Page 28 of Cursed

I guess some of the damage is also karma from the Goddess—because she has abused the Goddess’s chosen one. I don’t know where that thought comes from, but as soon as I think it, I know I’m right.

Leeann glares at me. “Well?” She tries to straighten her shoulders to stand proud, but her haggard appearance tells another story. Without her daughter to abuse, she and her boyfriend have turned on each other to work out their need to dominate. It doesn’t appear to be working out for either of them.

I frown at the male next to her. “Can I speak with you in private?” I wave her closer.

She narrows her eyes at me, but she steps forward. She glares at Maxum, Kat, and Douglas standing at the curb.

I show her the portrait of Tate Mannyx, keeping it hidden from her boyfriend. I watch for a reaction, and I’m rewarded with one. Her eyes widen when she spies the crescent mark.

“This is him, isn’t it?” I whisper.

Her face closes off again, and she grimaces. “Who?”

But I have all the confirmation that I need from her reactions. “No one.”

“No. Tell me. Who is that?” she asks, since she wants to know about the male who impregnated her and moved on without telling her his real name. “Why do you want to know about him?”

“We have reason to believe he might be after your daughter. But since you don’t recognize him, we will have to move on and hope to discover who he is.”

“After her?” Leeann’s hackles are raised. Apparently, she is the only one who is allowed to harass her child.

“Shayla has been attacked a few times,” I say, without much emotion behind the words, although I feel a tornado of rage. My wolf wants to rip Leeann’s throat out for hurting our sweet love. I’m inclined to let him.

“And what about her mate bond with the dragon?” she asks.

I glower at the despicable creature. Leeann’s wondering if now she will be able to extort a substantial sum from the powerful and wealthy Lewellyn family through her daughter.

“Unresolved,” I state firmly and truthfully.

“Hmph.” Leeann spins on her heel, realizing I’m not going to give her the answers she wants, and almost falls over from her drunkenness.

I could reach out to catch her, but I don’t want to touch the vile thing. I might wring her neck instead.

She doesn’t fall. I suppose she’s had years to perfect her drunken walk.

“What the fuck was that all about?” her boyfriend demands.

“None of your fucking business,” she snaps back.

“They come here and disrespect us, questioning you, and you’re gonna let that slide?”

“Thank you for your time,” I say, turning and walking away. I keep them in my peripheral vision. I gesture to Maxum and my students to move along.

As I step to the curb, I see a ball of fire fly at us. I duck and pull Kat to my side, protecting her from the onslaught. Maxum and Douglas come in handy and redirect the flames being lodged our way.

Fortunately, her mother’s aim isn’t great anyway.

The neighbor across the street looks out their window, and I see them phoning someone with a landline.

“We need to get out of here. Enforcers will be coming,” I hiss as we run from the neighborhood.

As we turn down a side street, the Enforcer’s car barrels past us.

“Go to your mate. I’ll make sure these two brats are safe.” Maxum waves me off.

Kat begins to protest, but Maxum opens a portal and physically pulls them through before she can get past the words, “No. Wait—”

Walking back to the corner, I stare down the road. Leeann and her asshole boyfriend are being dragged out of their house. Likely, they will be taken away to the Ravenhollow Asylum for the attack the neighbor witnessed.

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