The ring was working. Jason hadn’t had a sexual encounter since Nickelova and was still semifunctional, thanks to the silver serpent. Unlike the ring’s previous owner, Jason’s sex drive hadn’t channeled itself into hunger. On the contrary, he couldn’t bring himself to eat a single thing. Instead, the enchanted object had caused a perpetual state of lethargy and periods of fever as if he were fighting off a human illness. But with twelve hours of sleep and the maximum allowable dose of pain medication, he felt almost normal as he proceeded down the aisle at his sister’s wedding as planned, the offering to the goddess balanced on his palms.

Alight with fireflies, the forest brimmed with dancing woodland fae who sang from the branches of their trees. Flower petals spiraled through the night sky over their heads, to the delight of the guests who sat in white folding chairs on either side of the aisle. Jason set the offering on the altar and took his position to the side, next to the other groomsmen.

Laina made a beautiful bride. Her off-the-shoulder gossamer gown seemed to float around her as she strode down the aisle. A canopy of bright green branches blossomed with glittering fairy magic above her head. And when she reached Kyle, it was clear the groom only had eyes for her. His hands wrapped around hers, entangled fingers a physical symbol of the sacred vows they were about to recite. How lucky she was. It was a goddamned miracle to be loved, really loved, and to give love back to someone in return.

Once the vows were exchanged, Laina detached the specially designed sleeve of Kyle’s tux for the tattooing ritual. The bicep-tricep combo on the guy was as big as Jason’s head. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear Kyle was a mature shifter, not a dormant as he was known to be. Clearly, his size and general appearance placed him in the more-than-human category.

Which made Jason even more aware of how less-than-werewolf he was at the moment. His normally muscular upper body had grown thin and wiry over the last few months. Not because of his vice per se, but because he never ate anymore. He couldn’t remember the last time he sat down to three squares in a day unless you counted copious amounts of alcohol as a meal. And considering his increased metabolism—most wolves ate the equivalent of four humans—Jason’s occasional cheeseburger was barely keeping him from starving to death.

Artemis pressed the fang of Fireborn pack’s Primary ancestor to Kyle’s right shoulder, carving the tribal phoenix tattoo that denoted their pack. It was said the magic of the artifact caused the actual staining of the skin, but Jason always assumed it was a trick: ink stored inside the hollow of the massive tooth. With that symbol on his shoulder, werewolf or not, he’d be one of them now, bound to protect and be protected by the pack. The Preotka shifted for a better angle and Jason’s gaze fell on Selene.

His mouth bent into a grimace. Why did she vex him so? She was kind enough and beautiful… astonishingly beautiful. In any other scenario, he’d be trying to get her into his bed. Only Selene was fine china. Aside from her celibate role as a religious acolyte for the pack, everything about her was pure and delicate. Untainted. He was afraid to speak to her for fear his words might pollute her ears. When she looked at him, he was sure she could see every grain of filth he hid behind his expensive clothes and brash attitude. And the thought of touching her… If there were anything good left inside him, he’d never sully her with direct contact.

Once again she was staring at him. Probably judging him. Yep, he was the one addicted to sex. With a sigh, he looked away, straight at the rows of guests. The witch, Grateful Knight, was in the second row with her husband, Rick, a young boy bouncing on his hip. That must be their son, Lucas. Cameron James was there too. Nice of him to come, given he’d been the one in the tux at the altar with Laina only a few months ago.

Why was this taking so long? The familiar crawling feeling had begun again, like an army of ants rushing beneath his epidermis. He scratched his wrist. A breeze rustled the trees overhead but he was melting inside his tux. Rocking onto his heels, he tugged at his collar.

Anxiously, he twisted the serpent ring on his finger and a wave of nausea came over him. Everyone was clapping. Why was everyone clapping? Oh, his sister. Artemis had announced the happy couple as officially married. Jason put his hands together in a delayed clap.

A buzz started in his ears, growing loud enough to drown everything else out. At first, it was white noise. Then the buzz took on a familiar rhythm, words he’d hoped had gone away came flooding back into his head. Come to me. Come to me. Nickelova’s voice haunted him with every throb of his cranium. Louder and louder. It stabbed into his gray matter, constricting his vision.

Laina and Kyle walked down the aisle to whoops and howls of celebration. He was supposed to do something. Silas nudged his elbow and he realized he was supposed to follow. He fell into step, working his way up the aisle between the chairs.

The voice grew louder and faster. Come to me. COME TO ME. Jason pitched forward, grabbing his head as a lightning strike cut through his brain. He moaned.

“What’s wrong? Jason? Jason!” Silas was by his side, but there was nothing his brother could do. The horizon tilted and his cheek slapped the white cotton runner. A woman screamed. Silas bent over him, shook his shoulder.

But Jason couldn’t respond. All he could see was Nickelova’s face. All he could hear was her voice. Come to me. And all he could see was a road, a river, and a space between two mountains. This time he recognized the road. Route 9. And that was the Stone Eagle River winding under it. He could go to her. It would be easier if he’d go.

His eyes rolled back in his head and his back arched off the soft cloth runner, and then, mercifully, there was nothing.

* * *

Selene reached Jason’s fallen body about the same time everyone else did. At the back of the impenetrable crowd, she craned her ear in his direction for any information on his condition.

“His vitals are normal,” Grateful Knight said. That’s right, she was a nurse as well as a witch. “There’s nothing physically wrong with him. This is something magical, Silas.”

There was a swoosh and the crowd parted slightly, giving Selene a view of the witch and her glowing purple sword. Grateful Knight was no ordinary witch. She was a Hecate, a demigoddess with an immortal soul charged with policing the supernatural. Selene gasped as she lowered her weapon toward Jason’s body, causing his skin to illuminate.

“When Nightshade touches him, he lights up like a lightbulb,” Grateful said. “What the hell?” The tip of her sword glided down his arm, moving as if of its own volition. It stopped at his finger. Selene leaned forward to get a better look. The sword tip pointed at a serpent shaped ring. With a short jab, Nightshade’s tip connected with the object.

An ear-piercing shriek emanated from the jewelry. The silver dropped from Jason’s skin and inched away through the grass. Grateful raised her sword above her head and stabbed the silver serpent. With a shriek, the worm disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“What was that thing?” Silas asked.

“Whatever it was, it was enchanted with very dark magic.” Grateful returned to Jason’s unconscious body, the sword glowing to life again. “It isn’t just the ring, although I’m sensing it was exasperating his condition. There’s something inside him. It’s like… It’s almost as if…”

“He’s been cursed,” Gerty said.

“Yes, cursed.” Grateful nodded. “Do you know who might have done this?”

“I do,” Gerty said. She glanced at Silas, Laina, and Kyle, the last of whom was rubbing his new wife’s shoulders in a way that seemed to be the only thing propping her up.

There was a long pause, followed by frantic whispering. Selene strained to hear, but the whispers drifted away on the spring breeze. Artemis stepped beside her, a look of supreme concern on her face.

“It appears you were correct about Prince Jason’s aura,” the older woman whispered. “There is more amiss than a simple vice.”

She was interrupted when Silas spoke. “Let’s move him somewhere safe. Somewhere we can assess him properly.” The crowd parted and Silas hoisted Jason into his arms.

Laina placed a hand on her stomach, whispering something to Kyle over her shoulder. He nodded in agreement. “Bring him to the cabin. It’s closest.” There was an exchange of whispers between the royal family and Grateful Knight, and then all of them scattered.

Selene let out a deep breath and slumped her shoulders as the group disappeared into the woods, following the pathway back to the parking area.

Artemis cleared her throat. “It has been a long day, sister. I wonder if you might accompany the royal family and tend to their spiritual needs. I must rest.”

“Yes,” Selene said with enthusiasm. “I’d be happy to.”

“Very well. Remember, the goddess is Jason’s hope for recovery.” Artemis handed her the box containing the Fireborn Primary Alpha artifacts, the same ones she’d used to bind Laina and Kyle just moments ago. Selene gazed at the sacred chest in wonder, honored to be trusted with it. Artemis graced her with a confident smile. “Break this curse, sister, then see if you can help the man.”