Page 61 of Their Witch Bride

She continues. “Most shifters believe the virus was caused by the witches, and that you’re the only one who can cure it.”

They think we caused this? They think I’m the only one who can cure it? My stomach turns. I’m no healer. I healed Rinan, sure, but to heal an illness strong enough to kill the wolf shifters? No way.

They’re mistaken. Badly.

All I can hear is my heartbeat pounding in my ears, and my voice comes out as a whisper. “What will happen if I can’t cure it?”

Scarlet’s face contorts, and her whole body stiffens. “If you can’t cure the Illness, then there's no reason for you to be here and there’s no reason for the treaty.”

No reason for me to be here? Meaning, they’ll just kill me. Is that why the men are so harsh with me? I’m just a means to an end for them–nothing more?

My skin feels clammy. My mother and my people never thought I was capable of doing anything, but these shifters seem to think I’m capable of actually saving their kind. What’s more, even though it hasn’t been all diamonds and roses, I’ve been treated better here in a week than I have my whole life with the witches. I want to help these people. I want to show them I belong here. I can do this. Can’t I?

She flashes me a smile. “Don’t worry about it though. You’ll cure the Illness, and you’ll show everyone how useful you can be. I’m sure of it!”

Bile rises in the back of my throat. And if I don’t, I’m dead. Simple. Right?

TWENTY-ONE

Arlys

The wind whips through my fur as Drogo, Rinan, and I run through the forest. My energy is high as adrenaline courses through me. We haven’t been on a run like this in a long time. It usually helps to clear my mind, something I desperately need right now.

I wish my mind was free and clear, but the bloodied image of Princess Tara and Rinan in that bedroom keeps coming into view, clouding my thoughts. It could have killed them. Without Tara, it would have.

The bear appears in my mind, and I shiver. One wolf alone has never had the strength to take down a bear shifter. Even, usually, an alpha wolf. If a bear and a wolf fight, the wolf dies. Fortunately for us, we move in packs, so there’s strength in numbers. A woman with a sword and a wolf shifter shouldn’t have been enough either, but I’m relieved they were. I almost lost one of my best friends and the woman I married.

A woman I married as a Peace Bride. One I barely know. But one I like.

When I’m around her, I feel an intense passion unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. And there’s a possessiveness that burns through me. Even her scent calls to me like the most intoxicating meal, begging me to enjoy her. I shouldn’t feel that way about her. But every time I look at her, it’s there, a sensation that she belongs to me, and that it’s my job to take care of her.

I can’t feel like that. She’s a tool. Our pathway to a cure. That’s all. These feelings need to go away.

The problem is she comes in a sexy package, with curves, wit, and intelligence. I actually want to spend time with her, but the three of us have an agreement. No one falls for her. No one fucks her. So once she cures the Illness, this marriage can be annulled. We can be free to find our mate and live our lives the way we always wanted.

I’m not so sure that’s the smartest plan anymore. Not when my wolf likes her. Not when my body aches for her. Not when Rinan keeps staring at her like she’s the most beautiful creature to ever walk our lands.

Drogo’s voice is suddenly in my head. I know you’re upset.

I ignore him, not wanting to have this conversation right now. This is my time to escape my problems as a human. This is my time as a wolf. I glance at him on my left while we run, keeping pace with me, his eyes seeking me out.

Remember, it’s us against the world. There’s no room for anyone else, especially not some witch. She’s our enemy. Don’t let your soft heart feel sorry for her. Drogo looks at me, then forward again.

Now Rinan joins in. Agreeing not to fuck her doesn’t mean we have to treat her like shit. I like her. She fought that fucking bear to save me even though she could have just run or worse, watched it kill me. She was terrified, but she still did everything she could to save my life.

She killed a bear.

Damn, he’s right. That never even occurred to me. If she’s a witch, and our enemy, it would have been a massive help to her side to take out one of the princes of the wolf packs. And she wouldn’t even have to kill him herself, she could have run or just watched the bear rip Rinan apart.

She did neither. She fought to save his life.

Drogo growls low in my mind. Witches use spells, and both of you are falling under hers. She’s tricking you. We owe her nothing. We’re being kind by not beating her, by not punishing her for all the wolves her people have killed with their spells and tricks.

She’s not using tricks though. Drogo’s argument doesn't make sense. Rinan and I aren’t smitten with her like we would be if love spells were real, we simply… like her.

Suddenly, Rinan makes a distressed noise in our mind.

Rinan?

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