Page 18 of Cursed Magic (Rejected Fate Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ L et her go,” Ryker croaked, sounding weak but determined.

Foster spun around just as Ryker lifted himself up enough to wrap his arms around David’s throat, flailing wildly.

David staggered, struggling to keep his grip on Ryker. With his free hand, he grabbed Ryker’s hand, removing it from his neck. “Chill the fuck out. We’re trying to help you,” David rasped.

I had to get to Ryker. I had to stop this. My heart thundered against my rib cage. This wasn’t going to end well if I didn’t intervene.

“The fuck you are! Ember’s trying to break free.” Ryker lifted his arm, and I saw that his reopened knife wound had stained everything red. He didn’t stop, muscles taut with distress. “Let her go, or I’ll rip your throat out.”

Foster rushed over so fast the wind blew my hair into my face. I relaxed in his grip, not wanting Ryker to hear me trying to get away anymore.

“Ryker, listen to me.” The wind stopped, and we stood only a few feet from Ryker. His gaze found mine, one eye covered by the blood running down his face. He blinked, and I had no doubt that he was hurting. I continued, “I’m okay. I just wanted to be put down. You’re hurt. Please—look at me.”

Ryker’s wild look softened, and he stopped fighting David. His grip on the vampire loosened, and he took a shaky breath and grimaced. His attention remained on me.

Finally, maybe we could get him calm and try to stop the bleeding. I took a deep breath…then anger sparked in Ryker’s eyes.

“Do not touch her,” he seethed. He straightened and pressed his hands on David’s shoulder then dropped to his feet.

“What the—” David muttered.

Ryker took an unsteady step toward me.

“Let me down.” I fought again to get free, and the iridescent sheen covered Ryker’s irises once again. I turned and whispered to Foster, so low that no one else could hear in the chaos, “It’s for your own good.”

“But you can’t—” Foster started.

“You heard her,” Raven said, her voice echoing in the clearing. “Put her down now .” She appeared between Ryker and us, blocking Ryker from me.

Ryker took another step, but his legs were shaking. Blood dripped from his reopened wound. He staggered, pain etched deep into his features. “Get your hands off her.”

“Listen to her now ,” Raven repeated. She moved to my side, her gaze steady as Foster lowered me to the ground. Then she wrapped an arm around me.

My stomach knotted. Even though I appreciated what Raven was doing, I didn’t need or want her help either. I’d find the strength to stand on my own, or I’d damn well crawl to the vehicle. Anything to get Ryker calmed enough to get care. “You’re hurt—”

“Not like you two are.” Raven shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”

“Let me help too,” Foster insisted, but before he could touch me, both Raven and I moved so that all his hands caught was air.

Ryker snarled and tried to lunge; however, it was more of a stumble. “Get away from her, or I’ll kill you.”

“But—” Foster flinched.

“We’re fine,” Raven spat. “You’ve done enough for the night. I’ll take it from here.”

He lifted both hands, which were now coated in my blood. “Understood.” Then he stepped away.

The tension flowed out of Ryker’s body, and he tried to step toward me again. “Lil rebel,” he breathed.

I tried to go toward him, but my knees buckled. Despite being mere feet from each other, we might as well have been miles apart.

“For Fate’s sake.” David rolled his eyes. “All three of you are a mess. It’s only going to get worse if we don’t get you back to the mansion and tended to.”

Ryker swayed dangerously, and David barely caught him before he hit the ground.

“I’m okay.” Somehow, I understood that he needed to reach me as much as I did him. The urge to get to him had me damn near frantic to just touch him. “Let’s get in the vehicle so we can go back to our pack.”

He wiped the eye covered with crimson, and his face twisted in agony. “Only if you stay beside me.”

That wasn’t a hard ask. “Agreed.”

David reached for Ryker again, but he shook his head. “I will not be carried.” When Foster moved in my direction, Ryker turned toward him and snarled, “And you don’t get near her again.”

I had to mash my lips together to prevent myself from laughing. Even severely injured, Ryker refused to be carried by a male vampire. That sounded about right. His wolf wouldn’t allow his ego to be challenged and didn’t want anyone who was viewed as a potential threat near me.

“I’ll help her.” Raven moved forward.

Slowly, I moved in tandem with her, and David supported a part of Ryker’s arm that didn’t have any wounds to assist him.

The five of us finally made it to the vehicle, and a lump formed in my throat.

Briar.

If over fifty vampires had come here to help us, that meant the mansion wasn’t heavily guarded right now.

Are you okay? I linked, tugging on our pack connection. As the pack alpha, I could feel her emotions a lot more than when I’d been just a member of the pack. Nothing seemed out of sorts other than the concern she’d felt when we left, and our connection was warm, meaning she was awake. Still, I needed to talk with her.

She answered immediately. Yeah, are you? I’ve been worried sick, but I didn’t want to ask and distract you if you were in the middle of a situation.

That was something Dad had howled into our ears our entire childhood. When we knew he was going to attend a meeting, we were not to interrupt unless it was a life-and-death situation. I used to think he was being dramatic, but now, thanks to having to handle true life-and-death situations, I understood. It wasn’t just having conversations; I was strategizing and having to evaluate word choice, motivations, and body language for clues .

I told her about the first witch going missing, most likely abducted, and then what had happened with the second witch just now.

What? Fifty vampire guards left here, and they didn’t tell us you were in danger? The heat of her anger pulsed through our connection. And you and Ryker didn’t alert us about it either?

Guilt sat heavy in my stomach. Reaching out to her hadn’t even crossed my mind. But now I realized why—I didn’t want her to be in danger when we were so outnumbered. You’re fifteen minutes away. You wouldn’t have gotten here in time, and there were easily over twenty attackers.

How would you feel if I were in that situation and I didn’t contact you?

I cringed so hard that the pain shot through my head once again, making me gasp. She had a point, and I didn’t want to admit it to her. So instead, I tried the only option I had left. Ryker is severely injured. He needs food and hydration. Can you work on that for him? His old wound has reopened, and he has cuts all over his face and arms. And I’m sure Raven needs blood. She’s hurt too, but not as bad as Ryker.

Ryker’s breath came unevenly, and his steps faltered. The world around me spun even faster. Even a Tilt-A-Whirl ride didn’t make me feel this dizzy.

What about you?

We reached the vehicle, and Foster opened the back door. I gripped the car roof and pulled myself into the vehicle. Sweat beaded on my forehead, but I persevered, getting into the back seat.

Ember, Briar exclaimed, pulling me back into the present. Are you hurt ?

My initial impulse was to tell her no, but then she’d be even more pissed when we arrived at the mansion.

“I’m getting in the back seat with her,” Ryker rasped as he slowly lifted himself into the vehicle. I noticed David was assisting a little without trying to be too obvious.

I’m injured, but I’ll be okay. I had to be. I just needed to eat something and rest, and then my wolf-shifter healing would kick in.

Ryker slumped beside me, laying his head on the back of the bench seat with his face turned toward me, so close that his breath caressed my skin.

How bad? Briar insisted.

Unfortunately, she knew how I operated, which didn’t bode well for me.

Raven got into the middle-row seat behind Foster while David slid into the driver’s seat. Foster typed something on his phone as David pulled onto the road, heading back to safety.

I need to eat and rest too. I bit my bottom lip, ready for the explosion.

Ember Sinclair. How could you not tell me? Her concern constricted the bond. We’re a pack and family!

I winced at the intensity of her emotions. I had hurt her again. However, I was drained and didn’t have the energy to argue with her. I’m sorry. But I’m exhausted and hurting. Can we please talk about it tomorrow?

She paused like she was battling with herself over whether to respect my wishes or let loose some of her frustration.

Luckily, I knew what that meant. She would cave. She cared so much about the people she loved, and sometimes, I wished I were more like her. If I were in her position, I wouldn’t stop lecturing me .

Fine. But only because I love you and care about your well-being. Tomorrow, we’re going to have this discussion. You’re not getting out of it.

She used to threaten that but then relent. Not this time; something inside me understood that she was going to follow through. After our pack had been killed, not only had I changed, but Briar had too, and she’d clearly grown a backbone. Thank you. And I love you too, baby wolf. I used Dad’s term of endearment for her.

Ryker’s breathing became shallow, and his chest rose and fell faster than normal. Blood began congealing on his face and arms, but his side remained bright red. He was still bleeding. My wolf whimpered, and my blood froze. He moved a little and placed his head on my shoulder as he snored.

My arm ached where his body pressed against claw marks. Still, he was resting, and there was no way in hell I would move and risk disturbing him.

I had one last concern. “Should we not wait for the other vampires?” I felt bad leaving them behind.

“No.” Raven glanced over her shoulder. “Lucinda and the others know we’re heading back to the mansion. There’s plenty of room for all the vampires in the rest of the vehicles. They’ll call me if something concerning happens.”

That was more than fine with me. Lucinda hated us, so the farther away we were from one another, the better.

I listened to Ryker’s heartbeat, letting my thoughts race. The witch’s warning about the spell cast upon him echoed in my mind. Acid burned my throat, and cold sweat pooled in my armpits. I had to get answers from him, and I hated that he’d kept so much from me and his pack members. Everything had to be addressed, but we first had to heal.

The discomfort in my arm intensified, and nausea swirled in my stomach in sync with the world around me. I tried staring out the window, but all that accomplished was making me gag.

Between the silence, the stench of blood, and the strained atmosphere, the car ride seemed unending. But eventually, we pulled up to the mansion and stopped in front of the Queen Ambrosia statue.

Even before David put the car in park, Gage and Kendric raced out the front door toward us. Gage’s usual smile was gone, replaced by a deep scowl. If I’d thought Gage’s expression was concerning, that changed when my attention landed on Kendric.

With a body so tense I wasn’t sure how he could move and his nostrils flaring, Kendric looked ready to go to war. The two of them hurried to the passenger door and yanked it open.

When Kendric saw Raven, his expression softened. “Are you okay?” He placed his hands gently on her arms.

“I’m fine. Ryker and Ember are way worse off than me.”

“You better be glad you let the queen know what was going on and she had us come for backup,” David interjected.

Kendric’s face hardened, and he glanced in the back seat at Ryker and me. His nostrils flared. “You took the time to inform the queen?”

“Kendric, I—” Raven started as she climbed out of the vehicle and stood before him.

“You need to move ,” he bit out. “Gage and I will help Ember and Ryker inside to be taken care of.”

For the first time, I saw Raven sag. The confidence she always carried vanished before my eyes at the words of the man she clearly loved. “Listen—”

He moved past her and climbed into the vehicle, not looking back or acknowledging her. When he looked over Ryker and me, his expression strained.

Foster and David told Raven they were heading inside to check in with the other guards. Their footsteps grew quieter as they walked away.

“How bad off is he?” Kendric asked softly as if he was afraid of bothering Ryker.

I licked my lips, trying to wet my dry mouth. “He’s lost a lot of blood. He needs calories and rest.”

“Briar is taking care of that.” Kendric’s large form was cramped in the small opening. “Here, let’s get you out first.” He gently lifted Ryker’s head from my shoulder then moved so I could get out.

Gage leaned in to support some of my weight. Once I was out, he lifted me into his arms and waited outside the car.

Once again, my skin crawled, but not as bad as it had with Foster.

Gage examined my face and smirked, coming off like the friend I knew. He chuckled. “I always knew that one day I would sweep you off your feet.” He waggled his brows.

Despite my dizziness, I managed to note his reaction. I snorted. “That was super cheesy.”

“Yes, but it got a smile out of you, which was the goal.” He winked.

A little bit of anxiety unwound in my chest, and soon, Kendric came out with Ryker in his arms, carried like a princess. As soon as Kendric was out of the car, Raven was at his side.

She opened her mouth, but Kendric strode past her to Gage, and we headed inside. Raven followed us through the house, her footsteps soft and deliberate .

Within seconds, we entered the bedroom, where a pale-faced Briar stood by Ryker’s bed, holding two red Solo cups. The mattress was covered in a thick white comforter to protect it from bloodstains.

I could only assume they used white so they could bleach it when we were done with them.

“Put them both here,” Briar commanded, urgency in her voice as she gestured to the bed.

The two men obeyed, Gage settling me on the side closest to my sister. My head spun, but Briar handed one cup to Gage while she pressed the straw of the other to my lips. “Drink this.”

The potent scent of nutrients wafted from it—protein powder, sugar, electrolytes. I took a huge gulp, the liquid coating my throat and washing away the taste of blood.

I glanced at Ryker, who drank as he slept. No doubt the influence of his wolf wanting to heal.

A huge sigh left me. Maybe he’d be okay.

“Kendric, I know you’re upset.” Raven bit her lip. “But—”

Kendric spun around, his normally calm eyes blazing. He snarled, “Are you sure you want to do this now?”