Cursed By Destiny
by Cecy Robson
Published by Signet
Book # 3 in the Weird Girls Series
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—
with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…... Celia’s a girl in trouble. Her heart is bound to Aric, but he is a pureblood were who must deny her or risk condemning his species to extinction. And that’s just her love life. She’s also been called to take down a group of demon terrorists looking to overthrow the paranormal world. (No pressure.) In order to bring them down, Celia must ally herself to Misha, the master vampire who has made no secret of his desire for her. And if that weren’t enough misfortune for one girl, a clairvoyant’s prediction could destroy Celia and Aric’s love for good. The only way to protect the world from unbridled supernatural terrorism is for Celia to bind herself to her destined mate. And that doesn’t appear to be Aric…
Genre
Triggers
Violence, Death
Cursed by Destiny is the third book in the Weird Girls series, and is written from Celia's point-of-view. The story kicks off not too long after the novella, A Cursed Moon. It continues with the war between The Tribe, filled with demon lords and angry lone weres and vamps, as well as dark witches, and the Alliance, a combination of the worlds weres, vampires, witches, and the Wird girls.
There is a lot in this book. Lets start with the war. In book 2, in the end, we know Celia's leaves to move in with Misha. We don't know why. We know she considers him a good friend, and he wants to be with her. I'm not sure what I was expecting with the move, but was pleasantly surprised that Misha actually hires her to work for the vampires in the Alliance, and trains her to be stronger, to fight harder, and encourages her to learn how to control all her abilities (which leads to a rather funny part where she turns into a cocker spaniel). And she does become quite the weapon against the Tribe. While she suspects that there is someone else behind the Tribe's hate for her, she does further encourage it by killing Tribe-masters. By the end of the book, the Tribe is heavily decimated, but still active.
On to Misha ... I like Misha. Do I want him and Celia to end up together? No ... but I do genuinely like the guy. He does love Celia, in his own way, and their friendship is something special. He has a lot of faith in her, and recognizes how powerful she is and can become. I do like how he constantly flirts with her. He sure is persistent.
Her sisters and the weres are as close as ever ... except for poor, sweet Emme and Liam. That sucked. I figured since book 2, when Liam couldn't tell Emme she was his mate, that their relationship was on the chopping block. They were incredibly sweet with one another, but I get Emme's feelings on the matter. It sucks to love someone, and worry that one day, he will find his mate, and leave her. She wanted to save herself now before she got in deeper. It was heartbreaking to see how sad Liam was. I was honestly worried that Shayna had actually died, and it was a nice little twist that Koda was able to transfer some of his were essence to her, so she survived, and we find out at their wedding.
The title comes into play here ... cursed by Destiny. We see Destiny again, and learn, on top of her very painful mind reading ability, she can also see the future. So she tells Celia her destiny ... that the children of her tigress and the lion would bring about the end of the dark ones. Anyone else kinda likes Tye? I promise I'm still team Aric, but Tye isn't half bad.
Aric and Celia ... oh man. I get that there are consequences to leave the pack ... but why would you want to stay in a place that is making you so miserable, you are at risk of turning wolf forever? That being said, the small moments Aric and Celia have that show their never ending love for one another make it easier to get through. Especially when Aric is able to go against his elders orders and he refuses to say his vows at the wedding. It doesn't get him off the hook. Anara, the Voldemort of werewolves apparently, doesn't care how it happens. He just wants Aric to breed with pure-bloods. Thats it. Aric and Celia can't help but be drawn to one another though. FINALLY, they succumb to their feelings and passion and have sex. It seems they try to have a relationship in secret, but in the end it doesn't work out.
Which leads me to the big bad ... my little inkling that Anara was an evil bastard was true. We don't find out till the very end of the book, when it ends on a cliffhanger, by the way, that he is behind the Tribe's target on Celia's back. Not only that, but he admits to hiring a witch, and one of Misha's obsessed lovers, to try to end Celia's life. Why? Because she is an abomination, and he would rather see Aric die than have a pure-bloods line be tainted. When all his attempts to get rid of her fail, he takes matters into his own hands. He uses the power of the pack (essentially using the were's in his packs power), holds her up against the wall, and beats her. He threatens the lives of Aric, and her sisters if she doesn't break things off with Aric, and the way he beats her, so quickly and brutally, she believes it. She had no power against him. And this leads to the big, BIG cliffhanger ...
Celia's pregnant. I suspected she was after she started not feeling well on her last mission, but with Emme also not feeling well, I wasn't sure what to make of it. Having it confirmed though, right after Anara beats her almost to death ... well, I feel like we are in for a rough book 4, especially if she does what Anara wants.
I've been sucked into this weird, weird world. Why don't you join me?
Liz: "What's the matter, Celia? Are you mad that you're not good enough to marry that werewolf?"
Celia: "Mention Aric one more time and you'll be gumming your next meal."
Liz: "Aric. There. Now what -"
Liz's fangs landed somewhere near Misha's feet. He rolled his eyes.
Celia: "Misha, it's fine. They only bit me. On the shoulder and ... Damn it, Edith - you bit my ass?"
Misha: "Wait. I must heal you."
Celia: "That's okay - they're only puncture wounds. I'll see Emme tomorrow. She'll fix me right up."
Misha: "They left deep marks. You should not wait to tend to them."
Celia: "Misha ..."
Chills spread through my body as Misha licked my shoulder to seal the wound. His tongue and breath warmed my skin. Misha had been around for over a hundred and forty years; he'd had plenty of time to learn how to touch a woman. He continued on, even though the bites had closed after the first flick of his taste buds. I broke his hold and backed away.
Celia: "Misha, don't."
Misha: "I'm not done yet, kitten."
Celia: *laughing* "you don't really want to kiss my butt, do you? What will people think?"
Misha: *uses magic to create breeze* "Do I strike you as someone who cares what others think?"
Celia: *looking for source of breeze* "Did you do that on purpose?"
Celia backs up and hits the wall.
Celia: "Misha, under no circumstances will your tongue or lips touch my backside."
Misha: "As you wish.
My shoulders slumped in relief ... until I realized I hadn't been specific enough. Misha grabbed the two fingers of my right hand and placed them in his hot mouth, instantly spiking my body temperature ten degrees. I was so distracted that I didn't notice him yank my yoga pants down to my ankles. By some lingerie miracle, my thong remained in place. He pulled my delighted fingers out of his mouth and smoothed them over my remaining marks.
Misha: "Faster."
Celia: "Misha."
Misha: "Faster, my love, faster."
Misha laughs as Celia snarls.
Misha: "If it pleases you, I can push harder from behind."
Celia smacks his arm.
Celia: "Knock it off before I throw you out of the damn car!"
Emme: "Taran, I know you don't like her, but you can't leave her out there. She'll catch pneumonia."
Taran: "She called me the Judas's whore child, Emme. I'm not waking the old battle-ax again."
Gemini: "If I were to hunt deer, I would seek out the most vulnerable in the herd. Despite her speed and strength, I would catch her. I'm afraid someone is trying to catch you."
Danny: "You think a Tribe witch planted the witch fire. And when that didn't work, a Tribemaster was sent for her?"
Gemini: "I don't know. But it's too much of a coincidence to ignore the connection."
Celia: "I think it's time for me to go on another assignment. I want these assholes to know they can't mess with me. And that's I'm not their damn deer to hunt down."
Liam: "Hey, Celia. We're out of soap. Can we borrow yours?"
Celia tries covering her girl parts.
Celia: "Liam! What are you doing here?"
Liam: "I told you, we're out of soap, and I was wondering if -"
Celia: "Get the hell out of my bathroom!"
Liam: *sighing* "Celia, you need to get over your shyness. I told you, the body is a marvelous wonderland-"
Celia hits Liam in the face with a bottle of conditioner.
Liam: "Hey, do you think Aric is finally going to mount Barbara?"
Emme gasped. Celia didn't make a sound. She was too busy begging God to kill her.
Bren: "If he does, maybe he'll stop being such a tight-ass bastard."
Bren yells out the window
Bren: "Hey, Lorraine!"
Koda: "Her name is Barbara, moron."
Bren: "Like I give a shit. Hey, you! While you're at it, take out that cougar Aric has rammed up his ass."
Danny: "Bren, shut your snout. Celia is still on the phone!"
Bren: "She is? Hey, Ceel, how's it going? Look, don't worry about what I said. No one can make Aric scream like you can. One time I was hungry and stopped at your house for a bite. You probably didn't know I was there since you guys were going at it like gorillas in heat-"
Shayna: "Dude. Shut up!"
Bren: "Back off, Shayna. I'm trying to make her feel better about Aric bumping uglies with what's her face."
Emme: "Oh, my goodness, Bren."
Bren: "Anyway, you guys were inspirational. After I ate the sandwich and had some dessert - by the way, your blueberry pie rocks - I picked up a girl at a gas station and had one of the best lays of my life. Seriously, you guys should tour or some - Ow! What the hell?"
The sizzling sound alerted me that Taran had zapped him.
Celia: "Misha, I'd like to talk to you about last night - in private."
Misha didn't acknowledge me, but the brunette licking his chest stopped long enough to glare and speak for him.
Brunette: "Misha doesn't have time for a little girl when he has women to keep him occupied."
Celia: "What kind of women are you if he needs fours of you to replace one of me?"
Taran: "Look, Ceel. We're going with you whether you like it or not. Those assholes tortured you guys and pissed on my birthday brunch. Now they're trying to kill you. That's just goddamn rude."
Celia: "Will you cut it out? I didn't like you licking me the first time."
Edith: "I've never had any complaints before."
Celia: "Just go find someone nice to nibble on."
Koda: "You're the responsible one. Why the hell did you let them tag along? It's bad enough you're involved in all this shit - now we have to worry about the rest of them, too?"
Gemini and Liam both turned on me and glowered, completely taking Koda's side. What the hell?
Celia: "Do you guys honestly think I didn't try to talk them out of it? I even tried calling you, but your girlfriend snatched the phone out of me hands and froze me in place, Liam. *points at Gemini* And your girlfriend gagged me with some kind of spell, used my voice as her own, and then knocked me out. All I know is you guys better grow a few pairs and take back some control before I revoke your man cards. What kind of lupines are you anyway? You let these tiny girls walk all over you."
Bren: *laughing* Celia;s got a point. Damn. You poor, dumb pricks are whipped!"
Danny: "Whoa. Congratulations. You did an incredible job."
Misha: "I disagree. Celia allowed the other Tribemaster to escape, thereby ensuring he will continue to breed and carry on with his onslaught."
His Royal Peince of All Things Batty aka the Deflowerer of Prom Queens finally decided to emerge from the limo. His gray eyes flickered with annoyance. Oh. Hell no. The look on my face must have been classic - everyone gave us ample space.
Celia: "Well, maybe if you'd gotten off your lazy, bloodsucking, womanizing ass and helped, he wouldn't have gotten away!"
Misha's vampires all gasped, right before they scattered like flies. No one had probably ever spoken to him that way.
Misha: "What did you say?"
Bren and Danny stepped in front of me. I moved around them and stormed up to Misha.
Celia: "You heard me, you Hugh Hefner wannabe. I'm in no mood for your crap. So unless you have something good to say, keep your fangs shut!"
I turned my back to my shell-shocked sisters and their laughing wolves.
Celia: "I'll call you later."
I stomped towards his limo, making a hell of a lot of noise considering I wore UGGs.
Celia: "There better be food in there!"
I stepped into the limo and was greeted with the glares from the four bimbos who'd fondled Misha the other morning. This was so not the moment to piss me off. I yanked them by their smut-wear and threw them out on their asses. One by one they landed on the asphalt screaming and launching into tremendous fits, but none of them dared to climb back in. Lucky for Misha, there were two large milk shakes and a tremendous bag full of burgers waiting for me. It was the only thing that saved his hide. He climbed in a moment later, leaving his hostile mistresses behind. If he was trying to pretend he was mad at me, he did a shitty job. A satisfied smirk played across his face.
Misha: "Why did you toss the girls out?"
I spoke through a mouthful of food.
Celia: "Because they're nasty, spoiled, sleazy hoochies. And where the hell are the fries?"
Celia: "I don't get why you want me to learn this stuff."
Misha: "This stuff has helped leaders like Napoleon conquer Europe."
Celia: "I just feel bad for the little guy."
Misha: "Napoleon?"
Celia: "No, the pawn."
Misha: "Kitten, the pawns are necessary sacrifices to win the game."
Celia: "It's just so unfair. Why doesn't the knight or the king ever try to protect them?"
Misha: "They are more important and need to be spared. Do you not consider the president worth protecting, say, over a vagrant?"
Celia: "A vagrant would feel just as much pain if he were shot. What's up with the queen?"
Misha: "She is the most versatile."
Celia: "She also seems to be the one in charge, even more so than the king."
Misha: "A strong woman is capable of bringing even the most powerful male to his knees."
Celia: "Why do you still eat food if you don't have to?"
Misha: "I still enjoy the taste, and I suppose ... Well, never mind."
Celia: "What?"
Misha: "It's nothing of importance."
Celia: "Tell me."
Misha: "No."
I flicked a crouton and nailed him in the nose with it. By the look on his face, you would've thought I tossed him a severed toe.
Misha: "Celia, your table manners are -"
Celia: "Tell me."
Misha: *chuckles* I suppose it makes me feel more human."
Celia: "Ever wish you were human again?"
Misha: "No."
I realized I had caught Misha in a lie. I didn't push it, though; some things were better left unsaid. And some vampires shouldn't be messed with.
Misha: "Do not worry for Ying-Ying. I assure you she is quite satisfied."
Celia: "Slut."
Misha: "I'm surprised to find you think so little of her."
Celia: "I was referring to you, Misha."
Misha: "Forgive me."
Celia: "I always do, Misha."
Celia: "Does it bother you that they have this whole bet thing going?"
Misha: "No. It's similar to children at play."
Celia: "Children don't often bet on whether their parents are going to have sex."
Misha: "Does this mean you consider yourself their mother?"
Celia: "Mom to the fang-banging Brady Bunch? Oh, hell no. Besides, they barely tolerate me. If I ever do have children, I hope they would at least like me."
Misha: "They would love you, Celia."
Celia: "Thank you, Misha."
Female were: "Oh, Aric. You smell sooooo good."
Bren tried to ease my temper. He nuzzled my neck, imitating the tramp's lusty voice.
Bren: "Oh, Celia, Celia ... You smell soooo good, baby. May I straddle you like the whore I am?"
Other female were: "Where would you like me to touch you?"
Taran: "Excuse me. I'll be right back?
Gemini: *panicked* Sweetheart, where are you going?"
Taran sashayed her way to Aric and his groupies. Gemini was at her heels begging her to return to the table. Taran ignored him and whispered somethng to Aric so low, none of us heard it. Whatever it was must have been a doozy. Aric's eyes shot open. He grabbed the weres as they launched themselves at Tran while Gemini hauled her back to our table.
Shayna: "Dude! What did you say?"
Taran: "I merely said that if they needed pointers they should talk to Celia. She knows exactly where to touch Aric."
Celia: "You're a lion."
Tye: "No, sweetheart. I'm the lion."
Celia: "Oh, and a modest one at that."
Maria: "It will not be de same without you. You are crazy bitch weird and all, but okay. Just okay."
Celia: "Gee, thanks, Maria."
Danny: "I'm not looking, Aric. I swear I'm not looking."
Makawee: "Young Daniel, I would like you to watch what I'm doing. As a blue merle werewolf, you may be gifted with the ability to heal others. Kindly open your eyes."
A pop followed a sizzle.
Danny: "Ow! What the heck, Taran? Makawee made me look."
Taran: "She said 'watch' not 'gawk'. Reel in your damn hormones before I zap you again."
More growls erupted.
Bren: "Aric, calm down. It's not like he's never seen her naked before."
Bren: "Dan! Hysterical female, you need to handle this."
My nipples hardened at the sound of his voice, and damn, he hadn't even glanced my way. I tried to cover myself with my arms. My aroused scent filled the room, and everyone with a supernatural nose noticed. I just about begged God to kill me when they all gawked. Bren burst out laughing.
Bren: "Oh, shit. This is going to be good."
Shayna: "Ceel, cut it out!"
As if I had any control over it. Aric's growls struck the air like a raging wind.
Aric: "What are you doing to her?"
Misha: "Nothing, I assure you."
Danny: "Since he fed from you so deeply, your sub-conscience is associating him with, um, you know ... climaxing."
Celia: "But I was thinking about Aric the whole time."
Bren: "Your nipples are huge."
Aric: "Yes, it was. I like that thing you do with your legs."
Celia: "I could tell. Aric, you were even louder than usual. Was that because you really enjoyed it or was that all for Misha's sake?"
Aric answered with a sly smile.
Celia: "Aric!"
Aric: "It was both, baby."
Celia: "Quit looking at her, Hank."
Hank: "Not until you stop smelling yourself. That's really annoying, Celia."
Celia: "Your mother is really annoying."
Hank: "Yeah, she was. What's your point?"
Misha: "Celia, you almost died for me the other night. You did so not because you are bound to me by blood, but because of the type of being you are. I know that your body is ready to yield itself to me. But I also recognize that your heart is not. When you are ready - in heart, soul, and body - I shall be waiting. Thank you, Celia, for coming into my world. Thank you ... for saving my life."
Misha took me into his arms and held me close. I returned his embrace with newfound affection. He had me for the taking. Instead he released me, choosing to prove his love.
Emme: "Is that even possible?"
Bren: "Anything is possible with a little imagination, a dash of determination, nd a tube of petroleum jelly -"
Celia: "That's enough, Bren. No more."
Celia: "No, I mean, why Africa specifically?"
Tye: "I'm a lion, dovie. I wanted to trace my animalistic roots. Haven't you ever thought about returning to the motherland?"
Celia: "My motherland is Jersey."
Tye: *laughs* "So there's a personality deep beneath that tough exterior."
Celia: "I'll have you know I'm pretty hilarious once you get to know me."
Tye: "So are you saying we'll get to know each other after all?"
Tye: "This isn't how I pictured our first time together. I mean, I knew I'd be on top, but this is just weird."
Tye: "Have either of you ever performed surgery before?"
Shayna: "Well, no. But Ceel and I are labor nurses and we've watched C-sections performed about a million times.
Tye: "I don't have a goddamned uterus. Leave me the hell alone!"
Emme: "What are you doing to her, Misha?"
Misha: "Just granting her some peace, sweet Emme."
Emme: "Will it be permanent?"
Misha: "No. My power is no match for her pain."
Check out the prequel novellas, and the rest of the Weird Girls series below!
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