Page 149 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

“Yeah?”

I pulled her close, pressing my forehead to hers. “Don’t push too hard. Stay safe. Do what you need to help, but don’t fry your body and brain with magic. You’ll be no help to anyone if that happens. Okay?”

Her face softened a bit. “Got it. I’ll be careful. Promise.”

I kissed her then, deeply, before Harley tugged on her shirt sleeve.

“Come on, girl. I’ll help you study. It’ll be like we’re back in college.”

Once they headed upstairs, only Langston and I remained. He didn’t look all that relieved.

“Something’s still on your mind?” I asked, sitting back down.

“I can’t help thinking how bad this is gonna get if we succeed.”

“Aren’t we supposed to succeed?” I asked with a grin, though I knew exactly what he meant.

“If we manage to get all those kids out of Scottdale, Eren is going to lose his fucking mind. It might trigger him to act.”

“True, but I think there’s something else ticking away in your head. What are you really worried about?”

Langston let out an exasperated breath. “We aren’t protected, Jace. Our town, I mean. You saw what happened the other day. Not one but two feral shifters got all the way to your front yard. No one saw them. And they were kids, man. Not even seasoned fighters. What do we do if Eren launches another sneak attack on us?” He grunted in disgust. “Hell, what if he’s planning on sending guys here to kidnap our kids?”

An icy shock of fear stabbed me in the gut. That thought hadn’t once crossed my mind.

“Do you have any suggestions on how to prevent that?” I asked.

“Yeah. We should put together a militia of sorts. Train the pack members like it’s the military. He’s going to come for us. Either as revenge for rescuing his kids, or to take our children, or to go after Kirsten again. He is dead set on having a pack witch, and Eren is determined to have Kirsten.”

“That’s not happening,” I said, slamming my fist on the table. “Not on my watch. I’m prepared to kill Eren to keep Kirsten and my people safe.” I looked him in the eye. “You have my permission. Do whatever is necessary. Get with Waylan, get volunteers to start training and doing patrols around the outskirts of town. Not just men, either. Our women are strong as hell. Ask them, too.”

Langston grinned. “Yes, sir. I’ll call him as soon as I leave here.”

“Good.”

He stood, but I called to him before he got to the door. “Langston, we’re going to be okay. I swear.”

With his hand on the door, he nodded slowly. “I know. I’ll tell you this, though. There’s no alpha I’d rather have going into battle with me than you.”

After he left, I went upstairs to check on Kirsten. She was in her room with Harley. Kirsten sat at a table, an ancient book sitting open in front of her. An apple and orange sat beside her.

Harley, ignoring my entrance, sat on the bed with another book open on her lap. “Have you tried, uh, accessing your inner illusionary spirit?” She slammed the book shut and rolled her eyes. “Never mind. I don’t know what the hell that means.”

“Shhh,” Kirsten hissed. She had a hand poised over the apple, her eyes scanning the page in front of her. “I think I found something. Let me try.”

Intrigued, I leaned against the doorjamb to watch her. Kirsten’s lips moved soundlessly, and before my eyes, the apple turned into an orange. An exact copy of the one sitting beside it. An instant later, a third orange appeared beside it. My mouth fell open in surprise.

Kirsten gasped. She clasped her hands to her mouth and jumped up. As soon as she did, the spell broke. The third orange vanished, and the second turned back into an apple.

“I did it!” Kirsten squealed and smiled goofily.

“Son of a bitch,” Harley breathed, staring unblinkingly at the desk.

“Wow,” I said, the word slipping unbidden from my lips.

Kirsten whirled at the sound of my voice. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to see that happen,” I said, pointing to the table. “Looks like you’re a fast learner.”

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