Page 67 of Wicked Fate

“Neverthank me.” He cut me off. “I don’t want my family to be in debt. I will see you soon.” Then he vanished.

No pop. No shimmer.

Just… gone.

Ryker let out a growl and pulled me into his arms. “I don’t trust him.”

“I kind of do, which is why I want you with me when I talk to him.” I rested my head on his chest. “I think I need him. I believe some of what he’s saying because this magic inside me is definitely not wolf.”

Ryker’s chest rose against my cheek, and he murmured, “Then I’ll be by your side the second he steps out of line.”

We stood there for a breath longer before turning back toward the house where breakfast waited.

Are you two coming or what?Briar linked again.If you’re out there having sex with wolves constantly on patrol, you’ll be giving a ton of people a show.

Ryker snarled and yanked the front door open.No other man willeversee Ember that way. I refuse to share, even visually.

We stepped inside, and the warmth of the house wrapped around me. The scents of bacon and eggs wafted through the air, cozy and grounding after everything that had just happened outside.

Kendric, Gage, and Xander were already at the table, heads down, forks scraping plates. They looked up as we entered and gave us brief nods, no questions.

Briar handed me a plate and offered one to Ryker. “Eat.”

He muttered thanks under his breath and took the seat beside Kendric. I sat next to him, still shaken but trying not to show it.

Briar sat across from me and studied me, her expression unreadable. “Something wrong?”

I forced a smile. “Nothing I’m ready to explain yet. Today’s already been too much. I just want to sit here and eat.” I reached for the spoon that was dug into the eggs and scooped some onto my plate.

She gave a curt nod. “Okay, but I want you to tell me later.”

“Okay.” I grabbed some bacon, using the trick of sayingokayas a form of acknowledgement of what she wanted, not that I’d actually do it.

Cassi joined us last, moving slower than usual. Her ankle was now the size of a grapefruit, and she limped noticeably as she crossed the room and dropped into the empty chair near the couch. She didn’t touch a plate, just tore at a piece of bread like she wasn’t really aware of what she was doing.

I looked around the table. It was clear we were all beat up. The rescue mission had lasted almost two hours, but it felt like it’d taken an entire day.

Halfway through the meal, Kendric set down his fork and looked around. “Anyone else wonder why the vampires weren’t cloaked when we came back?”

All of us glanced at one another as Gage added, “That’s a damn good point. They came at us loud and proud. No hiding.”

Cassi glanced up, dark circles prominent under her eyes. “The little girl. When she revealed the cloaked vampires earlier, she disrupted the spell holding the magic in place. The witch doing it… she’s been draining herself nonstop. That kind of sustained cloaking over a wide area—especially with combat happening—would rip through her reserves.”

“So she finally had to recharge?” Ryker leaned back in his seat.

Cassi nodded. “Exactly. She can’t cloak and fight. Not like that. Especially if she’s been working alone or without magical relay points.”

“Which means we have a small window,” Briar said. “To move, plan, and maybe strike.”

I was about to agree when a sound cut through the air.

A groan.

All our heads turned toward the couch.

The witch moved slightly beneath the blanket, her head turning against the pillow. Her mouth opened, cracked lips forming words too soft to hear.

Cassi was on her feet instantly, limping toward her. “She’s waking.”

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