Page 52 of Curse of the Wolf
Mom spread her arms. “I gave him much credit because of his old-world power, but…”
“He’scompletelyworthy,” I snapped. “Of anything. And it has nothing to do with his power.”
She looked at me like she’d birthed a simpleton.
I surged to my feet, fists clenching, though what I planned to do with my fists, I didn’t know. I couldn’t punch my old, sick mother. But frustration boiled inside of me. I’d wanted this to be the answer, to save Duncan’s life.
“If there’s anything wrong with him or hispowerin the eyes of a piece of jewelry, it’s only because that curse is weakening him.” No, it waskillinghim. I swallowed around my tight throat. “It should fix him, and then it would see that he’s worthy.”
Mom opened her mouth, maybe to say that the medallion didn’t have thepowerto fix the curse.
“I’m not worthyyet,” came a croak from below before she could speak.
“Duncan.” I knelt and rested a hand on his chest again.
“Ah, lovely.” He clasped his hand over mine. “A sick man should be fondled.”
“What happened? Did the artifact attack you?”
“I believe I, ahem.” He eyed Mom and Lorenzo before lowering his voice to a whisper. “I believe I fainted.”
“You… fainted?” I asked slowly.
“Perhaps Americans would saypassed out. In a manly manner.”
“We would say that, but it had to do with the artifact, right? I didn’t sense it attack you, but you wouldn’t faint in the middle of the day for no reason.”
His expression bleak, he met my eyes. “I have been feeling a touch dizzy and lightheaded now and then. Since the fight last night. I’m afraid my condition is progressing.”
“That’s alarming, but it had to have been something to do with the magic.”
“Perhaps so.” Duncan glanced at Mom and Lorenzo again.
They weren’t staring at him with condemnation and judgment, but I suspected Duncan would have preferred fewer witnesses for, as he’d put it, the progression of his condition.
“What did you mean when you said you’re not worthy yet?” I asked.
“That’s the impression I got from the medallion when… Well, I silently asked it to help me. If it could.” He looked sheepish.
“I asked it the same thing,” I said.
“It gave me a vibe of… Well, it seemed to imply that itcouldhelp me if I proved myself worthy of its help. Ofit.”
“These medallions were designed to be worn by the alphas of the pack.” Mom clearly had no trouble following the conversation even though Duncan had lowered his voice.
“And I’m not part of the pack. Or an alpha.”
“I did offer you a place with the Savagers if you wish it,” Mom said, though she looked at me, as if the decision would have been up to me.
As if I controlled Duncan. Maybe she meant that I would have to offer myself to him if we wanted him to desire to join us. There was some truth to that, I supposed. It wasn’t as if any of the rest of the family had done anything to endear the Savagers to Duncan. Mycousinshad been trying to kill him.
“I do appreciate that.” Duncan pushed himself to a sitting position, though he winced. Did he have a headache lingering as well as the dizziness? “I think, however, that worth has to be proven, not given.” He tapped the medallion. “It’s quiescent now. It’s no longer responding in any way when I think words at it.” He looked toward the case, the lid still open but the artifact inside dormant. “That must enhance the capabilities of other magical tools around it.”
“It does… something.” I shrugged, feeling helpless. “How are you supposed to prove yourself when you’re…” Dying, I thought but didn’t say. “Fainting?”
“It might be difficult. I’ve yet to defeat an enemy by fainting at his or her feet.”
“No, bad guys are rarely intimidated by that.”
