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“The one you’re looking for… is Nathaniel, isn’t it? Poor old Nate. I’ve done nothing to him.”

“You lying bitch,” Jesse spat. His shoulders quivered. I wouldn’t blame him for shifting back into his wolf to charge her on the spot.

She arched an eyebrow, completely unphased by the foaming man before her. “Careful, my dear Jesse. That loose tongue of yours always has a way of getting you into trouble. But if you think I’m lying, by all means, cross the river and claw the truth from me.”

Her words and her tone were so sweet; the threat behind them shimmered like a tinkling melody. Even Jesse had enough sense not to respond further to her baiting. His eyes instead considered the river before us, and I wondered if the witch had cast some sort of spell on it to defend herself against us.

But if Jesse and my father really stole the source of her power, she wouldn’t be able to do such a thing… would she?

“Tell us what you know, please,” I said carefully.

She lowered her chin. “What a sweet boy you are. I’ve done nothing to your dear feather, but I might know where he is and what happened to him. Imightshare this information with you.”

I waited for the condition, but her silence forced me to inquire about it.

“Name your price.”

She chuckled. “I would never want to make enemies of the KUA pack, so I only ask that we put past differences aside.” Her eyes flickered to Jesse. “Restore what was stolen from me, and I will happily assist in your search for Nathaniel.”

I understood. “Your amulet.”

Jesse yelled out in frustration. “Tell us why we shouldn’t eviscerate you where you stand.”

Cersey rolled her eyes, inspecting her fingernails. “Don’t you want to be friends? I’m sure it’s preferable to having a witch as your enemy.”

Her eyes flashed my way and my blood ran cold.

“You’re a smart boy, Orion, like your father. He understood the value of making friends.”

How could she speak of my father with such familiarity? Jesse said he’d helped him steal the amulet. That didn’t make it sound like they were on any sort of friendly terms.

“Lies are the witch’s only language,” Jesse muttered to me quietly. I nodded at his words. They were the only explanation.

“How do we know we can trust you? If you know where my father is, then all signs suggest you had a hand in his kidnapping.”

She laughed again. “Knowledge does not equal complicity. Your pack has my amulet, rendering me powerless to help in my current state. But if you want proof…”

The witch lifted a lazy finger, slowly, deliberately, to my left side.

“Your mate has already enjoyed the benefits of my friendship. I’ve no doubt she will offer a glowing testimony on my behalf.”

Just as slowly as Cersey lifted her finger, I turned to look at Diana, searching for some confirmation these were more lies from the witch. But Diana’s face told of a different story. Her wide eyes trained on the witch, and her lower lip quivered, slightly agape.

“What is she saying, Diana?” I asked in a low voice.

Diana turned her eyes to me. What was going on? Then I remembered her reaction when we came upon the cottage. She did know this witch, this Cersey. I reached for Diana’s hands, holding them in my own for comfort and warmth. They remained limp and cold.

“You can tell me,” I whispered to her in earnest. “Has she hurt you? Threatened you in some way?”

“Hurt her? Threaten her?” Cersey cackled from across the river, somehow hearing the words I only spoke to Diana. “I would never treat a friend in such a manner. If anything, I’ve helped Diana break the pack’s little curse.”

Jesse roared to life once more, shouting loud enough that his words echoed through the trees, sending birds from their rest. “If the pack is cursed, then it’s all because ofyou.”

I dropped Diana’s hands and turned around in time to catch Cersey lose her amusement entirely. Her smirk fell away, leaving behind a mask of stone with eyes like a brewing tempest on the sea. Her voice was deadly quiet but audible to us all the same. “Do not perpetuate such falsehoods. The curse originated with you, my dear Jesse. You broke a promise, and you stole from me because you are a coward.”

“I am no coward,” Jesse yelled back.

“Then, by all means, cross this river and eviscerate me all you wish, my dear.”