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Were those emotions coming from the person standing before me? How could someone live with such profound loneliness? It was gut-wrenching.
Then something occurred to me. Was this the person who’d been feeding me visions of this place? And if so, why?
"Who are you?" I called out, and the figure raised a hand as if beckoning me forward. The pull I felt grew stronger, as did the emotions, and my eyes welled up with tears. "Do you need help? Where is this place?"
Abruptly, horrifying screams echoed around me, and my hands flew to my ears. Even then, the screams thundered through me, bringing me to my knees. My entire body burned with pain, and I started screaming, too.
Even when my throat started to hurt, I continued to cry out… until I felt hands on my body, shaking me.
“Natalie! Wake up!”
I sat upright, breathing heavily as I grabbed at the hands I could feel. Rumir and Lucian were crouched down on either side of me. Seeing them, I burst into tears of relief. I hugged them both, and they held me tightly.
“You’re okay,” Rumir whispered.
"We've got you." Lucian caressed my hair, and the pounding in my head finally started to subside.
But my mind was foggy. I could still hear the screams, although they were fading. I blinked rapidly, trying to piece everything together.
Behind the guys, I could see Zeus, Hekate, Fate, and Heldon. They were watching me, concern obvious in their expressions. I slowly released my mates.
Hekate stood up with a small smile. “How are you feeling, Natalie?”
“Honestly, I don't know," I mumbled as Lucian helped me to my feet. "My mind is a little foggy.”
Who was that person, the figure I just saw in my vision? What did they have to do with the virus? I was getting the feeling that what I’d just experienced wasn’t just another vision.
Had my spirit traveled elsewhere?
I looked down at my hand and stepped back from Lucian and Rumir. “I’m infected.”
"Yes, we know." Lucian held out his hand to me, but I didn't take it.
How was this virus transferred? I’d never forgive myself if the people I cared about became infected because of me. The possibility of Lucian or Rumir losing their minds and wreaking havoc wasn’t something I ever wanted to consider.
“Do you mind?” Hekate approached us, her hand out for me to take. “I need to take another look at you.”
“I-I might infect you—all of you.”
She shook her head. “We know that the virus can only spread through bites. So it's safe to touch you. But I need to see what's happening inside your body.”
My eyes drifted to Fate and then narrowed. I remembered what she’d done, but before I could give her a piece of my mind, Rumir placed a hand on my shoulder.
"She only said those things to make you angry," he said. “She knew you were infected but wanted the virus in you to react.”
I frowned. “But was any of it true?” I asked, glancing at her.
His silence was enough of an answer. Instead, he looked at Lucian and then turned away. I gritted my teeth. So it was true. Fate had made him my mate against his mother's will.
Silence filled the room, and I did my best to avoid looking at Fate. I didn't want to get angry. But even so, I could feel something stirring inside me.
Eventually, Hekate’s hand fell to her side, and I pinched the bridge of my nose.
It had all been true. Rumir wasn't meant to be my mate.
Zeus stood up, as did the Fae God, but Fate remained sitting. I could see how stiffly they were moving, no doubt expecting me to lose my shit at any moment.
I could feel it coming, an unfathomable rage, but I tried to think of things that brought me joy instead, like Lucian's gentleness and Rumir’s intense protectiveness.
