Page 31 of Curses and Casualties (Hunters Hollow #3)

I look around at my friends. Ethan looks terrified but resolute. Scarlett is nodding slowly, like she’s already made her decision. And Ryan... Ryan is waiting for me to choose.

What do you think? I ask Luna.

Pack survives first. Everything else comes after.

She’s right. We can’t save anyone if we’re dead.

“Fine,” I say, pulling the pouch of heartstones from my pack. “But we’re not committing to any timeline for this revolution. We deal with the immediate threat first.”

“Of course.” Evanora’s eyes gleam as I place the pouch on the coffee table. “The Supernatural Council will undoubtedly make themselves your enemies long before you have to make any difficult decisions about mine.”

I reluctantly reach up and unclasp Amara’s protection necklace. It feels like taking off armor before walking into battle. Evanora’s fingers brush mine as she takes it, and I feel a jolt of her magic—deep, powerful, and far more dangerous than her modern exterior suggests.

“Excellent. Now then, let’s discuss how to save your lives, shall we?” She moves to a cabinet that definitely wasn’t there a moment ago. “The ritual requires three elements: blessed moonwater, wolfsbane to thin the veil, and a piece of Luna’s heartstone.”

She pulls out a small crystal vial filled with silver liquid.

“This is how you’ll bless your moonwater.

” She tosses the vial to Ryan, who catches it reflexively.

“One drop of my blood in the moonwater before the ritual. Then add a pinch of wolfsbane, a half teaspoon of ground heartstone, and mix it all together. You will both need to drink it.”

“That’s it?” I ask. “We just drink this and complete the mating ritual?”

“Well, you also have to survive the experience. The elixir will weaken the curse, yes, but it will also weaken both of you. Expect pain and confusion, possibly some hallucinations.” She glances slyly at Ryan.

“I suggest you anchor each other. The bond is always strongest when participants fully embrace it.”

“And if we don’t complete the ritual before the supermoon ends?” Ryan asks, weighing the vial in his palm.

“Then Luna’s spirit will remain caught between worlds. Both she and Georgia will fade, and when that happens, so will Kane. The curse will reset, trapping their lineages in limbo until someone else stumbles on the right heartstone and starts the cycle over again.”

I press a hand to my chest, feeling Luna’s panic beneath my ribs. I can’t be trapped in my heartstone again!

“And if we succeed?” I ask.

“Then you and your mate will change everything. For yourselves, for the entire supernatural world.” Evanora’s expression grows serious. “But you won’t be without opposition. The Elders don’t want the Soul Bond to succeed—it threatens everything the Supernatural Council has built their power on.”

“So what you’re saying is that we’ll never be safe?” Scarlett asks.

“Not until the Council has been dismantled and we have enough Soul Bound pairs throughout the supernatural world that this can never happen again.” Evanora stands. “Which is where our arrangement becomes mutually beneficial.”

She pulls out a small bag and presses it into my hands. “The wolfsbane you need. Plus, some blessed salt and a few other useful things. To help keep you safe before the ritual and beyond.”

“Thank you,” I say, though the words feel strange after everything we’ve just agreed to.

“Don’t thank me yet, dear. Thank me when you’re both alive and bonded and Luna is free.” She pauses, then looks directly at Scarlett. “Now, I believe there’s something else troubling your friend here?”

“Listen, we’re out of heartstone, and I lost all our money when we had to run from the enforcers during the Ulfhéenar’s guest-rite ceremony,” Scarlett argues. “I don’t have anything left to pay you with.”

Evanora raises a single eyebrow then looks toward me. “I will consider this one a favor between friends.”

Scarlett shoots me a warning look, but I nod my agreement and press on. “She’s dealing with an unwanted alpha mark. There’s also this mate bond situation that’s causing her pain.”

“I’m fine,” Scarlett says quickly.

“You’re not fine,” I counter. “You can barely sit still, you’ve been in pain for days, and you won’t even let Ryan and I help you again.”

“That’s because there’s no point. It’ll just come right back as soon as?—”

“I’d like to examine you.” Evanora cuts Scarlett’s argument short, studying her with those purple eyes. “May I?” She extends her hand.

Scarlett hesitates. “What are you going to do?”

“Just look. Sometimes the best way to understand a problem is to see it from the inside.”

After a long moment, Scarlett reaches out and places her hand in Evanora’s. The moment their skin touches, Evanora’s eyes flash, and I feel the surge of magic in the room like electricity before a storm.

For several heartbeats, neither woman moves. Then, quite suddenly, Evanora gasps and jerks back as if she’s been burned.

“Well,” she breathes, staring at Scarlett with something that looks like awe. “That was unexpected.”

“What?” Scarlett demands. “What did you see?”

“The alpha mark is there, yes. Crude work—forced and without proper bonding rituals. I can remove that easily enough.” She pauses. “But the other thing you’re feeling... I’m afraid I can’t help you there.”

“The mate bond,” Scarlett says flatly. “You can’t break it?”

“Some bonds are beyond my ability to sever. This one will have to be resolved between you and your mate.”

“He rejected me the moment he saw me. I don’t understand why this is still so intense. The goddess should have let go of me by now.”

“The pain will fade when the bond is accepted,” Evanora says gently.

“Accepted?” Scarlett’s brow knits in tight. “What part of ‘he rejected me’ aren’t you getting?”

“What part of ‘some bonds are beyond my ability to sever’ aren’t you getting?” Evanora lets out a small sigh. “Nevertheless, I can remove that Alpha’s mark. It will hurt for a moment, but then it will be gone forever.”

“Really?”

“Really. Though I should warn you—removing it might make the other bond feel stronger by comparison.”

Scarlett considers this, then nods firmly. “Do it.”

Evanora places both hands on either side of Scarlett’s neck. Her eyes flash bright again, and this time the magic in the air turns sharp, almost angry.

Scarlett screams.

It’s brief—maybe three seconds—but the sound of pure agony that tears from her throat makes us all lurch forward. Then it’s over, and Evanora is stepping back, looking satisfied.

“There,” she says calmly. “That’s done.”

Scarlett is gasping, tears streaming down her face, but when she touches her neck, wonder replaces the pain. “It’s gone. The mark—I can’t feel it anymore.” She looks around, searching. “I can’t feel him anymore. Oh my god, this is wonderful!”

“Excellent. You’re now free of that particular bastard forever.” Evanora moves toward the door. “Now, I’ll let you be on your way. You have a ritual to prepare for, and the supermoon waits for no one.”

As we prepare to leave, she looks directly at Scarlett. “And child? When you see him again—and you will—remember that sometimes the people who fight love the hardest are the ones who need it most.”

As we ride the elevator down, I notice Scarlett touching her neck where the Alpha’s mark used to be, a look of wonder on her face.

“How does it feel?” I ask.

“Like I can breathe again,” she says. “Like I’m finally myself.” Then her expression shifts, and she presses her hand to her chest. “But the other thing... it’s stronger now. Like she warned.”

“Well, maybe as soon as this ritual is done, we can all travel back to his compound and shake some sense into him for you?” I suggest, and Scarlett gives me a half smile.

“Don’t call me crazy. But… I kind of feel like maybe he’s not at his compound. Like maybe he’s…”

“The one following us,” I finish. She nods.

“I know it makes no sense—the man has bound his wolf—but… there’s a wolf out there, Georgie. And I can’t shake the feeling it’s his.”