Every second, every detail, nothing gets left out. From the first time I woke to Adalyn and Archer talking, to the second time. To Sloane’s house tour and below ground and the Seer—Rowan, Archer called him—and his visions. Even how he liftedhis head when I left and showed actual sign of life. The cells, Sloane’s plans, Caden Blackstone and Wynter, and the pack’s arrival.
Mom’s never looked more shocked than when she discovered Harlow some weeks ago, alive, after believing to be dead for over fifteen years. But learning my true parentage, that I’m a shifter and mated to Ryder, might have beaten that.
“It explains so much,” she breathes, rubbing her forehead “About Ryder…and everything he was saying.”
Truthfully, not wanting to know another word he said about me, I finish my recounting involving Sloane’s demands, her “deal” which went nowhere, Archer’s help in regaining my powers, and finally the fight that ultimately led into two people’s demise: mine and Conan’s.
“I tried so hard to stop it. Conan was only there because Ryder asked him to be. And Ryder was there because the world is fucking sick and cruel, and if Hecate hasanythingto do with the bond, I’m fucking done with Her. Thatni—I won’t even attempt to pronounce it, butthatbond compelled Ryder to save me—and if She’s behind it, then I forsake her.”
“No, you don’t,” Mom croons, tucking a newly grown strip of black behind my ear. “What happened after that?” She knows if she doesn’t ask, I won’t finish going around in circles over that fateful moment, its consequences, and every theory of how it could have been prevented.
I tell her about Archer’s help and how he knocked out his mom and sister, before remembering about the bracelet in my pocket. “He’s on our side. I think. At the very least, he’s not on their side—not completely. He’s staying for his sister.” I tug out the bracelet. “He asked me to give this to Jasper.”
She sucks in a sharp breath and rests her palm over mine to take the leather. “I’ll be sure he gets this.”
Why do I feel she won’t? “What is it?”
“Not my story to tell.”
Okay…As much as I’d love to linger on that, I move on to tell her about the trip home and the voice in my head and the anger coursing through me at everyone and everything. And finally the conversation between Ryder and me. Xander’s arrival, and afterwards.
“You’re powerful.” She tightens her hands on mine, but it’s not pride in her tone. It’s concern. “Your new powers have taught you new abilities, I’m sure. Between them and your triggered emotions, you got yourself here. You were thinking about this place, and so, you’ve come.”
Although it’s over, it doesn’t feel like it. Everything’s just beginning.
“I fucked up.”
“You survived.”
“I need help.”
“You’ll get it, after you rest.”
Rest feels so far away. Like my body is live-wired to keep going and to never stop.
Mom gets up from the couch and returns to the kitchen, but I don’t follow. Seated, my body falls into the cushions while the pictures on the mantle across from me taunt my Dark future. They’re photos of me at so many different life stages. All of them an innocent child who was blissfully unaware of what the future would hold.
The one of me standing by a pile of leaves reminds me of a vision from Rowan. The little girl playing in leaves.The Devil’s future bride.
My gaze finds the window. Was that the past I saw, the present, or the future? Is that girl an adult now and has met the Devil or has she even been born yet, in which case the war is a while away?
Mom returns holding a steaming mug of tea which she urges me to sip. Blowing on it, I do. We sit in silence as I drink.
And when the cup is about half full, it falls from hand as sleep takes me out.
Mom drugged me with a sleeping potion, but it’s alright.
Sixty-Three
RYDER
Every leaf,every bubble within the stream, every blade of grass—empty. All empty.
She’s gone.
Her scent is nowhere to be found by either Xander or me, the bond stretched as thin as it was when Sloane took her the other night, and my wolf craves the blood of anyone who dared touch her.
Striding back to Holly, who’s guarding Conan’s body, Xander releases a frustrated noise which has nothing against the hollow noise of her absence within my chest. “She’s gone, Ryder. That’s the same power as Jasper.”
