Page 99 of Wicked Fate

I couldn't look away as Ryker crushed the organ in his fist, blood oozing between his fingers. Felix's body crumpled to the floor.

I turned from the grisly scene, but all I saw were twelve other vampire bodies bleeding to death. My stomach churned as Ryker’s love and anger swirled through our bond. The human part of me recoiled at the brutal execution, but my wolf—she panted with savage satisfaction.

Ryker had shown everyone that he would tear apart anyone who threatened what was his. What was ours.

My wolf's approval radiated through my body and our bond like liquid heat.

Three vampires had gotten away, so when approaching footsteps echoed in the corridor, I wasn’t surprised. I wiped blood spatter from my cheek with the back of my hand.

A few witches seemed alarmed by what Ryker had done, but they tore their gazes from Felix’s body and removed their daggers while the wolf shifters unholstered their guns.

New vampires came into view. And of course, at the back was Raven.

The betrayal stung like acid in my mouth. Raven stood with our enemies like she’d always done, having played us for fools until now.

"No one hurt Raven. She's mine," Briar snarled, her voice barely human.

My sister slammed into Raven and pinned her to the wall, and the others reacted instantly. Daggers whistled through the air, and one by one, the vampires dropped.

Briar’s sense of betrayal etched deep lines into her face. She pressed her dagger to Raven’s throat.

My lungs stopped working. I didn’t want Briar to do something she’d regret.

“Before you kill me,” Raven started as her eyes filled with tears, “Let me tell you that the wolf shifter royals are in the basement. There are two witches down there that you’ll have to address. Most of the guards are running through the woods right now, attacking whoever is out there and searching for the rest of your group.”

Ryker laughed bitterly as we positioned ourselves behind Briar. His voice was cold, mocking. "And why exactly would we believe a single word from your mouth?"

“You’d smell the lie if I were lying.” Raven lifted both hands. “I’m trying to help you to make up for what I did.”

My heart wanted to believe her. The very thing that got us all in this situation now. “If a witch can make you smell like wolf shifters, then she can hide the smell of a lie.”

“No one’s doing that,” Raven said, but Briar pressed harder on her neck, and her last few words were just a whisper. “Ambrosia didn’t kill the royals. She has them in the basement, draining them of their blood so vampires can drink it. She figured out that if we drink several ounces of wolf shifter blood daily, vampires can lose our scent completely.”

Her words were like a punch to my gut. Greats-grandfather hadn’t been kidding when he’d stated that he suspected the vampire queen had been plotting this for centuries. She had every detail mapped out.

If what Raven said was true, that put the last piece of the puzzle in place—why the vampires smelled faintly of wolf shifter, and why they killed primarily with claws and ripping out necks. It was the best way to pin it on us and turn our kind against each other.

"Why would we trust you? If a witch spelled you, we wouldn’t know it," I demanded, stepping closer. As I spoke, I searched for any sign of a shadow to indicate magic on her. "You've been playing both sides this entire time."

Raven's eyes flickered from Briar to me, then to Ryker. Her shoulders slumped, but her gaze remained steady.

"You shouldn't trust me," she admitted. "I haven't given you reason to. But I'd been searching for a way out from under the queen's control before I had to betray you." Her fingers trembled against the wall. "She suspected that my loyalty had begun to change and left me out of plans.”

That could explain why some of her actions had seemed genuine.

I don’t see signs of magic,I linked, unsure what to do with this information now.

We don’t have time for this,Ryker linked, taking the spot next to Briar.Let me handle her. We can’t risk her betraying us again.

Briar’s bottom lip quivered, and I loved that Ryker understood her. She was angry, but if she killed Raven, she’d wind up living with huge regret. She had such a big heart, and I hoped the world never robbed her of that as long as I was around to keep her out of trouble.

Ryker squeezed Briar's shoulder gently.Let me.

My sister hesitated, her dagger still pressed to Raven's throat. I saw conflict in my sister's eyes, the need for justice battling with her compassion.

"She betrayed us all," Ryker said, his voice steady. "This isn't something you need to carry."

A tear trailed down Briar’s cheek as her grip loosened. She stepped back, allowing Ryker to take her place, and I moved to her side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

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