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“Then the link between the spell and your psyche will reactivate from the stress and you’ll experience the same thing over again.” He stares down at me, daring me to argue.
I kind of want to just because he’s being so bossy, and also because he looks hot when he’s mothering me, but there’s no way in the Fae hells I’d survive another hallucination watching freakish arachnid creatures slaughter my entire family.
So I peer through my lashes at him and say, “Fine, but I’m not missing training tonight.”
“Good.” He flashes a wolfish grin. “Because I’m not going to take it easy on you.”
“And I need a shower,” I add.
“Done.” His sharp eyebrows arch devilishly. “Let me know if you need any help with that.”
Oh, boy. The horny hooker inside me takes his suggestion and runs with it like a quarterback near the end zone—
Get a grip, Summer. This is all physical, a reaction to the magic, not your heart.
Blowing out a steadying breath, I say, “I think I can manage that alone.”
His face is emotionless as he watches me a moment longer before turning to go.
“Are you leaving?” I blurt. I should be relieved, but I’m still raw from watching spider-creatures massacre my family and I don’t want to be by myself right now.
He glances back over his shoulder. When I see the dark intent in his eyes, my stomach flutters wildly.
“Princess, you’re in my bed. Alone. And I’m already overwhelmed by the primal need to make you mine so I can protect you properly. So unless you want that to happen, I should probably go. Besides, I need to reassure your friends that you’re okay.”
“Mack?”
“The one and only. She and your sprite are currently making a scene at my front door.”
My heart sinks. She must be so worried. Is she done with the test already?
“I’ll let them in and tell them you’ll come down in thirty minutes.”
After he leaves, I fire off a million texts to Zinnia’s new phone, a gift from Nick. Once she replies with pictures of the kids plus a rant about Aunt Vi, I go for that shower. hing hard, I wrench the door open and shuffle down the aisle—
Everything goes dark. What the frick? I freeze in confusion. As I take in the black sea of nothingness, cold dread seeps into my veins.
“Hello?” I call, my voice ringing in the absolute silence. As my eyes adjust, I slowly start to pick out shapes from the shadows. Tall, slender shapes.
Trees.
Okay, this is beyond weird. Could it be part of the test? I’ve heard that some professors hold their exams in the field, but wouldn’t they prepare us for that?
“It’s okay,” I whisper, searching the forest for a clue on where to go. “Don’t panic.”
Besides the unnerving quiet, the landscape is gray, lifeless, like a three-dimensional painting of a world that has yet to be colored. Everything is monochromatic and covered in—I swipe my finger across the trunk of a tree—ash?
I find a path. It doesn’t take very long until it hits me. I know this place.
My heart lurches sideways. This isn’t the Everwilde.
Even covered in ash, I recognize the type of trees, honey oak and Texas ash. A familiar path opens up. It zigzags through the forest as it leads to the . . .
Farmhouse. My farmhouse. My home.
A prickle of unease trails down my spine as I make out the humming carried on the light breeze, the same song Zinnia sings every day as she hangs the laundry on the line.
Something is wrong.
