Page 52 of Castings & Curses

“Ya think?” Bygul asked.

“Oh, come on!” She said. “There’s no way I could have possibly predicted thatNataliewould be the one to climb the tree. I honestly thought Corwin would climb it, recover her hat and become a hero in her eyes.”

“Seriously, Soraya?” Tivali demanded. “Did you learn nothing from the polars?”

“The polars? What polars?”

“The bears!” Muezza exploded. “Don’t you remember the giant thump that bear made on his way down?”

“And he was an instant hero to his mate. Instant! He saved the cat! Besides, he’s a bear. Ofcourse,he’s no good at climbing trees.”

Bygul sighed. “Whatever. Moonbeamdidenjoy stealing her hat, so there’s that, at least.”

“Yes, but if the witch falls, I willneverforgive you, Soraya,” Tivali said.

“Worse,Moonbeamwill never forgive you,” Muezza growled.

And there it was—the consequence that actually worried Soraya. “I’m sure the witch will be fine. Right? Bygul, right?”

Bygul just shook his head, unable to offer any platitudes as they watched the witch climb higher and higher.

What had Moonbeam beenthinkingto go so high in that tree?

“It’s the alligator thing again,” Tivali muttered. “I swear, that cat treats every obstacle like it’s an alligator to be smacked around.”

* * *

Natalie was trying desperately notto think about how high she was off the ground when someone far below screeched at Corwin about letting his mate climb a tree.

The words landed like a bomb and for one interminable minute, Natalie was certain she was going to fall.

At the last second, she managed to catch her balance and then just stood there, frozen on a limb, clutching the one above her for dear life, wondering if she was going mad.

Surely, she hadn’t heard what she thought she had.

It just wasn’t possible.

Was it?

She thought back over the last couple days and how weird Corwin had been acting.

Ever since the ceremony, now that she thought about it.

A ceremony he’d interrupted because of a text sheknewhe’d never gotten.

Holy shit.

Something must have happened during the ceremony that convinced him she was his mate.

That’swhy he’d been acting so weird ever since.

Silly wolf.

First, she needed to speed up this rescue.

Then she’d set that wolf straight.

Bedmates, maybe.

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