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“He does,” I agree.
“As do I. We’re clearly on the same team.” He grins dangerously.
“He knows about you, and he said something similar, at least, the ultimate meaning.”
“See? You have nothing to worry about. And hopefully I’ll be with you all of the time very soon.”
“Am I about to wake up?” My grip tightens on his arm around my middle.
“You are. I’m afraid this isn’t something I can save you from. I’ll be by your side before you know it, and you’ll never have to hurt again.” His mouth meets mine for a slow, tantalizing kiss. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
I jolt awake from sleeping against Atlas’s chest. Searing pain takes my breath away as shock courses through my system.
“Oh no,” I groan, clutching at my neck.
“What’s wrong?” Atlas asks, running his hands over my arms.
“Someone is dying,” I choke out around the fire in my esophagus. I climb off his lap, staggering toward the door. My hand glows as I slide it down my form. It manifests my panties and dress.
Atlas moves around behind me. I don’t know what he’s doing, but I make a break for the door. He follows, yanking on his boots before buttoning his pants. He grabs his discarded shirt, pulling it on as we exit my office.
“My mate,” Dread snarls. He stomps toward the back door with Ryktus at his back.
Ryktus’s wings flutter before pulling close to his back. The gargoyle’s sharp, bony claws nearly rake the top of the door frame as he exits. I glance around, checking for Laithe.
Dread, Ryktus, and Laithe haven’t been at The Den recently. I thought they were still at home, looking out for Emerson and her daughter, Ember.
The back door slams open.
Dread growls. It’s an agonized sound that radiates in my heart as if his pain were my own. Being empathic is a curse sometimes.
I follow Dread and Ryktus out, gasping when I get a look at the scene.
There are wolves littering the ground. The stench of death is heavy in the air.
Emerson lies on the concrete with her head nearly removed from her body. There’s no way a human comes back from that kind of damage with that amount of blood loss.
“Oh gods,” I whisper, staggering forward. I fall to my knees at her side as my mind races.
Ember is in her tiny wolf pup form. She licks at her mother’s wrist, and it’s almost more than I can process. Ember’s confusion and sadness overwhelm my senses.
There’s commotion and discussion about how to save Emerson. She’s pregnant, and it sends an aching pain to my heart. She’s already a mother, with another life growing inside her.
I can’t stand by and do nothing.
My magic is restless. It’s gotten more powerful over the years, but I’ve learned to trap it inside my relics to keep it from drawing the hunters to me. It’s telling me time is running out for the best-case scenario. I don’t understand how I know that, but it’s clear in my mind. If I fail to act soon, then the baby won’t be savable.
“They’ll find me,” I say to no one in particular.
I grimace, shaking my head.
My eyes fly back to the building. I don’t know where Atlas is, but a comfortable life here in Haven isn’t worth the turmoil it would cause my friends to lose their mate or their unborn child.
Dread, Laithe, and Ryktus know I’m in hiding from the fae. They know what using my magic will mean.
The witch, Meena, kneels at my side. She likely knows too, considering she can see the future.
“You’re sure?” I need my magic to be positive that we can save her, because as selfish as it sounds, I’m happy with my life here.
