MasukCazRedwood's group is one of the last preparing to leave. Spencer stands near one of the vehicles talking with Jon. He's been quieter since the meeting. I've noticed him watching me several times. I don't particularly enjoy being evaluated. "He approves of us," Sinister says. "That's exactly what concerns me." Kyra glances at me. "Who?" "Spencer." She looks toward him. Spencer finishes talking to Jon and turns. "Cassius." It's usually not good when someone uses my full name, especially since I hate the way it sounds. Caz is what I prefer, and it annoys me when anyone except Kyra calls me anything else. I decide to let it slide. "Spencer." "You have a minute?" "Sure." He gestures toward the trail behind the packhouse. Private conversation. I am hesitant, but my interest is also piqued. Kyra releases my hand. "I'll be here." I nod. Then follow him. We walk far enough that the noise from the others fades. Spencer stops beneath a large willow tree. For a momen
Caz For the first time in what feels like months, Wolvesbane is calm. Not peaceful. Just quieter. Most of the representatives from the other packs have already started heading home. Some left as soon as they were certain the curse was really gone. Others stayed long enough to hear the story a few more times. Apparently, destroying an ancient witch and a curse on the entire species doesn't make wolves less complicated. It just gives them something new to argue about. "I preferred the part where everyone was terrified," Sinister yawns. "Of course you did." "Less chatter." "More screaming, though." "The more barbaric, the better, I always say." A laugh comes from beside me. I turn. Kyra sits on the porch steps with her arms resting loosely across her knees. "See? She understands me." "She was laughing at you." "She was laughing because of me. There's a difference." "Not an important one." Kyra shakes her head. "You two really do this all day?" "Unfortunately,"
Tristan There are some things you expect to happen when you follow your twin into a cursed wasteland. Death, injury, or possession. Ancient witches. Maybe an argument or two involving prophecy or the curse because apparently none of us are capable of going twenty-four hours without one. What I did not expect... Was to discover Caz had found his mate. Or that his mate was Kyra. Or that they had apparently decided that defeating an ancient curse wasn't enough excitement for one night. Luminary is still laughing. "I'm glad one of us finds this funny." "I find it deeply entertaining." "Of course you do." "Caz and Kyra... what a crazy plot twist. Their bond was the final blow that defeated the curse. The irony." "Yes, Lumin. I understand the sequence of events." "Remarkable efficiency. Sex for the win!" I groan. Caz looks over his shoulder. "What?" "Nothing." His eyes narrow. "You're talking to Lumin about me." "I would never." "Your face says otherwise."
Caz I don't know how long we fight. Time stops meaning anything. The shadows don't die. Kyra's magic tears through one. It dissolves, then reforms behind her. I burn another. It screams and falls apart but returns. "They keep coming back!" Kyra shouts through the bond. "I noticed! Any brilliant witch ideas?" "I'm working on it!" "Sin and I believe in you, babe!" I blast two more headed toward my girl. They reform. My eye catches a glowing root. Every time we destroy a shadow, crimson light races through the root network and rebuilds it. Of course. Stored wounds. "We can't kill them!" Kyra says. "That's generally inconvenient in a battle." "They're memories, Cassius." "Fuck. So what do we do then?" Another shadow charges. I don't attack. "Kyra!" "Wait!" The shadow reaches me. A woman. She looks terrified. Blood covers her dress. Her hands are raised defensively. I force myself not to move. Her hand passes through my chest, and cold explodes through me. The
Kyra The first thing I hear is Cassius screaming my name. The second is stone. It comes down everywhere. The cavern folds in on itself with violence that makes the earlier collapse feel like a warning. The floor bucks beneath me. A slab of black rock crashes where Cassius stood only seconds ago, followed by another and another until dust swallows everything. "Cassius!" I can't see him. I can't see anyone. "CASSIUS!" "I'm here!" His voice comes through the darkness somewhere to my right. Relief hits so hard my knees nearly give out. Then I hear Tristan. "Caz!" Farther away. Muffled. Jon shouts something I can't understand. Elias says something as well. Then another deafening crash cuts them off. The floor splits. I stumble backward as a jagged fracture tears across the chamber, widening so quickly I barely have time to move. Darkness yawns beneath it. "Cassius!" A shape comes through the dust. Him. He jumps the fracture and catches me around the waist just as
Caz"Gladly."The mark on my wrist erupts. White light tears through the wall of roots. Not enough to destroy them... enough to make them scream. The sound is horrible, almost painful.The roots recoil, exposing a narrow opening. I don't hesitate. I force my arm deeper. The mark burns hotter."Kyra!""Cassius!"Her voice comes from somewhere beyond the wall. She's alive. That's all I need."Left," Sinister guides. I move left obediently. A root spears through the space where my head was a heartbeat earlier."Good call.""I occasionally have those."Another lashes toward me. I duck. A second catches my shoulder. Pain tears through me as I'm thrown into the stone wall. My back hits hard. The chamber flashes white. For a second, I can't breathe.Seraphine laughs. "Still impulsive."I push myself upright. Blood runs down my arm where the root sliced through my shirt. "Still talking too much."Her smile disappears. The roots attack again.This time, I'm more observant. There is a pattern.







