the edge of the block. He stopped them and dropped his chin to his chest, trying to control his emotions. “What you did—what Peter had to do—look, let’s just wait until he calms down and get the facts.”
Peter never had an issue killing if he believed it was needed, but he didn’t take it lightly. If he were as annoyed and upset as Ryan, he would be gone until well into the morning, unless of course he retrieved time-sensitive information.
“Look, I’m sorry about—”
“Freezing Peter? You need to talk it out with him. It was stupid and immature of you,” he said and watched her face change. Ryan bit his cheek to stop himself from apologizing for something he was not at fault for.
Brandy nodded slowly. “Oh, okay. I didn’t realize you felt that way.”
She stepped around him and joined the few walking on the sidewalk. Looking up at the sliver of sky between the buildings, he released a long sigh before catching up to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, but she shrugged him off.
They walked in silence as Ryan scanned the area once. He glanced down at her. So many things could have gone wrong. His eyes dipped to the tattered fabric of her shirt, and a shiver of fear rolled down his spine. He could have lost her.
Turning onto the next street, he peered around and found them alone. He took the opportunity to cloak them from view before someone came along.
“I’m sorry. I put us all in danger by leaving. I was on my way back when he approached me,” she whispered from his side.
Ryan pulled her in close and kissed her head. “I know this is hard on you. Thank you for not blocking me out when I called. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
He had to give her that. She had settled his anxiety by assuring him she was okay at first, and she also hadn’t assumed she could do it all on her own. Although, not that he would admit it to her, but she seemed to have the situation with the lycan in control when they got there.
“I was terrified,” she muttered, their gazes meeting for a second.
“I know. Scared the shit out of me to be honest,” he admitted. “Peter was like a caged lion when you told me about the lycan. I was barely able to keep up with him.”
She nodded, and her arm circled his waist. “He’s so mad at me.”
“He is. He’s a protector by nature, and not being able to keep you safe—” Ryan shook his head, struggling to explain Peter more without divulging his best friend’s business. “You’re going to have to fix that mess all on your own.”
The little groan that escaped her lips made him smile and squeeze her. They walked in silence, and he took a cleansing breath of air. She was safe and where she belonged.
The woman was the most powerful witch he knew, and she still had not mastered her skills. She would need to practice her new power, in addition to the others, but at this point it seemed the sky was the limit with her gift.
“Your powers are… extraordinary,” he said with awe. “They’re developing at a rapid pace, and we need to figure out if there’s a reason. The stronger you get, the better, but it’s also attracting a lot of shit.”
“It’s crazy, Rye,” she whispered.
