Page 13 of Dawn Unearthed

“You’re getting that frown on your face. The line between your brows tells me you’re thinking about Alden and Ariel. She’s going to have to challenge him soon. For the peace of our pack.”

I sighed and stomped to the kitchen, needing a drink. Alcohol didn’t last long in our systems, at least not enough to do anything, but there were some bear-made honey beers that did a decent job of it. Our metabolism ran through alcohol far too quickly for my liking, but I needed a damn beer anyway.

“What happened out there before I found you? The others aren’t here, you can tell me. You can trust me.”

I opened two beers and handed a bottle to Trace. “Trust isn’t the problem. Figuring out what the hell I’m doing is the issue.”

“And what is that?” Trace asked, taking a sip of his beer.

“I don’t know.” I let out a breath. Trace stared at me in that unnerving way he had, and I knew if he was patient for long enough, I would eventually spill. So did he, and that was the problem. “I was out for a walk, checking the perimeter because of that unsettled feeling Rowen’s been having, and someone said a storm was coming.”

Trace nodded. “Do you think Rowen’s weird feeling is because her new witch finally arrived?”

I shook my head, feeling certain of one thing, at least. “No, she’s known Sage was on her way for a while now, though she never mentioned her by name. Rowen never had an uneasy feeling about it. But there seems to be something different in the air now. Maybe it has to do with why we need the coven to be stronger to begin with. As in what’s coming to make all of us increase our patrols.” I let out a breath and finally explained the darkness in detail, something I should have done long ago.

Trace’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. “I knew it was more than a feeling. There’s an actual curse around the town, and something is coming to destroy us.”

“We need to tell the pack,” I said softly.

The witches had founded Ravenwood, but more than bears and witches lived within its wards. The town knew that magic and everything beyond it existed. It was an open secret, one the city, including the humans within it, protected fiercely. Shifters could walk around in either form and be welcomed here. Witches could openly practice magic, even if Rowen was the only true power left within the town’s borders. Some witches, like Penelope, had minimal abilities, those who weren’t part of the coven because it would be dangerous for them since their power was tied to their life-force. But they still had enough to help ward their homes or work essence and warmth into goods. And could help with a small healing spell or aid Rowen with some of her duties.

I knew Laurel had a complicated relationship with the coven for reasons of her own and couldn’t give as much as she’d been able to when she was younger. I didn’t blame her for not wanting to nearly kill herself every time she used magic.

The town of Ravenwood protected its people and its secrets, but Rowen had long knownthatsomethingwas coming. As our unofficial leader, our mayor being but a showpiece for the humans, Rowen knew when something was on the horizon that could threaten us all.

“And the storm came out of nowhere?” Trace asked. I nodded, pulling myself back to the conversation at hand.

“You saw it. We didn’t know it was coming at all, let alone that it would hit as hard as it did. Lightning struck a tree, and I didn’t move out of the way fast enough.”

Trace’s brows rose. “That must have been some tree, considering you’re the fastest of us all.”

That made me snort. “I don’t think Frank would agree.”

Trace’s eyes filled with humor, his bear making the rim of his eyes glow gold. “Frank is nearing seventy. I don’t think he’s as fast as he used to be.”

I laughed. “That old jaguar is still pretty damn quick. Though not as fast as that cheetah that came through town that one time.”

“It’s too cold up here for either of them, but Frank likes it where he is—even if the cold makes his old bones ache,” Trace said, mimicking Frank’s voice.

I sighed, draining the last of my beer. “We need to get to the pack circle.”

“We will, as soon as you tell me the rest of it. Lightning hit a tree, and it fell on you. I still don’t get how that happened.”

“I don’t either. We both know that storm wasn’t natural.”

My brother sighed. “No, it wasn’t. Since it happened when that new, pretty little witch showed up, it must have something to do with the coven.”

I frowned. “You think she’s pretty?”

“Hell, yeah. You saw those wide eyes and that plump little mouth.” Trace raised a brow, and I realized my chest was rumbling.

I cleared my throat. “Sorry.”

“Well, then. That answers that.”

“That answers nothing,” I growled, annoyed with myself and my bear.

“You’re not going to tell your dear old triplet that you just found your mate?”

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