Page 11 of The Cursed and the Broken
His crooked grin sent me into a panic and I found my gaze lingering on the dimple that formed with that smile. Just one on his right cheek. I pushed to my feet as he stared at me, those dark eyes penetrating deep beneath my skin. It felt like he could see all of me, knew all my secrets.
“My, but you are interesting.”
The way he said that made me feel like a lamb about to be devoured and I scowled. What annoyed me even more is that my skin tingled where his gaze dragged over me. Averting my eyes, I glanced around the forest floor and flinched at the sight. Blood pooled everywhere, congealing on frosted leaves and logs. Scattered bones glowed eerily in the filtered sunlight, clumps of black fur and strips of skin still clinging to them.
I had done this. I had decimated the pack in seconds. My hands still trembled with the aftermath of using so much magic. I had always known something dark slumbered inside me—had seen flickers of that misty red power when I’d been frightened or angry before, but this …
The power was more violent than I ever could have expected. Was there something wrong with me? My brows pinched together, lips wobbling as I struggled to understand what that was—whatIwas. I lifted my hands before me, failing to suppress the shivers wracking my palms. A lump formed in my throat as I realised the destruction I could have wrought on countless occasions. If I’d ever set this power free on Hanna and the other bullies who so often tormented me … I didn’t want to imagine it. I looked at the carnage around us, my gaze lingering on the matted clumps of hair and glistening pools of blood.
Fuck.
My stomach churned, and I stumbled, but the stranger caught me in two capable hands. I peeked up at his face, shoving my thoughts deep down and taking a calming breath. “Who are you? Why were the wolves chasing you?”
“I believe they were chasing you,” he said with a raised brow. “If you’d been watching where you were going, I might have avoided this mess.”
His tone was irritable, as if I my being injured was an inconvenience and he glared at me from his towering height.
“You’re blaming me?” I spluttered, shoving him away. “If you weren’t the size of a small house, I’d have slipped right past you.”
His eyes narrowed and whatever temporary alliance we’d shared while fighting seemed to shrivel to a blackened crisp. “Go back to your spinning and needles, witch. The forest is no place for little girls.”
My hackles rose at his blatant disrespect.Little girl?!I just saved us and he has the nerve to tellmeto leave?
“You arrogant, pig-headed brute,” I said, enunciating each word with a hard poke to his chest. “If it weren’t for Laszlo and I—”
The words trailed off as renewed panic flooded my veins, shortening my breath and sending a wave of dizziness through me. My head was still so foggy, but I hated myself for forgetting my dog even for a moment.
I whirled, spotting his crumpled form cradled in a tree’s roots. “Laszlo!” Running to his side, I checked he was breathing and wilted in relief to see his chest rising and falling. Blood crusted the scruff of his neck, but he was alive and that’s all I needed.
“Your fierce protector will be fine,” the man said, his voice slightly softer. “He’ll be a little disoriented, and in some pain when he wakes, but the bite wasn’t severe. With a few spells, I’m sure your villagers can attend to him once you get home.”
I stroked Laszlo’s head as tears filled my eyes. Guilt speared through my stomach. He looked so fragile in my arms, so small. I shouldn’t have interfered with the deer. “My horse bolted when the wolves approached. I won’t be able to carry him with my injury. I need to heal himnow.”
At that, he cocked his head, interest burning in those strange eyes. The kind that drew you in but left you wondering what lay beneath. He was intimidating and alluring all at once, even if he had all the charisma of a stone.
“You can heal on top of, well, this?” He gestured at the ghastly scene before us, his eyes darkening. “Such power. You would make a fine prize on the arm of any táltos.”
Shit. I’d said too much. It was rare for witches to be adept in over one vein of magic. I didn’t want to reveal my father’s gift—I didn’t know this man or what he might do with such knowledge. My village already treated me poorly. If they knew my gifts were even stranger, who knew what they’d do?
And that word he’d used.Prize?I glared at him, my lips twisting. “I amno one’sto claim. My power is mine to do as I see fit, so you can shove that charming sentiment right up your entitled ass.”
His gaze dipped to my mouth, and my chest constricted at his smirk. “So spirited.”
His phrasing had me jolt with surprise.Spirit?I almost snorted. The elders said it was one of many things that made me a poor match for marriage. The words sent a happy little hum through my bones. Even so, the man was insufferably cocky. Clearly no stranger to cavorting with women.
I narrowed my eyes. “You never answered my question. What were you doing before the wolves attacked?”
“Hunting,” he said with a lazy shrug.
I glanced at his attire, trying not to linger on the tight black breaches and black tunic hugging his torso and muscled arms. He wore a hooded red cloak beneath his gear, and a spaulder shaped in a snarling wolf’s head clung to his shoulder—the emblem of the Wolfblood Clan. A pin with an insignia of a skeletal hand afore burning flames clasped to his chest, and I wondered what that symbolised.
His clothes were of fine make, but he didn’t have any gear to corroborate his story. I raised a brow. “Hunting without a bow and arrow? Did you plan on snapping the animals’ necks with your big, brutish hands?” I said sarcastically.
His eyes glimmered dangerously and I didn’t miss the streak of anger that flashed over his face. “You ask a lot of questions, witch. I’d be careful if I were you, or that pretty little mouth will land you in trouble.”
My stomach jolted with self-preservation, but I laughed, brushing off his threat with a coy smile. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
The man surveyed me for a few quiet moments, his gaze dropping to my mouth before meeting my eyes again. I stared him down with my hands on my hips, not wanting to be the first to back away.
