My jaw hung open wide. “Everyone? As in, the whole damn world?”

Elder Merrick’s wolf growled across the room, rumbling, “How the hell is that not affecting time, which sure as f**k is against the Law?”

Cahal and Antonio weren’t saying anything, only staring across at us. Silent. Expressions now blank. But that was enough to let me know the truth. They knew they couldn’t stop this, stop what was being taken from us — any chance of us figuring it out while we were separated. They knew that Elder Harcourt had the power to make this happen.

“You can’t mess with my damn mind!” Elder Jacobs shouted. “I’m not charged with anything!”

Elder Harcourt glanced at me. “Yes, the world.” His attention swung to Elder Merrick. “I’m not altering the events that have already occurred, or are supposed to occur, only memories and a few videos and papers and such, since they’re so popular. Those two parallel on a very thin line, but I’m not affecting time.” His gaze went to Elder Jacobs. “And yes, I could, although,” he waved one of his glowing hands, and suddenly, Cahal, Elder Merrick, and Elder Jacobs had golden lines across their foreheads…where Antonio had touched them earlier, “I believe Elder Farrar has safeguarded you, himself, and two others, from my spell.”

He was now glowing bright enough that I knew he was almost done with his verdict. “Nicely done, Antonio, but,” he shoved his hands out, and a bolt of golden lightening arced to their sphere from one of his palms, while from his other palm arced another out the door, making them all jerk and fall to their knees, glowing golden, their hands at their throats, “you may have the memories and be able to communicate amongst yourselves, but you won’t be able to communicate with them or anyone else the truth, and further, no one will ever overhear you by means written, seen, heard, tasted, felt, spelled, or dreamt. I can’t allow that.”

I shuddered in fear, feeling the shockwaves of his power even through our sphere.

“Look at me, sweetheart,” Ezra demanded, his voice hoarse. I did, in the glowing golden light. It was now so bright I had to squint my own glowing blue gaze to see Ezra’s green one. Forcefully, his forehead met mine as he whispered, “You will come back to me.” An order.

“I will. And you’ll come back to me,” I stated vehemently, heart squeezing painfully, wetness coating my cheeks. “You’re mine and I’m yours.” I choked in pain. “We will beat this.”

“Fuck yes, we will,” he growled, his face fierce in the golden glow. “Our bond is deeper than any mate.” His heated mouth landed on mine, staying there, whispering against my lips, “We’re soul mates.”

Arms raised, Elder Harcourt shouted, “So it be done!”

As I was wrapped in Ezra’s warmth and scent, blinding light erupted around us.

Power stole my breath.

Power stole my eyesight.

Power stole my mind.

Light evaporated, darkness descended.

Chapter Thirty-One

“Lil, wake up,” Antonio’s voice called from far away. “Time to open those beautiful blue eyes.”

I grumbled, my voice sounding hoarse, and tried to roll, but something cold and hard hindered my action, even though it hadn’t felt like I had stopped rolling, more like I was rocking back and forth in a soothing motion.

“Oh, come on,” Antonio murmured. “I’m sure you’re thirsty by now.” A snort. “And I dare say you need it with how pale you are.” A jiggle of my shoulder. “Wake up.”

“Go ‘way,” I rumbled, shaking his hand off my shoulder. “Tired.” I heard him grunt, then the smell of blood wafted on the air under my nose. I sniffed again, lifting my head to the scent, my fangs descending. It was Antonio’s blood. I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but I did. My eyes slammed open. “Are you hurt?”

We were in my Hummer and it was dimly lit inside, like it was parked in a garage with a faulty light bulb, placed far away, as the only lighting, so I was unable to tell what time of day it was. I was on the passenger’s side, and the seat was reclined — Antonio on the driver’s side. I blinked, rubbing my eyes as he shook his head — covered with black hair — and sliced into his wrist with a knife, sticking it against my mouth. “Drink, Lil. You’ve been asleep for a while and I’m sure you’re thirsty. Just don’t take too much. I need to be coherent.”

“Really?” I asked, never having drank off anyone but Dominic, but seriously loathing bagged blood. I stared at his wrist where it healed almost instantly. “You don’t mind?”

“No, I don’t mind,” he said softly. “Just drink.” He sliced into his wrist again, pressing it once again against my lips.

Not one to look a gift-horse in the mouth, I bit into his healing wrist, and my thoughts stuttered on what to send him as I took a gentle pull. I couldn’t send him what I had always used on Dominic because…well, that would be just disgusting…but almost instantly, I knew to send him serenity, and I pushed with that, confused at how easy it was, but his blood overtook those spiraling thoughts and I drank my fill of his very powerful tasting, bubbly blood, but stopped before his heart rate slowed so he wouldn’t be disoriented as he had asked. Licking over the wound, I laid his limp hand on his lap and sat my chair up, watching his face and listening to his heartbeat.

His eyes blinked open fairly quickly, and he asked, “Was that enough? Or should I get Bindi?”

My fangs instantly retracted. “Bindi?” I knew who she was, or at least, I thought I did. I was pretty sure that was the name of the Mage medic who was always down in the training arena for Mysticals who got injured. “Are you insane?” I rubbed my forehead, trying to wake up further. “Antonio, what are you thinking?”

Antonio sat still for a few seconds, odd sounds coming from his throat, until he stated breathlessly, “She knows about your hybrid nature, and she’s traveling with us and willing to donate.”

All truths. My jaw hung open. “What the f**k, Antonio? How the hell does she know about me?” My frantic gaze darted back and forth between his. “Do we need to kill her?” When he started making that odd noise again in his throat, I jerked my head around to the scenery, confused as to how we had gotten in my Hummer.

I stilled, seeing a flash of black. I picked up a piece of my hair, eyeing it. It was no longer neon red, but normal Com black, highlighted with brown. I blinked at what I saw outside the SUV.




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