Page 6 of Ensnared By the Werewolf

Behave, Belinda!I’m supposed to be analyzing this pesky curse on my soul mate, not feeling him up.

I take a deep breath and concentrate.The hum of magic reverberates in my mind’s eye until it forms threads.Everyone that alters magic with any complexity perceives it in different ways.For me, it’s always been threads.I don’t know which came first, my love of embroidery or the way magic appears in the form of tangled knots.

Now it’s just about untangling the knots.

Jack’s own magic from his wolf weaves a silver thread through his presence, his soul a warm glow behind that; magic, but untouchable for one with my skills.The distant threads of my ward on the shop surround us, and I frown.

Where is the curse?I step closer, trying to concentrate.My front brushes the cloth of Jack’s jacket and he jumps.

“Sorry, I just need to—there we go!”My front almost presses to his, but I push the sensations away, scanning the threads again.

I’m so close that his minty breath warms my cheek.

I focus hard on the silver thread of Jack’s wolf, and it shimmers.There!Another thread reveals itself.A dark-green thread winds and knots around the silver thread, so tight it’s barely visible to my senses.I frown for a different reason this time.The green thread glints in the way fae spells do, and there is no portion of silver thread that isn’t wrapped with it.

I drag my hands down Jack’s thick neck, over the sleeker fur there, and dig my fingers into the flesh of his shoulders under his jacket.My magic tugs at the green thread, and Jack gasps.The texture of the curse is slippery, but it gives up its secrets after a few more nudges.

Jack isn’t going to like these secrets.

I prod a little more, and Jack’s hands that have somehow made their way to my hips tighten.I open my eyes to the world of regular darkness.

Heat bathes my front, and it’s clear that I’m violating Jack’s personal space, but with the heat comes a twist of arousal in my low belly.My fingers thread decadently through the fur of his neck.The form before me vibrates with the soft rumble of a growl, and I come to my senses.The air between us is thick with tension, and a small part of my mind is satisfied that I’m not the only one feeling this.

But we have things to discuss.I take a step back, and the large hands gripping my hips release me.

“Um, I found it,” I say.

“The curse?”Jack asks.I’ve adjusted to the dark just enough to see two pointed shapes perk up.Ears.

I nod.“Uh, yep.”

I return to my chair, trying to loosen the interest that tightens my body.

“Do you know why I’m cursed?”The earnestness in his voice breaks my heart, but I keep my face professional.

The first item on the list: deal with the curse.It’s Jack’s biggest concern and nothing should detract from it.After that’s handled, I’ll tell Jack that we are soul mates.

“It’s fae in origin, but it’s hereditary,” I say.

“Hereditary?”

“It’s as if your line has been cursed.There’s no telling how far back it starts or the reasoning behind it.”I shrug.“Pre-Council era fae curses can be because of anything from looking at them wrong to doing something actually offensive.”

Much of the conflict among the paranormal beings settled with the creation of the Council that rules over us.The system isn’t perfect, but the decrease in the number of curses being placed is good for the community, even if it means less work for curse breakers like me.

“Can you break it?”Jack asks.

I wince.“Maybe.I have some methods I want to try before we resort to a riskier one—”

“Yes, anything you have to do, do it.”He sounds hopeful.

I try to temper his expectations.“Jack, it might not work.”

“I believe in you.”

The soulful sound of that declaration has me breathless before dread rises.

“I vow to you that I’ll try my hardest.”

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