Chapter 7 · The Curse Comes Home

The gates don't creak when they open. They slam back like they want everyone inside to know something's coming through that shouldn't.

Ivy's dress catches the torchlight first. White silk, lace at the throat, the kind of thing you wear when you want to look untouchable. She's flanked by six guards in formation, arms crossed, and every single one of them has their eyes on me. Not on Cain slumped against my shoulder. On me.

"You've got about three seconds to explain," Ivy says, voice smooth and cold, "why you're dragging my fiancé through the mud like a dead deer."

I don't let go of Cain. My arm's gone numb under his weight but I tighten my grip anyway. "He's not dead. He's hurt. And if you cared you'd have someone helping instead of standing there like it's a photo op."

Her smile doesn't move. "I care about why the girl we exiled three years ago is suddenly back on pack land. With him."

"Because he came after me." I take a step forward and two guards move to block.