Page 29 of Cursed Wolf

“I’m terrified for my sister… and for us.”

“I’ll help you.” Stone comes to my side. “I can’t use your kind of magic, but I will do what I can to protect us all.”

“The sooner, the better,” Ragnar reminds me.

The urgency drums louder in my skull.

I stare at Crius, who’s been too quiet. “What about you? What do you think?”

He licks his lips and gets to his feet. “I fucking hated the idea when Ragnar first told me. What we went through was horrifying, and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone, but I don’t see another way out of this fucked up situation. That bitch has her claws in Kaira, and using the curse removal and the river may be the only way to rip her out.”

I want to admit the solution might work, but I’m scared out of my mind. Ragnar wraps his arm around my back, but instead of comfort, I break down and cry. My emotions are all over the place, and I can’t seem to think. He holds me against him, his warm breath on my cheek as his hand rubs my back.

“It’s going to be okay,” he tells me as the other two join in, embracing me. “I would never suggest anything that would harm your sister.”

“I know. It’s just scary, and I’m feeling stupid emotional right now.” When I finally come up for air, these three crazy men, who I’ve fallen so deeply for, are there to greet me with warming smiles.

“How does a foot massage sound?” Crius asks. “While you think it over?”

I laugh at him as more tears fall. “I think my tear ducts are broken.”

Grinning, Ragnar takes me in his arms, not showing any sign of letting me go, and kisses my wet cheeks.

“Cry all you need. We’ll be here to catch every tear,” Stone says, pushing my hair aside.

“Okay, now you’re making it worse by being so sweet.” I’m laughing as Jae and Nikos return.

“So, what did I miss?” Jae asks. “Is someone going to fill me in?”

Taking in a deep breath, I slowly release it. She’s not going to like it, but we’re out of time and options.

10

NARAH

“You can’t,” Jae repeats for the tenth time, tears flooding her eyes. “You’re going to kill Kaira,” she rasps, her voice choking. “I can’t even wrap my head around doing that to her.”

Holding her trembling hand, I fight the urge not to fall apart. My insides are crushed at seeing Jae so distraught.

“It’s only temporary, then I’ll bring her back,” I desperately try to explain to my sister. I don’t think I would have the strength if I had to explain this to Kaira as well. I’m praying she’ll be back with us soon enough, and all of this will be behind us.

Right now, Jae’s staring at me with tears in her eyes, and it’s ripping me apart to see her agony. I would have preferred she wasn’t brought into any of this. She’s already seen so much ugliness in this world, but to have her witness the cruel decision we have to make, the risk we’re taking with Kaira is destroying me.

“Come with me.” Taking her hand, I draw her down the hallway to Mother’s room. My pulse speeds up, seeing Kaira tied to a chair, which is chained to the bed. Rope is wound around her middle and ankles, her arms behind her back, and her head slumped forward. A thick circle of salt surrounds her, along with crushed herbs and a protection spell Stone found in one of my mother’s books.

Kaira has been this way since last night, and I trembled to see her in such a state. Every inch of me burns with guilt, but what else could we do? Lyra was dangerous. One mistake could let her escape, and one of us might be killed.

“I hate this so much.” Jae softly sobs. “I just want Kaira back. She doesn’t deserve to be tied up like a prisoner.”

“I know, but we can’t find any other way to remove the witch from Kaira’s body. My magic didn’t work, so we have to try Mother’s method. It burns me to see Kaira like this, but what happens if we don’t remove the witch possessing her? Who will she kill next?” My throat chokes, and I fight the urge to cry, trying to be strong for Jae.

She just sobs into her hands. I bring her into my embrace, stroking her hair and cooing, “It’s going to be alright. You’ll see. I bet if Kaira could have a say, she’d ask us why we haven’t already done the spell and freed her.”

Jae hiccups and looks up at me. “She would do that, then make us feel guilty. She’s always so impatient. I’m just scared for her. I don’t want to risk her life, but I can’t stand seeing her this way.”

Every word squeezes my heart, and my throat thickens. I clear it, then murmur, “Just think, when this works, she’ll be so shocked to see me in this state. Remember that time she told us she wanted to have ten kids?”

Jae giggles, wiping her eyes. “And they were all going to be girls because she wanted a pack made up of only female warriors.”

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