Page 28 of Castings & Curses

“What’s going to happen?” Muezza asked.

“A witch ceremony! I hope it involves a spell. I was so disappointed when I realized we missed the one they cast to call their mates to their sides. It almost makes me feel as if we’re not needed.”

“Please,” Bygul said. “Just because the spell called on their mates doesn’t mean they’ll actually recognize them when they appear. Take Natalie, for example. She’s completely oblivious. So is the wolf, by the way.”

“What wolf?” Tivali asked.

“What do you mean what wolf? The one she ate dinner with last night!”

“They weren’t together last night,” Tivali said. “She ate with her coven. It was just coincidence the wolves were there at all.”

“Besides, Jared’s already mated to Pippa,” Soraya said. “Ooooh, are you saying he has two mates? I mean, heisthe alpha.”

“Not Jared,” Bygul exclaimed exasperatedly. “Corwin.”

“The beta wolf?” Muezza exclaimed.

“Of course.”

“Why in the world would you thinkthey’remates?” Tivali asked. “They don’t even like each other.”

“She’s right, Bygul,” Muezza said. “In fact, I’m pretty sure she’s understating the case.”

“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase enemies-to-lovers?” Bygul demanded.

“No,” Tivali, Soraya and Muezza chorused.

“It’s a human thing. Apparently it’s quite common.”

“That can’t be right,” Tivali said.

“And if it is,” Muezza said, “it just proves my point.”

“What point?” Bygul asked.

“Humans areweird.”

* * *

Corwin barely gotany sleep the night before, which was why he was incredibly grumpy the next morning when his alarm went off before the sun had even begun to lighten the sky.

The rest of the pack was in good spirits, excited to be invited to a witch’s ceremony on coven land.

Personally, Corwin could have skipped it all, but since that wasn’t an option, he dragged his grumpy ass out of bed and reported for best friend duty once more. “You owe me big,” he informed his alpha as they stood on coven land, waiting for the witches to finish setting up their ‘circle of power.’

Corwin had rolled his eyes when Natalie shooed them back so the witches could begin its construction and now he rolled his eyes again when she pronounced it finished. “Just looks like a bunch of rocks to me,” he muttered.

Natalie glared at him, then clapped her hands. “Pippa and Jared in the center of the circle, facing each other.”

Everyone chuckled as Pippa’s kitten, Hocus Purrcus, pranced beside them into the circle.

Pippa and Jared faced each other and Hocus Purrcus set himself up between Pippa’s legs, staring up at Jared, almost like a guard cat, watching for weaknesses.

“Hmm, that’s fine,” Natalie said, “but step back a bit, both of you. Leave enough space for the power to flow between you.”

Corwin snorted and mouthed the words “Let the power flow between you,” to his alpha, who simply flipped him off behind his mate’s back.

“Corwin,” Natalie snapped, “and witches,” her voice softened when addressing her coven, “form a circle around them, just outside the circle of power.”

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