With a flash of baby blue, the kitchen vanished, and I opened my eyes to the dark stone of the war room, my thoughts once again my own. Like my visions of the hospital, Alex’s power was so strong I lost awareness of even my body. A shiver of fear had me bolting up to a seated position, only to find Ezra holding Xan upright like a wax figure.
“I didn’t know, oh, gods, this is my fault.” Tears streamed down Everly’s cheeks while Hero held her back from me.
I took a deep breath. Alex had created another world—not mine, his.
“Where’s Alex?” I asked.
“Xan’s cut him off.” Ezra scowled. “He can keep him at bay until he needs to sleep, though it is at the cost of his physical awareness of the world.”
My heart raced, but with so many emotions, it was hard to interpret. Alex had taken over my reality, which was terrifying, but the visions he gave me weren’t. I’d spent so much of my life wanting to be normal… was that what Alex was drawing on? Is that still what I wanted?
‘It is not your job to fulfill others’ fantasies. Ever. Ezra and I included.’Xan’s voice filled my mind.
“It’s not,” I agreed out loud.
The dragon cuddled into my hip.
“Quinn,” Everly reached for me, though Hero held her back. “Please tell me you’re okay?”
“I’m okay, a little confused, but I know what’s going on now,” I said, rubbing my head.
Hero let go of Everly, and my friend pushed through my guys to hug me. “I should have listened. It’s just tough to let go of The Evil Mastermind Architect. He was our adversary for so long.”
I chuckled while Ezra scowled at Everly.
‘Can he still hear?’ Everly mouthed, pointing at Xan.
“Yes,” Ezra growled.
Everly blushed before straightening and owning her words. “You were, and I’m not sorry. Trust is earned.”
“He can’t respond. He’s not in his body,” Ezra said after an awkward pause.
“Right.” Everly straightened her dress. “I knew that.”
“Um, Everly,” I said, changing the topic. “Why did the Architect ask you for a slave collar?”
Everly’s posture fell. “The Griersons use slaves.” She bit her lips together. “We’re not in the trade, but we take our own and occasionally purchase. I don’t like it, but one woman can do little to change an entire system.” Everly swallowed, and her confidence vanished. “Do you hate me?”
This time, I pulled my friend to me. The dragon wiggled between us and let out a little puff of annoyed rainbow magic. “Never. You don’t need to hide from me.” I released her. “So, they asked you because they want to put a collar on me because I killed Professor Holiday?”
‘No,’Xan shouted in my head.
“Where did you get that idea?” Cayden asked.
Rowan shook his head and clenched his teeth.
“No,” Everly added, just in case I hadn’t had enough of those. “That was me making assumptions, again. I’m sorry. A slave collar blocks all magic. Yours and anyone else's. It should block you from the man who just took over your mind.”
“And this doesn’t bother you?” I asked.
Everly let out a frustrated sigh. “Yes, it bothers me. But one minute, we were walking, and the next, you were just a shell.” Everly poked my chest, though tears filled her eyes. “It’s better than watching your mind get taken over.” Her voice broke. “That was terrifying, Quinn. Everything just went slack, and you were gone.”
Fear crawled up my throat. “You think I should do this.”
The dragon growled unhappily, and I petted its oddly soft scales.
Everly shook her head. “No. I don’t. I don’t want to see you or anyone else in a collar again, but there isn’t a better answer, at least not right now.”
