Adversity (Cursed #2.5) Read online

  “That’s sick.” I wanted to vomit. How had he persuaded the tracker? How had this Vin wolf lost his tracker? Because of Opa? Did he kill her? The whole thing was sleazy and gross and overwhelmingly new.

  “Their werewolves will die out. I can understand why he would take desperate measures.”

  It was official. My grandfather was a complete stranger to me.

  “Well, I can’t.” Nathan looked as repulsed as I felt. “And we could have used this info ages ago. This is madness. If our mates die we’re assigned a new one? What a load of crap!”

  “No, no.” Opa shook his head fervently. “Only if you haven’t connected yet. Haven’t bonded. The curse has to continue, one way or another. At least until it’s broken.”

  Ding-ding. Amelia, get a move on. The curse wasn’t the wonderful thing I had once imagined it to be because it led to misery, broken families and death. It had to go.

  “I still don’t get why they’re doing this.” Jeremy’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Why not let us have our mates and keep prolonging the curse if they’re worried about extinction?”

  “If they take the mates, they increase their chances of breeding themselves,” Opa said. “Maybe it worked once. Maybe they’re simply desperate. That’s all. We’re strong. They’re struggling to survive. It’s sad, really.”

  “But they didn’t try to take Perdita,” Nathan said, looking absolutely sickened.

  Opa nodded. “True. I don’t know why. Maybe you met her before they figured it out. Maybe they wanted you to meet her so they could kill her and ruin your chances of reproducing. Perhaps their coming here to attack the girls was a cover-up for something else. Maybe it was some kind of cruel sadism that sent them here. I’ve no way of knowing.”

  It was so confusing, all of the possibilities. Why did they hate us so much? Why not ally with us instead of trying to destroy us. What kind of monsters were they?

  Byron spoke, and his words were tight with anger, but it filled me with pride rather than fear and made me feel secure in the fact that, ultimately, he would take care of us. I hoped I was right.

  “So this is what, revenge? Domination? A reminder that they can cut us down at any time if they wish?”

  Opa didn’t know, but Nathan had more questions. The same ones I had. Why now? What had changed?

  “I assume it’s something to do with Amelia.”

  I didn’t hear any more. Of course, it was my fault. Everything came down to me. I wanted to leave, to cry, to shout and scream, but Nathan’s anger drew me back in. “So you let Perdita be exposed to danger? And Amelia?” He sounded so incredulous, but I wasn’t surprised. I expected to be used. I couldn’t listen to anymore drama. I was on my own, and I had to start standing on my own feet. Nobody was going to swoop in and rescue me. I had to save myself from whatever was coming.

  ***

  Kali

  “I’ve found you a husband,” he said, as if merely announcing a change in the weather. Kali stared at her father, waiting for more, hoping for some detail that wouldn’t make her want to pull out her hair and scream in sorrow. “He’s not too old, but he’s unsure of having a witch for a wife, so you’ll need to—”

  “I am not a witch.”

  “—be a little more persuasive. Give him some attention and—”

  “I don’t want a husband.”

  “—he’ll come around. He prefers meek girls, so he probably won’t enjoy—”

  “I don’t care what he likes.”

  “—being reminded of your power. And if you don’t marry him, then we’ll move elsewhere. You’ve no choice in this, girl. Forget that not.”

  “I’m not ready.”

  “You are. In a week, you’ll no longer be a novice. It’s time. I’ve been carrying you for too long now. You’re wasting precious time for little.”

  “Carrying me? You soulless…”

  His eyes found hers, and the threat within them was obvious. She tried a different tack.

  “I’m not strong enough for the power, papa.”

  A mistake. His obvious disgust chilled her to the bone. He didn’t see her as his daughter but as a daughter of darkness and demons, bought to appease his greed and paid for with his wife’s soul, no doubt.

  “You sicken me,” she said quietly, so none other would hear. “You corrupted the magic, and bred from my mother until her body gave out. You forced her to have seven and made deals with the sort of devils that will come and ravish you upon your death. You use me so you can sell me on to the highest bidder. I hope your future is worth it. I hope the day your soul is torn from your body, and eaten up by darkness, that you will scream how worth it your life has been. Devil man to judge me. When you… you are blackness itself. A shriveled heart and hands that make the earth itself weep. May you know the folly of your sins. May you—”

  “Do not attempt to sully your mouth with curse-making in my presence. A novice threatening the chovihano? I should end your life now.”

  “Do it. Do it now because it would be worth your banishment. I would gladly be free of you.”

  A sneer lifted his lips. “And that is exactly why you live. Because you wish for death.”

  He stood, barely taller than her, but more intimidating than the tallest man because of that hollow place where his conscience should have been. “The ceremony is next week. You will be chovihani in your own right. Your wedding will come shortly afterward. Prepare yourself, for if you lose this husband, there are worse ones who can be persuaded to take you from my hands.”

  The shadows closed in, and it took all of her might to ignore them as she glared at her father’s back. The worst of men, surely. If anyone deserved the words, he did. The power he had over her was worse. If he said a ceremony and a wedding were coming, she could do nothing to prevent either.

  Except run.

  Chapter Ten

  Amelia

  “Wanna sit with us today?”

  I looked around in surprise. Perdita hadn’t come back to school since her dad’s accident, and Nathan was off, making things up with her. I should have been happy for them to be back together, but I was left alone again. I deserved that, for relying on them so much. But I was lonely, so I nodded at Ger and said yes without thinking.

  “Cool. Follow us over then.”

  Ger turned on her heel and strolled across the room as though she hadn’t a care in the world. She joined a couple of kids that I vaguely remembered seeing in a couple of my classes. Again, I couldn’t remember all of their names, but they nodded politely at me as I took an empty seat next to Ger. I felt as though I was reliving my first day all over again.

  I was sick of thinking about my dreams and how everyone else in my life could stand up for what they believed in, while I cowered in the corner. Even Kali, during a time when she had precious little say in her life, had defended herself against evil and searched for happiness. Nathan had gone against the entire pack, and the alpha power, to make his way back to Perdita.

  “Don’t you hang around with some fifth years?” a boy with shockingly curly, black hair asked me. His eyes were wide with innocence, but my anger rose, nonetheless, and I wasn’t sure why. A trickle of sweat rolled down my back as they all stared at me, waiting for an answer. It was only then that I realised people were as interested in me as they were in Nathan. In such a small location, new people were the hot topic. We would likely be the new kids the entire time we attended the school.

  Suppressing a sigh, I nodded. “My brother and his girlfriend. Mostly.”

  “I heard Aaron Hannigan asked you out,” said a petite girl with short, brown hair.

  “Nah,” I made a face. “He tries to irritate my brother is all.”

  “We saw your brother box the living daylights out of Aaron,” she said with a grin. “Best. Day. Ever.”

  I looked away, embarrassed. Nathan’s wild behaviour that day had horrified me because my own temper kept trying to reveal itself for little reason. That morning, I had snapped at
some boy for tipping off my arm. He had backed away in alarm, and something inside me felt pride at his action. It felt right to assert myself over him and to win.

  “Where are you from again?” Ger asked and smiled reassuringly at me, and I tried to feel comfortable. Questions didn’t bother me as much as my fear of blurting out something important but very private.

  “All over,” I said, shrugging. “Spent most of the last few years in England, so I suppose I consider myself English really. Doesn’t really matter to me.”

  “That’s so cool,” the brown-haired girl said breathily. I exchanged a bemused glance with Ger and had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing.

  “Sorry about your grandmother,” a quiet boy in the corner said. Everyone at the table seemed surprised that he spoke at all, and I stared at him with interest. He had short, light-brown hair and the palest grey eyes I had ever seen. Something about him reminded me of my dreams, and my stomach flipped over a little. Maybe it was because he was quiet when the others were excitable, a trait that called Andriy to my mind. Not that I liked Andriy. Kali did. But still.

  The boy held my gaze for a couple of seconds before leaving the table with the rest of the boys. I watched him go.

  “That’s Connor. He’s kind of weird, so ignore him. I’m Julie by the way. We have English together. And French. And, um, Geography,” the brunette said.

  “I take Geography?”

  The others laughed, and I found myself relaxing a little. Connor had interested me, and Ger seemed nice enough the few times I’d spoken with her. Maybe I really had depended on Nathan and Perdita too much. They didn’t have time for me anymore, and sticking with normal kids might keep my mind off all the drama.

  When Ger invited me to the cinema that evening, my “yes” was given without hesitation.

  ***

  “You going somewhere?”

  I closed the lid on my bottle of water and shoved it back in the fridge. “Yep.”

  “Where? Who’s going with you?” Nathan demanded.

  “Do you actually care?” I cocked my head and studied my older brother.

  “Of course I care! I think you should be more careful, though.”

  “Why? What else could possibly happen? Someone might die? Someone might hate me? Think we’ve covered all of those. This is the bottom of the barrel, brother dearest. Don’t patronise me about being careful—as if I’m anybody’s priority.”

  Nathan physically recoiled, and a small part of me warmed with power. I liked warning off people or making them listen to me. I stalked off, high on the adrenaline rush of standing up for myself, but the tears came as soon as I slammed my bedroom door behind me. I took deep calming breaths, wiped the smudging of my eyeliner clean, and prepared to leave.

  A soft rap on the door made me pause. I knew it was Nathan, but I didn’t feel like speaking to him. He belittled me as much as the rest of our family, and I was beginning to have my fill. I knew he didn’t mean it. I knew deep down he cared, but talking to him would provoke the anger I could hardly contain anymore. I would go out and have fun. And I would forget all about the damn curse.

  Nathan was waiting outside my room when I left. I made a frustrated sound, and he gave me an apologetic smile.

  “I’m sorry, okay?” he said. “I’m worried about you. These dreams, the headaches… everything is all adding up to trouble, I know it.”

  “That’s no reason to get bossy with me. I’m allowed to leave the house.”

  He shrugged. “I know that. But maybe you shouldn’t be. Oh, don’t look at me like that,” he added hurriedly. “I’m nervy because of what happened today.”

  “What happened?” I couldn’t help myself. I pretended I didn’t care, but I so did.

  “Perdita told me that the wolf came to her in the hospital. The red male.”

  “What? Is she okay? Why didn’t anyone…?”

  “Relax. She’s fine. He turned up to talk to her to tell her he’s been looking out for you and her.”

  “Looking out for… he attacked us!”

  “That’s what I said. But Perdita reckons we can trust him.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what to do. He told Perdita that the alpha Opa told us about has his daughters, so he’s making him do all of this stuff. He’s on our side, he claims.”

  “I don’t know about that.” My stomach squirmed. Why would Perdita believe him? Then again, why would he risk speaking to her? He could have killed her then. He had protected her from the other wolf, but what if it was all a trick?

  “She wants me to meet him. Opa won’t be impressed.”

  My mouth gaped. “You’re not seriously thinking of going ahead with that, are you? That’s insane.”

  “I can take care of myself,” he insisted, but his shoulders sagged. “I don’t know. I’ve been acting… let’s say I need to make it up to Perdita. I need to show her I have faith in her.”

  “By risking your life? That’s ridiculous. Even for you two.”

  He held out his hands. “You don’t understand. She really believes he’s telling the truth.”

  “And what if she’s wrong, Nathan? What then?”

  He looked away. “Maybe you shouldn’t go out tonight.”

  “I’m going out. I’m not going to keep hiding. I’ll be with people, and if you think this other wolf is actually protecting us, then I’ll be fine. And you better not follow me. I swear to—”

  “Relax. I won’t follow you. And if you’re really worried about me meeting this other wolf, then I’ll ask Jeremy to back me up.”

  I stared at him. “Fine.”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.” I walked off before he could change his mind. Everything was getting screwier by the day. By the time I reached town, my nerves were so on edge that they went into overload when I saw the gang of giggling teenagers waiting outside the cinema. I was about to turn back when Connor caught my eye and said something to Ger. Ger turned around and jogged over to me, a grin on her face.

  “Hey, we thought you might not show.”

  “Sorry I’m late. I had… stuff to do.”

  “Doesn’t matter. The show we got tickets for won’t start for another hour. Here.” She pressed a ticket into my hand.

  “Oh, I’ll pay now,” I said, flustered.

  “Pay for me next time,” Ger said with a smile. “Means you’ll have to show next time, so don’t forget.”

  Unsure of what to say, I obediently followed Ger back to the others. Ger discreetly pushed me away from Julie and toward Connor, who took one look at me before turning away. Confused, I glanced at Ger who was pointedly looking the other way. Great, more weirdness. The whole point of going out was to get away from screwy behaviour.

  We hung around an arcade for the next half hour, and I consistently found myself wedged between Ger and Connor.

  On the way back to the cinema, Ger pulled me back, allowing Julie to basically slobber all over Connor.

  “You sit next to Connor in the pictures, okay?”

  “Erm, why?”

  “I think he wants to meet you. That’s why!”

  “Meet me? What are you on about? We met at school.”

  Ger giggled loudly. “Not that kind of meet. Meet, meet.”

  I stared at Ger blankly, finding every hour more confusing than the last.

  “You know. Meet. Oh, God. What’s that horrible word you lot use? Snog? Yeah, that. We say meet. You say snog. Whatever. A proper kiss.”

  I covered my mouth to hide my smile. “How do you know that? And what, I’m supposed to snog him in front of everyone? Erm, no thanks!”

  “Oh, so the only problem is doing it in public?” Ger winked at me knowingly.

  “I think Julie likes him.” I nodded ahead at Connor and Julie.

  “She had her chance last year. She met Martin behind Connor’s back. He doesn’t forgive people very easily.” She shrugged as if it didn’t mean much, but so many people in my life didn’t forgive easily that I couldn’t help s
eeing it as negative.

  “Yeah, well, I’m not interested,” I said a little too loudly, hurrying on in front of the others. I was pretty sure Connor heard me, but he didn’t say anything. I could only assume he didn’t care at all.

  Not that I cared. After all, I had more important things to worry about. Such as killer werewolves and the fact that my entire family seemed to hate me, yet I knew my cousin was stalking me from a distance to keep me safe because my brother made him. Oh yeah, my mistakes helped get my grandmother killed. Plenty more important things to worry about.

  I fidgeted with the charm bracelet hanging on my wrist, which seemed slimmer. I hadn’t been eating enough, but I hadn’t really had much of an appetite. After my conversation with Ger, I’d been hiding my weight loss under baggy clothes. I would deal with that problem some other time.

  Despite everything I’d said, Ger made sure I sat between her and Connor in the cinema. Okay, so maybe I cared a little. Maybe I even used my family stuff to avoid the scary but normal stuff that everyone else had to deal with. Perhaps Connor would be the person to take my mind off the werewolf crap. Both nervous and excited, I waited for him to say something, but he didn’t. He didn’t look at me at all, and perhaps that was for the best.

  But part of me longed for something similar to the companionship my brother and his girlfriend had together. For the history Tammie and Joey had built. For the love Kali and Andriy shared, in my dreams. Even though I knew their love was forbidden, I longed to at least experience love like they did.

  The dreams were becoming more troubling. As the gypsy girl in the dreams, I was growing fonder of Andriy all of the time, and those feelings were spilling over into real life. That was probably why Connor attracted my attention in the first place. His almost Slavic eyes reminded me of Andriy, the forbidden man.