Her mother’s expression moved from confused to contrite. “I never intended to deceive you. Please, believe that. I never imagined you would think it was possible for an Atlantean and one of the Breed to share a soul bond.”
“I didn’t at first,” Phaedra admitted. “We both were so sure it had to be a mistake . . . and now it is.”
A mistake discovered too late, after she allowed Micah to drink from her only hours ago.
He would despise her for this. How could she imagine he wouldn’t?
She despised herself for not realizing the chances of them sharing a bond forged by destiny was as impossible as she’d first thought it to be. It was a ruse. A lie.
Faith, she had cost him so much.
She studied her mother, thinking she should feel some amount of rage for the woman who had manipulated fate itself to bring Micah and her together for her own reasons. But she couldn’t despise her mother for that. Not for anything.
And especially not when the love she had for Micah felt nothing close to untrue, despite the reason they had found each other.
That didn’t mean his feelings wouldn’t change once he learned the reason for their meeting.
“Micah’s team was killed that night in the Deadlands, Mother. He was seriously wounded, too. Please, tell me you didn’t know you were bringing them into harm’s way.”
“No, love. I did not realize there would be danger . . . or death. I do know the warrior is alive because you were there with him.”
“But not his friends. I couldn’t save them all.” Phaedra thought about the road still ahead of her, the mission back to the Deadlands where the crystals—and the Ancients’ dangerous ship awaited. “Why not leave the crystals where they are? Why not let the Deadlands keep them along with whatever is left of the ones who wanted to destroy us? Mother, what if we fail?”
Sindarah smiled sadly. “You are more powerful than you know, my daughter. You always were. Your gift will guide you. It will protect you. But nothing will save you or this world if the crystals’ power is unleashed to destroy it.”
Dread carved a chasm in Phaedra’s breast. “Is that what’s going to happen?”
“I do not have that answer. If I could predict the future, your father and I would still be with you.”
Phaedra nodded, emotion choking her voice. “I miss you both so much.”
“We will never stop loving you, my darling. You have always been our greatest pride. And I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.” The glow outlining her form began to tremble. “I cannot stay much longer. My energy won’t hold. I just wanted to see you one more time. I wanted you to know the truth.”
“I’m not going to see you ever again, am I?”
Sindarah slowly shook her head, her silver-and-white hair floating around her shoulders like the fog that was now beginning to envelop her. “This is the last time I’ll look upon you, but my love for you will endure forever.”
Phaedra stepped forward. “Mother, wait—”
Sindarah’s slender hand rose, her lips forming the word “Goodbye.”
Then she was gone.
Phaedra opened her eyes and found herself naked in her bed, looking up at Micah’s handsome face above her. Concern lined his mouth and put a crease in his brow.
He touched her cheek with infinite gentleness.
“Were you having a bad dream?”
She couldn’t find the words to explain. She wanted to dismiss the encounter with her mother as merely a dream, but she knew it was real.
Micah smoothed her hair away from her face and shifted beside her, gathering her close to the warmth of his strong body. With his arms wrapped around her, he pressed a tender kiss to her bare shoulder.
“Everything’s okay,” he murmured. “I’ve got you now, and I won’t let go.”
CHAPTER 24
The Deadlands expedition team departed the D.C. headquarters in the morning.
