Page 55 of A Castle of Broken Memories

At least I still have my brushes and the egg. Potions can be remixed.

Right. Time to get back, only…

My gaze flicked to one of the arched doors lining the bottom floor. I was pretty sure it was the same one Tenebris was headed for when he dragged Calum to safety. I could just pop my head in, see if they were there.

I looked up at Gregar—snoring away.

A quick glance at Jack showed him leaning halfway over the banister, his expression tight. He shook his head. I chose to ignore him.

A smooth shift, and I was back in human form when I grabbed the door’s handle, praying for a cheeky greeting I could scoff at and tell them to stop lazing around and help. But all that met me when the door creaked open was a waft of stale air and a set of stairs that disappeared into a dark void. Lead lined my stomach, and I gripped the edge of the doorway to keep from falling to my knees. There could be any matter of beastie down there, feasting on my precious friends.

I peeked over my shoulder, assuring myself Gregar still slept. “Tenebris?” I whispered. “Calum? Are you down there?” I held my breath, ears straining for an answer that didn’t come. “Boys?” I called, growing bolder. “Can you hear me?”

The muscles in my back clenched, that creeping feeling of being watched clawing up my spine. I turned, ever so slowly, and looked up.

And found Gregar staring down at me. Awake.

“Mari! Get out of there!” Jack’s voice broke the silence, and the giant blinked, sluggishly turning his way. Fear curdled deep in my gut. I can’t let them get hurt.

“Fucking run, Mari!” Jack yelled again, and the words snapped my limbs free of their paralysis.

“Take Harp to the cabin,” I shouted. “I’ll meet you there.”

“I’m not leaving you⁠—”

“Fucking do it!” I infused every ounce of alpha I could manage into the command, hoping it would work despite the fact that Jack wasn’t technically in my pack. He was closer than that, really. He was…

My mate.

I lunged forward into a shift and howled, prompting Gregar to drag his gaze away from the pair awkwardly shuffling down the staircase. I darted straight for his ankles, which were tucked close to his body, his bony, black knees pointing straight up.

Two birds, one stone. I sank my teeth into his leathery flesh and tore a strip free. It burned like acid on my tongue, but it’d be worth it if it helped complete my spell. ’Cause I had a plan, and it was going to fucking work. It had to work.

I ran circles around the dazed giant until the hum of music died away. Taking that to mean Harp was safe in the room, I made for the staircase. Jack stood crouched at the door, his eyes shooting daggers sharp enough to rival the sword in his hand. I trotted past him into the room, shifting back into my human form and taking my cloak from Harp’s outstretched hand. I tossed it over my shoulders, and turned to face the waiting jury, the memory of that dark, ominous staircase and Calum and Tenebris’s lack of response adding a layer of grim determination to my next words.

“Let’s get this done.”

33

This woman—this fucking woman. My hands clenched as I struggled to find the right words without losing my ever-loving shit.

“Mariana.” I took a slow, steadying breath. “What the hell were you thinking? You could have been killed! Of all the stupid⁠—”

Oh, gods. She was shaking. It was almost imperceptible—the slightest twitch of her fingers, a faint quiver of her lip—but it was enough for me to see what I’d missed: fear. She was terrified for her friends.

“Mari,” I started again, softer this time. When she looked away, I caught her chin between my thumb and forefinger and gently turned her face back toward mine. “They’re going to be okay.”

She blinked and—gods help me—my heart almost broke at the sight of tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her tight against my chest and whispered, “It’s going to be okay,” over and over again into her hair.

She shook her head. “You didn’t see what was behind that door. I was expecting some kind of magical room, but there was nothing but darkness and”—she shivered—“it smelled of… of death, Jack.” She jerked backward, attempting to free herself from my arms. “I need to go back. I need to find them⁠—”

I kept a firm hold on her biceps. “What you need to do,” I said calmly, “is break this curse. Then we can waltz anywhere in the castle and find your friends. Assuming they don’t find us first. Because they’re fine, Mari, and a hell of a lot stronger than you’re giving them credit for.”

“You can’t know that,” Mariana muttered, refusing to meet my gaze.

“Uh yeah, I can. They’re part of your pack, aren’t they?”

“Technically, only Calum is.”