Mercy stilled. Was it possible the Seven could sense each other? Feel if one had died? It kind of made sense. “Ivar had the ability to teleport?” she asked.
“Yes,” Logan answered, moving even closer. His heat washed over her.
“Then he might’ve used that ability to jump dimensions,” she said, wanting to kick Niall for doing such a thing. “He could be anywhere.”
Garrett sighed. “I don’t have the ability to teleport but was able to do so during the ritual. It was horrific.”
Mercy’s chest hurt. Bad. “Your only chance of finding him is if one of you, one of the Seven, senses him.” Even then, the Seven couldn’t dimension-hop like the Fae. “I might be able to help.”
“No.” Niall straightened and wiped blood off his forehead. “As your king, I order you to stand down. As your mate, I declare this farce is over.”
Logan growled, the possessive sound spreading heat throughout her entire body.
“Now, Mercy,” Niall ordered, the color returning to his face.
Energy flitted beneath her skin, while a shockingly deep sadness pierced her chest. She’d always done her duty, and she couldn’t let anybody harm the king of the Fae. Even if her heart was involved. “I’m sorry, Logan,” she said, pivoting quickly and diving for Niall.
Logan’s roar of protest followed her as she disappeared into the darkness, her body finally set free.
* * * *
“No!” Logan jumped after Mercy, hit his head on the sofa, and bounced back to land on his ass.
She was gone.
He shoved to his feet and ran for the door. Somehow, Garrett put his body in the way, and the sound of them colliding was louder than thunder. Garrett grabbed his arms. “Stop for a second. Where are you going?”
“Back to the holding.” Logan shoved him out of the way.
“They won’t be there,” Sam said wearily, giving up the tough act now that the Fae were gone.
Logan partially turned. “You don’t know that.”
“I do.” His brother leaned his head back and shut his eyes, tingles pulsing from him as he healed. “The keep you infiltrated was temporary, just a place to house me. I’d bet anything they’ve already vacated it.”
Shit, shit, shit. The sense of betrayal clawing through him was almost as sharp as the anger. “I thought she would’ve chosen me,” he muttered. His entire body ached like he’d been beaten with baseball bats.
Garrett slapped an arm around his shoulders and drew him back into the living room. “She didn’tnotchoose you. She saved her king. You would’ve done the same.”
Her king who claimed to be her mate.
When had she regained the ability to teleport? She hadn’t said a word. Had she been able to leave the night before, when they were in the shower having the best sex of his life? “She lied to me,” he said.
“Probably,” Garrett said cheerfully. He drew out his phone to make a quick call, ordering the Realm computer experts to trace the occupants from the holding they’d just infiltrated. “We’ll have their location shortly.”
“It doesn’t matter where those soldiers go once they wake up. I’m assuming you knocked a few out.” Sam grunted. “They won’t lead you to wherever Mercy just took Niall. Even the Fae aren’t that trusting.”
Logan curled his fingers into fists. He needed to hit somebody, and right now. “Where are they, then?”
Sam opened his eyes, revealing his secondary eye color of electric bronze, only visible in extreme situations. His pain must be worse than he was letting on. “Wherever the president is. She’s at a secure location, and that’s the reasonable place for Mercy to take their king.”
Logan studied his brother, checking out his injuries without being too obvious. “Any clue where that might be?”
“No.” A gap along Sam’s collarbone slowly mended.
“Hey,” Logan said, his voice gentling, his tension mellowing. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried.”
Sam’s lips twitched. “It sucks not being able to teleport. Bastards hit me with one of those tasers right off the bat. My strength is about half back, though.”
