Page 39 of The Cursed Wolf King

Ahead, a crumbling stone stairwell dipped down into darkness. The sound came from below, almost smug. “That’s right. In here.”

I approached carefully, scanning for any sign of a guard. Nothing. Strange for a place like this to be left unguarded, especially if she was inside. It didn’t sit right, but I couldn’t waste time questioning it. I broke the lock with a quick jolt, and I was inside.

As soon as the door swung open, I picked up the scent. Apples, cloves,mine. My wolf growled, pacing, each nerve in my body going taut as the scent wound through me, flooding every sense.

Eve.

The old woman sat in a dark corner, watching me, her lips curving into a satisfied smile.

She was on a rickety bench behind bars, her gaze fixed on me, keen and unblinking. I didn’t see Eve anywhere. Had she stolen Eve’s scent?

The dim light cast a hard shadow over her face, drawing lines around her eyes that seemed as deep as the stone around us. My attention kept sliding to the scentthat filled the air—a hint of spiced apples that sent a pang of something too close to longing through me. My wolf stirred, eager. I held him in check, forcing myself to focus.

She watched me, her mouth pulling into a wry smile. “Apologies for the mess. I wasn’t expecting company, though I sure hoped you’d show up.”

I moved closer, my eyes sweeping the room as I listened for footsteps, any sign of movement. Nothing. The herbs were still clouding my senses, but I didn’t dare let my guard down.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

Her fingers curled around the bars, her knuckles pale and sharp against the metal, but those golden rings on every wiry finger were still in place. “Well, you can imagine that when the Heraclids got word I tried to help you—that I’d suggested becoming your oracle—they had very specific ideas for my lodging.”

I wasn’t sure I believed her. It was too neat, too easy, for her to claim she was another victim in their schemes. This was the same woman who appeared out of nowhere with talk of curses and doom, yet she wanted me to believe she’d turned up in Heraclid territory for my sake.

She held my stare, almost daring me to challenge her story.

“Help me, did you?” I asked, a rough edge creeping into my tone.

She leaned in, her fingers tightening around the bars. “I did. I even warned you. And how did that work out?” She sighed, rolling her eyes. “They didn’t like that I tried to steer you toward certain truths.”

“Truths,” I repeated.

“Truths,” she said again, unflinching. “Especially when those truths implicate their own. Which is why you should set me free.” She reached one frail hand between the bars, fingers open, waiting.

My wolf rumbled in warning, and I held back, eyeing her hand as if it were a snake ready to strike. As much as I wanted to turn and walk away, I had questions, and the old woman was my only lead.

“Why should I trust you?” I asked.

The herbs must have been starting to wear off, as a hum in the distance pulled at my pack bond. A presence I recognized. A voice I knew too well.

Alaric.

Logan, are you here? You can’t possibly be on Heraclid lands. We will string you up.

A hint of a laugh slipped from her, a dry rasp. “Oh, I don’t expect trust, Alpha. I expectneed. And youneedto know about the curse. Particularly she who spoke it.”

I tried to listen to her, even as Alaric’s words rumbled in my own chest.You can’t hide. I’ll find you myself.

I had no more time.

I moved closer, my hand on the cold, damp bars. “Who?” I asked, growling with enough alpha force that the old woman recoiled. “Who spoke the curse?”

She blinked with mock innocence. “Why, you’ve already found her. And now you’ve located where she’s being held, you can kill her.”

“Who is she?” I growled. My wolf surged, demanding I shift and end the curse-sayer immediately, before Alaric had a chance to set the entire Heraclid pack on me.

A wicked grin broke across the old woman’s face.

“You already know her. She who spoke the curse is the Heraclid oracle.” She touched my arm through the bars and ice ran through my blood. “The curse-sayer is the woman you know as Eve.”

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