Page 8 of Wicked Fate

I whipped my head toward Ryker, intending to communicate that he shouldn’t hurt this man. I moved between him and the strange man, wanting to protect them both.

But when I glanced behind me to make sure he wouldn’t hurt Ryker, the strange man wasn’t there.

CHAPTERTHREE

He’d vanished into thin air.

My head spun. How was that possible? There had been no rustle of retreating footsteps, no blur of movement, nor even a flicker of shadow to prove he’d been there at all.

Just... emptiness.

The otherworldly floral scent had already begun to disperse.

Almost like I’d imagined it.

My heart thudded against my ribs, and I took a step, damn near tripping over Ryker’s huge wolfish form. He leaned forward, steadying me, and growled, deep and threatening.

I scanned the area, desperate to find some trace. A bent twig. A footprint. Anything.

But the earth was undisturbed, and not even the mulch had shifted.

What the hell?My pulse roared in my ears as if my sanity was being tested. None of this made sense. Even with the witches, I was able to see a trace of them.

As soon as my feet steadied, Ryker charged in the direction I’d been staring at. His claws dug into the mulch as he sniffed, searching for the enemy.

I wanted to tell him that the man was gone, but I couldn’t. Not with us both in wolf form. I swallowed hard at the possibility that I could actually be losing my mind.

Ryker’s fur stood on end as he continued trying to pick up the scent of what had bothered me so much. But he walked in circles, trying to locate it. His head tilted as he glanced at me, the gold in his eyes warming like he was pack linking with the others.

Their footsteps were now upon us, and they stormed into the small opening. Gage, Kendric, and Xander each held a gun while Briar ran directly to me.

“Ember, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice full of concern and tenderness. She touched my shoulder lightly.

I…I blinked a few times, still trying to come to terms with what I’d seen.I saw someone strange, and then he just vanished,I linked. I felt like I was twelve again, waking from a nightmare and not sure what was real. But this hadn’t been a dream. My magic still buzzed beneath my skin, sharp and unsettled.

Briar told the others what I’d said, and I wanted to avert my gaze downward. However, I couldn’t be seen as weaker than I already seemed to be.

“Vanished how?” Kendric narrowed his eyes. “Like shadows again? Why would the vampires need to continue to cloak themselves?”

I don’t think it was the shadows.I shook my head, trying like hell to get my nervous energy out.He didn’t smell like a vampire or a wolf shifter, and his presence didn’t feel like theirs. He was… different in every way, even in appearance.

Once again, Briar recited my words.

Gage lowered his weapon but didn’t holster it, his voice rough. “Different how? Because right now, you aren’t making much sense.”

My warm magic cooled like the strange man’s absence allowed it to calm once again, so I shook, trying to rid myself of the cold creeping into my bones.I know this is weird, but his skin was more gold than brown or tan, and he had pointy ears. It was as if he materialized and vanished into thin air.

As Briar informed everyone, Ryker huffed and looked toward the woods again. He then glanced back at me, and I could see the concern in his eyes.

I swear I’m not losing it.But even the words in my mind came out a little too sharp and a little too desperate, revealing my own fear.

Briar petted my head and linked,We know you’re not. But we’re all raw and vulnerable right now.Then she began talking out loud to the other four. “The vampires were close and scared, so maybe they have their witch messing with you right now like a lingering aftereffect to sow doubt among everyone here.”

Some of the weight on my shoulders lifted. That explanation made sense, which meant that the vampires wanted me and the others to believe I was going crazy.You think she cast a spell on me?

She nodded.Maybe.

“You got a point,” Kendric muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “If this is the same kind of magic Queen Ambrosia’s witch used, maybe she can also mess with our minds.”

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