Unveiled: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Three by Betty Legend (recommended ebook reader txt) 📗

also makes you immune to some spells and illnesses. For me, my blood magic can enhance my speed and strength. I don’t know if that will be the same for you or if you’ll experience something different.”

“If blood magic enhances your abilities, maybe it will enhance my other magic.”

“That’s likely.”

“Blood magic seems like defense magic.”

“It’s both defensive and offensive magic.”

“The darker spells, what kind of spells are they?”

“There are many. There are ways to manipulate and control beings, to bind beings and magic together, to open and close gateways, and more.”

“The devil, does he use blood magic?”

“Yes. Vampires were created with demonic blood and magic. It’s why we’re dangerous creatures.”

“Can I use it against him?”

“I imagine you can,”—Phoenix’s brow rises, concern etching into his uniquely handsome features—“but I hope you never have to.”

The throaty purr of a screech owl catches our attention before it soars through the air. Phoenix stands taller, his attention turning another direction in the woods.

“Something is out there, moving quickly.”

The magic that had settled as we walked disperses around us.

“Can you tell what it is?”

“Male by the scent of it,” he whispers. “It’s a supernatural, not human.” As he pulls me closer, his fangs descend. “It’s… a shifter.” Looking into the darkness, he seems to hone in on whatever is out there. “It’s three wolf shifters. I can smell them,” he grimaces. “They’re running toward Killian’s house.”

“Let’s speed this up then.”

Holding my charm, I cast the spell, creating a portal. Taking Phoenix’s hand, I walk us through it and onto Killian’s porch.

CHAPTER SIX

SELENE

Killian and the rest of the guys burst out the front door, their faces a mix of worry and anger, but their attention is stolen by the three wolf shifters sprinting across Killian’s yard. Killian leaps off his steps, his jeans tearing as he morphs into his wolf and sprints across the yard toward the shifters. The four of them converge into a ball of fur and paws—pouncing, growling, nipping, biting—what looks like a pack of wolves playing.

“What the…” Emeric begins to say.

“Pretty sure those are family members,” Griffin shares.

“Definitely,” Cyrus confirms.

After the ceremonious greeting, the four of them separate, shifting into men. All naked, all muscled, and all sweaty, they clap hands on shoulders, laugh, and walk toward the porch. I bite my lip at all the sweaty, shapely muscles and lengthy cocks as they near.

Emeric slaps my ass. “Like what you see?”

Blushing, I blink and bring my attention to their faces. Two of the newcomers have similar colored hair to Killian’s, but the shortest of them has chocolate hair.

“Got some clothes we can borrow?” The tallest asks, putting his long locks in a bun behind his head.

“Of course.”

They reach the steps, and the shifter males take sight of me, their gazes lingering.

“This your mate, Killian?”

“Yes, this beautiful woman is my mate,” he emphasizes. “Selene, these are my cousins, Garrett, Everett, and Bennett.”

Garrett, who I assume is the oldest, is as large and wide as Killian, with the same auburn hair, now wound in a bun at the back of his head. Everett, the middle brother, is maybe two inches shorter than Garrett. His hair is a more ginger red, the same length as Killian’s, and he has more freckles coating his cheeks. Bennett is the shortest of the three but stocky, his hair cut short and clean. He’s without a single freckle on his smooth skin. All of them have the same amber eyes with bronze-gold gleaming in them.

“Oh, we know she’s yours,” Everett tells him. “We can smell your mark all over her, as well as the rest of your pack.”

All of us are crowded on the porch with my guys at my sides as Killian’s cousins approach. Garrett licks his lips as he admires me.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Selene. I’m the alpha of my pack, Pack Redwood. Don’t mind my younger brothers. We haven’t found our mate yet, so they can be a bit randy.”

Killian chuckles next to them, slapping Bennett on the shoulder. “Admit it, you’re a bunch of lustful wolves.”

Emeric crosses his arms over his chest. “We do enough sharing around here. Sorry, pups, there’s no room for more.”

Garrett laughs and walks past my guys. “Didn’t think there was.”

Giving Emeric a pointed look, I examine his injuries. “We’re talking about that.” I point to the claw marks on his bicep. Looking at Killian, I frown. “I see you’re all healed.”

Killian shrugs. “We fought and made up.”

Emeric squeezes my ass. “Now we want to make up with you.”

Killian glances at Phoenix, his brows creasing. “Seems like you’re getting your hunger under control.”

“Seems that way,” Phoenix agrees. Putting an arm around me, he leads us inside.

Garrett, Everett, and Bennett have clearly been here before. They already found jeans or sweats and have beers in hand. Garrett drops onto the leather couch, clicking his tongue in his cheek.

“What a pack you are.”

Killian closes the door behind us. We disperse throughout the house, some of the guys getting beers of their own, except Phoenix. He stands behind me, massaging my shoulders, and the tension eases, thanks to his skilled fingers and strong pressure.

“Yeah,” Phoenix agrees. “We’re a strange mix.”

Emeric drops onto the couch on the opposite side of Garrett and pops his beer open. “You considering yourself a member of this family now?”

Killian comes out of one of the rooms wearing flannel lounge pants. “Let’s hope so. Sweetheart,”—he dips his chin at me—“there’re leftovers from dinner in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

“That I am.” Taking Phoenix’s hand, I kiss it. “Thank you.”

Caressing his hand over my shoulder and down my arm, he’s reluctant to release my hand. Looking back at him, I wink. The guys watch the interaction with a mix of different expressions.

“What’s it like sharing her and living together?” Bennett asks Killian as the two of them perch against the wall with open beers in hand.

“We’ve become a family. We have our good days and our bad ones.”

Emeric snickers. “Like today, when you couldn’t mind