Page 10 of Curses and Casualties (Hunters Hollow #3)

Georgia

“ L et’s talk about why you’re here.” Amara turns to me and Ryan, and the playful atmosphere in the booth shifts—even the ambient noise of the tavern seems to dim. “You’ve come looking for safety, of course. But what I think you really need is knowledge and some allies. I can help you with both.”

“Why?” Ethan asks, ever the skeptical one.

Amara’s lips twitch into a half-smile, the kind that carries more sorrow than amusement.

“Because this isn’t just about the Soul Bond returning,” she explains, locking eyes with both Ryan and me.

“This quest you’re on involves all of us here in this room and beyond.

The magic our world is built upon is fading.

We are dying. And without the renewal your bond promises, without fulfilling the prophecy, our oblivion is certain. ”

Ryan sets down his tea, the ceramic clicking against the wooden table. “There’s a prophecy?”

He and I exchange a quick glance, our thoughts reeling through our bond. We were aware that some thought the return of the Soul Bond was imperative to shifterkind’s survival. But we had no idea that the entirety of the supernatural world depended on it as well.

All connected, Luna murmurs weakly. What affects one, affects all.

Amara nods solemnly. “Yes, a prophecy that speaks of a pair, soul-bonded, whose unity will herald a new era of balance and harmony among all magical entities. But”—her tone becomes tinged with a warning—”there are those who fear change, who would do anything to maintain the status quo, even if it means the destruction of everything we hold dear. ”

“I don’t understand,” I say, the prick of fear pressing on the backs of my eyes.

My glow dims with my distress. “How are Ryan and I responsible for saving everyone? I mean, I’m just some random person who fell on a rock then became entangled in a world I had no idea of.

What is it about the two of us being together that’s supposed to save everyone? ”

Ryan reaches over and squeezes my hand as he addresses Amara.

“I don’t think either of us expected our bond to carry so much weight.

Destiny is responsible for bringing all fated pairs together, so we accept that our union is meant to be.

We can even understand how a bond like ours could help strengthen shifterkind in the near future.

But how is it that our love could essentially be the linchpin for the survival of all magical beings? ”

Amara presses her lips into a thin line, clearly choosing her words carefully.

“Everything supernatural is connected through a web of magic, much like a tapestry woven with countless threads. Your Soul Bond acts as a vital thread in that tapestry. Imagine, if you will, a tapestry fraying at the edges, each thread weakening under the strain of time and conflict. Your bond is like a golden thread capable of not just repairing that tapestry but also strengthening it against future wear.”

Ryan and I exchange glances. “But how?” I ask, understanding less the more she explains.

Amara stands, smoothing down her flowing skirts. “Come, let me show you something,” she says, beckoning us to follow her toward a large, ornately carved door at the end of the room.

As we walk through the tavern, I notice how the other patrons watch us with a mixture of hope and curiosity. A small brownie bows as we pass, and the vampire at the bar raises his glass in what seems like a salute.

Inside is a sitting room of sorts, books and bric-a-brac cluttering almost every surface.

The air smells of old paper and sage. Above a mantle is a painting, the scene depicted very much like the one from Ryan’s cabin where the first wolf shifter fell in love with the moon goddess and was granted the power to transform.

“This tale,” Amara starts, stopping in front of the painting, “although a cornerstone of shifter lore, holds more truth than most understand.” She gestures toward the painting with a graceful sweep of her hand.

“The very first shifter was not just a magical being. He was a convergence of celestial intent and earthly desire, embodying the unity of nature and the cosmos. His transformation was the catalyst that brought the supernatural into existence, unleashing a surge of magic that has flowed through the veins of every magical being since.”

Amara pauses, allowing us to absorb her words before continuing.

The painting seems to shimmer as she speaks, as if responding to her words.

“Every shifter since him, every witch, every vampire and creature of the supernatural realm has carried a spark of that original magic. It’s what binds us all together, separating us from the mundane world.

But as that magic fades, so too does the fabric of our very existence.

It weakens the bonds that connect us, diminishing our powers and shortening our lifespans.

” She takes a deep breath, her eyes scanning our faces to ensure we’re following.

“Without the Soul Bond maintaining this delicate balance, we’re seeing a decline across all magical species.

Fewer magical creatures are being born, and those that are often have weaker connections to their innate powers.

Sometimes they’re just human, with no magic at all. ”

Darius nods gravely, moving to stand beside his partner. “This decline isn’t just about numbers. It’s about the very essence of magic in our world.”

“Exactly,” Amara continues. “Less magical creatures means fewer shifters. Fewer shifters means less heartstones are produced. And less heartstones...”

“Means less magic is poured back into the earth,” Ethan finishes, his eyes widening with understanding. His suspicion seems to be giving way to genuine concern.

“Precisely,” Amara confirms. “It’s a vicious cycle. The heartstones aren’t just a source of power for witches or a commodity to be traded. They’re a crucial part of the magical ecosystem. When shifters pass on, they leave behind these stones, infused with raw, primal magic.”

Darius leans forward, his expression grim. “But here’s where the Arcane Council’s manipulation comes in. That cave you all protect so vehemently?”

“The Soulcave?” Scarlett asks, shifting uncomfortably. I notice her hand unconsciously goes to her newly tattooed shoulder.

“That’s the one,” Darius confirms. “It’s not a natural formation. The Council had it purposely built and spelled centuries ago.”

Ryan tenses beside me, his grip on my hand tightening. “Spelled? For what purpose?”

Amara lets out a heavy sigh. “To control the flow of magic. They created a compulsion, subtle but powerful, that draws shifters to the cave when their time is near. It’s why so many of your kind choose to ‘let go’ there.”

I feel a chill run down my spine as the implications sink in. My glow flickers erratically. “So the Council is... harvesting the heartstones?”

“Exactly.” Darius nods. “Instead of the magic naturally seeping back into the earth, nourishing and strengthening the supernatural world as a whole, it’s being stockpiled and controlled.”

“They’ve turned our life force into a commodity,” Ryan growls, his anger palpable. I can feel it like wildfire.

Amara nods. “And without this constant, natural influx of magic...”

“You all grow weaker,” Darius finishes. “Not just individually, but as a collective. The barriers between our world and the mundane world thin. Our sanctuaries become harder to maintain. Abilities diminish.”

“And if this continues unchecked,” Amara adds. “Eventually, we’ll simply cease to exist. The magic that defines us, that makes us who and what we are, will fade away entirely.”

The room falls silent. The weight of this revelation presses down on all of us. This isn’t just about shifters anymore. The entire supernatural world is at stake, all because of the Arcane Council’s greed and manipulation.

Must fix, Luna whispers urgently in my mind. Must restore balance.

“But how does our Soul Bond change this?” I ask, my voice seeming too loud in the tension-filled room.

Amara steps closer and takes both Ryan’s and my hands in hers.

Her touch sends a jolt through me, and my glow brightens in response.

“Your bond, Georgia and Ryan, has the potential to break this cycle. It’s a connection so pure and powerful that it could shatter the Council’s hold on the Soulcave and restore the natural flow of magic to the rest of us. ”

“So the Soulcave is like a dam, and their bond could break that?” Scarlett muses, her tactical mind already working through the implications.

Darius nods, his expression intense. “Exactly. Think of the Soulcave as a chokepoint for magic. Right now, it’s controlled and constricted. But if Georgia and Ryan can unlock it with their bond, it would be like opening the floodgates.”

Holy shit. I knit my brow together. The idea that our bond could be so powerful, so imperative, is…terrifying. I’m supposed to be someone who studies cool rocks. Not the savior of the supernatural world.

Ryan squeezes my hand, his thoughts as overwhelmed as mine are. “What exactly would we need to do?” he asks, his voice steady despite the turmoil I can feel swirling within him.

Amara releases our hands, her expression thoughtful.

“The full extent of what your bond can do is still largely unknown. But I believe that completing it—fully embracing your connection and allowing it to reach its full potential—would create a surge of magic powerful enough to destroy the Soulcave and the Council’s control along with it. ”

Ethan, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet, finally speaks up. “So, what’s the catch? There’s always a catch with these things.”

Amara and Darius exchange a glance that makes my stomach clench with apprehension.

“The catch,” Amara says slowly, “is that attempting this will put a target on your backs bigger than you can imagine. The Council won’t sit idly by while you threaten their power structure.”

“We’re already being hunted,” Scarlett points out, absently rubbing her tattooed shoulder.

“True. But so far, it’s just your pack,” Darius adds. “That’s only the start of this. Between now and the next supermoon, things will escalate significantly. It won’t just be your pack after you, the Elders will bring in reinforcements from every pack they influence.”

I feel the chill of his words creep down my spine. Three weeks until the next supermoon—not nearly enough time to prepare for a war on such a massive scale. My glow dims to almost nothing as fear takes hold.

Ryan tightens his grip on my hand, both of us trying to find comfort in the familiar touch. “We’ll need allies,” he says. “There’s no way we can do this alone.”

“I agree,” Amara says. “And tomorrow I’ll take you to meet someone who I think can help. For now though, you must rest. You’re safe here, and you’ll need your strength for what’s to come.”