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“You said I am your mate. Fated mates, as Becca explained to me.”
“Yes . . .”
“And we’re going into this war after only just having met each other. If I lose you?—”
“Don’t think like that.”
“I have to. I love you, Bruno.”
I sucked in my breath. “Lira?—”
“I love you so much. I fell in love with you when we first met, but I didn’t want to admit it then. Nor did I want to admit it on our first or second date or when I ran away. My heart broke not being near you, and I thought I’d never see you again. But I have a chance to rectify that now. I want to share this with you, Bruno. Please let me.”
“Lira.” I crushed her to my chest and planted my lips on hers, feeling her melt against me when she started kissing me back. We only pulled apart because we had to breathe, but I was about to go back for another kiss when I felt a sharp tap on my shoulder.
“Save it for later,” Miti said. “We have work to do.”
We laughed. “I love you too, Lira. Since the very beginning as well. We’re both going to get through this, I can feel it. And I would love to accept your gift.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes were shining as she placed her hand on my heart. My eyes never left hers as I felt her power seep into me. My chest seemed to breathe a contented sigh as her power settled into my heart.
“I will use it wisely,” I said.
“I know you will. Be safe out there.”
Not wanting to leave her, I brought her in for another deep kiss, telling her with my lips how much I loved her and didn’t want to let her go. It wasn’t until another tap was felt on my shoulder, this time harder, that I finally let her go. Pulling away, I gave Miti a big hug and a kiss on her cheek and left the house to meet with Sandy.
“I’m ready to go now,” I told Sandy. “Let’s find Finn.”
Bruno
The alarm started blaring right when we got to the border, and Sandy and I immediately changed directions and met up with Rocco.
“How far away are they?” I asked.
Rocco’s body was stiff as he looked due east at a mist that was coming toward us faster than I’d ever seen one move before. “Not far enough. Finn is in there somewhere too.”
“What is that?” Sandy said, pointing at the mist.
“I don’t know, but I bet it’s something Esmi came up with. Everyone retreat! Back to home base!”
We all turned and ran back to Sugarville, convening in front of Dad and Mom’s house where Luc had gathered everyone. We shifted and stood and waited. The mist came rolling in, hiding everything in its path. Eventually, it covered us, and it was so thick I couldn’t see Sandy by my side.
But Luc could communicate with all of us still. Steady, he said into our minds. We are not rushing into whatever Pac has planned. His hold became even stronger when we heard the first couple of yelps. Two of our team members were down already. I tried to look for shadows in the fog, but everything was a blank slate. At least I could still smell my brothers and sister and our soldiers around me. There were more cries of horror, and Luc’s hold tightened. We were all straining to be set free to attack.
Pac is greedy, Luc said into our minds. He will want to talk with us. You all know this. Keep steady!
When the mist did lift, we saw we were surrounded by shifters and witches, more than we thought. They outnumbered us at least three to one. I growled. Why did it have to come down to this? Why fight and lose the ones we loved? My thoughts went to Lira when I heard a scream come from the house.
The front door opened and out stepped Pac, holding Lira. My brothers jumped in front of me to keep me from charging forward, but I still tried to fight my way through. Pac had my mate! He must have sneaked into the house under cover of the mist.
Jacob, Luc said, check the other side of the house to see if the sentries are still there.
Jacob started to head in that direction when Pac let out a laugh. “There’s no point in you going over there, Jacob. All your sentries on the other side of the house are down. We have you surrounded, and we have infiltrated the house. All your mates are under our control.”
I couldn’t see clearly anymore. All I wanted was his blood.
I felt Luc’s alpha power spread through our ranks, and that subdued me a little, enough so that I could hear Pac talking, and I realized I needed to wait for the right time to attack.
