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“There you are, my pet,” Antonia purrs, walking close to where I’m assuming the barrier is but not crossing. “I’ll let them go when you and my children are back where you belong.”
I place one foot in front of the other, a tremble in my step at the memories of what this monster has done to me in the past. What she’s done to our children, but still, I keep placing one foot in front of the other, raising my chin in defiance until I am close enough that I don’t need to shout.
“You will never seemychildren again.”
My owl flaps his wings, begging to be let out, to take out the demon that's haunted us for years.
“Then I guess I don’t need these children anymore,” she says, looking over at her brother and mate.
“Stop,” I demand, stepping even closer as the children begin to thrash against the magic. “What do you want?”
“You already know what I want, pet,” she says, raising her hand to stop the two men from injuring the kids further.
“I will never give Zach or Amelia to you,” I spit.
She waves her hand dismissively. “Amelia is of no use to me now that she’s proved to be unworthy of magic and Zach…” The way she says his name lets me know exactly what she truly thinks of him. “Despite his unique magic, he has the wrong anatomy to be useful to me.”
“But you said…” I begin and she smiles that evil smile, rotating her wrist slowly, merging her magic with that of Anthony’s, the bigger of the boys thrashing wildly. “Stop. I’ll give you anything. Anything except Zach and Amelia.”
Her hand freezes once more, turning that smile on me. She’s got me exactly where she wants me.
“You will come with me.”
I look back at Skarlyt, then over to the kids.
“I’m sorry, Pearl,” I whisper lightly, hoping that the sound travels on the wind to her, wherever she may be. “Okay.”
“Don’t do this,” Skarlyt says, walking up to me.
I turn and whisper in her ear. “She won’t want me once she learns I’m mated to Pearl. Just get the kids to safety.”
“But…” she begins but stops herself when she sees my resolve and disappears, leaving me standing alone.
“Beware the siren's call that echoes through the labyrinth of compromise. Shadows may whisper the allure of sacrifice, but within the dance of negotiation, guard the sacred ember of self. For in the hostage's ransom, the true cost might be your own liberation.”
When I try to recall Opal’s words, they come back with shocking clarity. As I repeat the words, I can admit that it could mean Antonia doesn’t plan on keeping her side of the bargain. Even then…I turn and look back at the two children who are stranded on the unprotected side of the pack’s barrier and then over to the two couples who must be their parents. All four parents are being held back by their friends and family. I know full well that if I was one of those parents, I would want anyone with a chance to save them to try.
“Come now, pet, or have you replaced me so quickly?” Antonia sneers, “Though you could’ve at least traded up, not down.” The insult is meant for Skarlyt, but she’s already long gone.
“Let them go, and I’ll cross,” I tell her, stepping closer to the barrier.
“How do I know you will actually cross?”
“I swear to the Goddess of the Moon, that I will cross this barrier to you at the same moment the children do.”
Antonia raises an eyebrow at my mention of Mother Moon, but nods her head, looking over at her brother and mate who slowly release their hold on the children.
Chapter Twenty-One
Pearl
“Pearl!” A voice shouts and a stinging pain in my cheek makes my eyes fly open.
“Skar?”
“We have to go,” she says, but for some reason, she’s not just teleporting me away.
“Go where? What happened? Is everyone all right?”
