The Blackfang pass spits us out into a moonless night, the air thick with the stench of iron and something sour, like magic gone bad. My wrist burns where the crescent mark sits, a constant nag that's starting to feel personal. I'm still buzzing from the fight with those scouts, my dagger sticky with their blood, but Kael's pacing ahead like he didn't just toss a wolf into a rock wall. His black coat blends into the shadows, but those gray eyes catch the starlight, sharp and haunted. The mate bond's doing its thing again, tugging at me like a kid yanking on my sleeve, and it's pissing me off. I'm Lila Thorn, Silverclaw tracker, not some lovesick pup. But every time Kael glances my way, my heart does a stupid flip, and I hate it.
"We're too exposed," I say, my voice low as we skirt the edge of Blackfang territory. The cliffs loom behind us, and ahead, the forest dips into a valley where their stronghold squats like a predator waiting to pounce. "Those scouts are gonna bring friends. We need to talk about what happens when we find Isolde."
Kael stops, his boots crunching on gravel. "We don't talk here," he says, his voice rough, like he's chewing on glass. "Not out in the open. There's a cave nearby, old smuggler's hideout. We rest, then plan."
I raise an eyebrow, wiping my dagger on my jeans. "A cave? Real classy, Draven. You sure know how to treat a girl."
He shoots me a look, half-annoyed, half-something I can't read. "Keep talking, Thorn, and the Blackfangs won't need to find us—you'll draw them with that mouth."
I smirk, but my stomach's twisting. The Blackfang stronghold's close, and the thought of facing that witch, Isolde, makes my skin crawl. That vision I had—her amber eyes, the dark magic chaining Kael—felt too real, like I was there. My mark tingles, and I shove my sleeve down, trying to ignore it. "Fine, lead the way. But you'd better start spilling about this curse. I'm not walking into a witch's lair blind."
Kael doesn't answer, just heads toward a rocky outcrop where the trees thin out. I follow, my tracker senses on high alert. The forest's too quiet, the kind of quiet that means something's watching. Back home, Jace is probably freaking out, wondering where I am. Mara's probably pacing the lodge, her hazel eyes all worried. I feel like crap for lying to them, but telling them about the mark would've gotten me locked up—or worse, handed over to Torin. I push the guilt down. I'll fix this, then go home. If there's a home left after this.
The cave's hidden behind a curtain of vines, barely big enough for two. Kael pulls the vines aside, motioning me in. It's damp and smells like moss, but it's shelter. I slide in, my shoulder brushing his, and the mate bond sparks, sending a jolt through me. I jerk away, glaring at him like it's his fault. He ignores me, crouching by the entrance, his claws out as he scans the dark.
"Alright," I say, dropping onto a flat rock, my dagger across my lap. "Talk. You said this curse kills you when you meet your mate. I'm here, you're not dead yet. So what's the deal? And don't give me half-answers."
Kael stays by the entrance, his back to me, like he's guarding more than just the cave. "You don't let up, do you?" His voice is low, almost tired. He turns, his gray eyes catching mine, and I swear I feel his pain, like it's seeping through the bond. "The curse isn't instant. It's a countdown. Meeting you started it. Every moment we're together, it drains me faster. Strength, senses, life—gone, bit by bit."
My chest tightens, and I hate how much that scares me. "How long?" I ask, my voice quieter than I mean it to be.
"Weeks, maybe," he says, looking away. "Less if we keep this up. Isolde made sure it'd be slow, cruel. She wanted me to suffer."
I swallow hard, my mark burning like it's mocking me. "Why? What'd you do to piss her off so bad?"
Kael's jaw clenches, and he sits across from me, the cave feeling smaller with him so close. "I didn't do anything. The Blackfangs wanted the Silverclaws gone. I was their Alpha, their biggest threat. Isolde cursed me to break the pack's spirit. Said it'd make them weak, easy to crush. And when they framed me for treason, your elders ate it up."
I lean forward, my eyes narrowing. "You're saying the Silverclaws were wrong? That you didn't betray us?"
He meets my gaze, unflinching. "I didn't. I'd have died for that pack. But someone wanted me out—someone on the inside. They planted the evidence, and Torin let it happen."
Anger flares in me, not at him but at the idea that my pack, my home, could've screwed him over like that. I think of Torin, his cold blue eyes, his obsession with loyalty. Could he have been part of it? Or the elders? I shake my head, trying to focus. "Okay, so Isolde's the key. We find her, make her undo it. What's she like? Besides creepy and evil."
Kael's lips twitch, almost a smile. "She's smart. Ruthless. Her magic's tied to blood and pain—old, dark stuff. She's loyal to the Blackfangs, but only as long as it serves her. If we get to her, we'll need leverage, not just threats."
I nod, my mind racing. Leverage means something she wants, and I'm betting a witch like that doesn't care about gold or promises. "Got any ideas on that front?"
"Not yet," he admits, his voice softer. "But I know her type. She'll want something big—something that hurts to give."
I don't like the sound of that, but I'm not backing down. "Then we figure it out. Together." I say it before I can stop myself, and the bond hums, like it's happy I'm not running. Kael's eyes soften, just for a second, and I feel that pull again, stronger than ever. I look away, my cheeks hot. "Don't get any ideas," I mutter. "This is about the curse, not… whatever this is."
He chuckles, a low sound that does things to my insides I don't want to admit. "Sure, Thorn. Whatever you say."
Before I can snap back, a rustle outside makes us both freeze. My dagger's up, and Kael's claws are out, his body tense. "Stay here," he whispers, moving to the entrance.
"No way," I hiss, following him. I'm not some damsel, and he needs to get that through his thick skull. We peer out, and my heart sinks. Three Blackfang wolves, half-shifted, their gold eyes glinting in the dark. They're sniffing the air, and one's holding a chain that glows faintly, like it's enchanted. My mark burns, and I know they're not just looking for Kael—they're looking for me.
"Lila, stay back," Kael growls, but I'm already moving, my dagger ready.
"Shut up and fight," I say, lunging at the closest wolf. My blade catches his arm, and he roars, claws swiping. I dodge, my training kicking in, but the chain-wielding wolf swings at me, the metal grazing my shoulder. Pain flares, but I grit my teeth, kicking his legs out. Kael's on the other two, his strength brutal as he slams one into the ground. The chain wolf comes at me again, but I roll, slicing his thigh.
"Enough!" Kael's Alpha roar shakes the air, and the wolves freeze, then bolt, dragging their wounded buddy. I'm panting, blood dripping from my shoulder, my mark screaming. Kael grabs my arm, checking the wound. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," I snap, pulling free, but his touch lingers, the bond making my head spin. "We need to move. That chain was weird—magic, maybe."
He nods, his face grim. "Isolde's work. She's close. We're running out of time."
I meet his eyes, the bond burning between us. "Then let's find her before she finds us."