The Alpha Who Cursed His Mate novel Chapter 42

"What?" She says, "I may as well make the most of it while it lasts?" She shrugs.

I sit next to Nina on the end as she hovers her hands close to the fire, warming them up. She leans her head on my shoulder. I can feel her body shaking from the cold. I drape my arm over her shoulder to give her my body warmth.

As I wake up, I can feel something warm covering me. I open my eyes and see Nina asleep with her hand and head on my chest.

My hand strokes her arm, gently waking her. Her eyes flutter open, and we smile and sit up.

"Let's wake the others," I say.

Nina nods and wakes Gianna and May up while I wake Leon up.

"I'm so thirsty," Gianna says, stretching her arms out.

"We have bottles of water and snacks in the car. You can help yourself as soon as we are there," I tell her.

"How far away is the car?"

"About an hour's walk,"

"Okay," she smiles.

Nina and I walk side by side as the others walk ahead.

"What does it feel like to wield magic?" I ask her.

"Honestly, it feels amazing. It's a shame I won't be able to show it off back at Shadow Crest," Nina laughs.

"Josie would think it's the best thing ever," I say.

"Until I turn her into a frog," Nina replies.

We both burst into laughter.

"Is that spell even in the book? I don't recall reading it in there,"

"No, but I will have to study the book further to learn all the spells I can cast," she says.

"If my parents learn about the spellbook, they might take it away. It's all we have that could help us break your curse,"

"Then the book can remain a secret then." She smiles.

We arrive at the car.

"I'll mind-link Ryker and let him know we have Nina and are safe."

I open the back passenger door—Gianna steps in, then Nina. May sits in the front. My heart rate increases as I get to sit next to Nina. I unzip the bag at my feet and pass out a bottle of water to everyone. Nina and Gianna scull the water down before I hand them snacks. They moan as they eat the food, especially Gianna. She eats a packet of chips, a muesli bar and three chocolate bars.

"This is so good. I've never had food like this before, not even when I was at the orphanage," Gianna says with her mouth full of food.

"You girls can take this room, and Leon and I will be in the room next door. Nina, while Gianna baths in your bathroom, you can come and use ours?"

"Sure, that would be great."

Gianna walks into the bathroom and locks the door behind her while Nina and I walk into my room. I open the bathroom door and close it behind her.

"I'm going to get us some takeaway food from up the road. I'll be back soon." Leon says.

The sound of water fills the tub while I lie on my bed in silence.

"Magnus?" Nina calls.

"Yeah?" I stand up and walk to the bathroom door, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, um, I just want to make sure I wasn't alone,"

"You're not alone, and you'll never be alone again," I say, with my head leaning against the bathroom door.

"Do you promise?" She asks after a moment of silence.

I open the door and sit next to the tub on the floor.

The bubbles are up to her neck. She most likely poured an entire bottle into the bath. I smile to myself, thinking of the washing machine incident.