Page 41 of Hybrid Heroics

“We’re not cursed,” Amelia assured us.

Palmer gave her a tight smile. “Then you won’t mind us checking.”

“How will you check?” Hiram asked, his tone mocking.

“Novak will look into your mind,” York stated, leaving no room for argument. “If he sees it, then Murphy will remove it. But this house is curse-free. You can’t stay until we’ve verified—”

“This is my sister’s house,” his mom cut in. “And we are the king and queen—”

“I know who you are and where we’re at, Mother,” York interrupted. “This is my mate—our mate—and we’re not taking any more chances after what happened during dinner.”

Charlie glanced between us, a growl in his voice as he asked, “Where is Sloane? It’s not like her to stand behind you.”

“We’ll answer your questions after you let us check you and prove clean,” I responded, reminding myself that I was now the Supreme Alpha in this room.

Until Sloane woke up. We were two halves of a whole when it came to our title.

“Yes, fine,” Rig agreed impatiently. “Whatever you need.”

“You can check us,” Sam carefully replied. “But after that, I want answers.”

Stone shrugged. “And you can have them.”

“If we know them,” Vaughn added.

“What does that mean?” Nate snapped, his tone filled with haughty arrogance.

“Rig and Sam are clean,” Novak informed us, turning his attention to his former mentor and mine.

Charlie nudged Nate with his elbow. “We’re ready.”

Novak nodded his head to us when he was done, signaling they were also clean. He checked Amelia next, and she passed his exam. So he turned to York’s parents, noticing their hesitation.

“It doesn’t hurt,” he told them.

“I know,” Delilah whispered. “I’m worried about the outcome. If this curse has hit us, then it could reach the entire realm.”

“We don’t think it’s gotten that far,” York divulged. “But we’ll reassess when—”

“They’re clean too,” Novak advised, causing York’s mom to slump her shoulders and sigh in relief.

Our druid scrubbed a hand over his short cropped hair, finishing his sentence. “When Sloane wakes up.”

“She’s asleep?” Sam inquired.

“Not exactly,” I muttered.

I stepped back, dragging Stone with me so they could see our mate resting peacefully on the sofa.

“What the fuck?” Nate snarled. “Why is her mind—”

“Blank?” Novak laughed humorlessly. “Yeah, she kicked everyone out.”

“We’re staying here because Sterling told us the palace wasn’t safe,” York explained to their parents.

“It isn’t,” Hiram agreed.

Vaughn pinched the bridge of his nose. “Then Talia attacked Sloane. That’s how we found the curse.”