Caitlin led the way into the study, and Farren toyed with the pendant she still hadn’t taken off. It was warm, and not simply from resting between her breasts. No, there was power to it, and with every step they took closer to the book, the power grew.
“What is this?” Eli asked when Caitlin opened the old, weathered tome they’d rescued from Diedre’s house moments before Fergus had brought down the entire structure to get to Liam, Caitlin, and Mara.
“Every practitioner I’ve met,” Farren said as she toyed with the necklace, “has been full of riddles and tricks. They’re as bad as the Fae. Or possibly worse. At least the Fae havesomerulesthey follow.”
“So Diedre...the old woman who sent me here in the first place, she purposely gave you a book you can’t read?” Eli shook his head. “Why do you think I can be of any help at all?”
“Because she gave you this.” Farren held up the Tree of Life necklace then pointed to one of the pages with the same symbol inked in the corner. “And it’s all over this damned book.”
“Maybe Eli needs to be the one to hold it?” Caitlin stroked her fingers over the faded ink and glanced between the two of them. “It obviously has magic in it. Otherwise, ya’ never would have been able to defeat those two practitioners last night. What if the magic’s different for each person?”
Farren shrugged and loosened the clasp. Her fingers brushed Eli’s palm as she passed the pendant to him, and at the contact, it was like they became one. Like they’d already mated. The connection, the burst of pure love and affection she felt for him in that moment...she’d never known its equal in all her years.
He felt it too. His green eyes glowed bright, and a low sound rumbled in his chest. Silence spread through the room, thick and oppressive, and he tightened his fingers around hers, holding on as his body started to shudder.
“What...is this?” he managed through clenched teeth.
“Mara? Give me your hand,” Caitlin said. The two of them, with air, fire, and water, joined Eli and Farren, Caitlin holding Eli’s free hand and Mara taking Farren’s.
“I hope ya’ know what ye’re doin’.” Fear sank like a stone in Farren’s stomach, and Eli continued to shake. But now...it wasn’t just him.
Books rattled on the shelves, lights swung, and the werewolves all started to growl at once. Cade and Liam stripped off their shirts in unison, shed their pants, and dropped to hands and knees to shift. Ewan and Tierney were only seconds behind them.
“Don’t hurt him!” Farren cried. This was her mate. And whatever was happening, she knew from the look on his face it wasn’t his fault. Hell, he was as terrified as she was.
“I’m callin’ on as much air as I can,” Caitlin shouted over the roar of the whole house shaking. “Air and earth...they’re two halves of one whole. Enemies and best friends all at once. Eli...whatever ye’re feelin’ right now? Give in to it. We’re here with ya’, and we’ll keep ya’ safe.”
Farren doubted anyone would be able to keep them safe if Eli destroyed her entire house, but she focused on the connection between them and held his panicked gaze. “I’ve got ya’, luv. Remember what I said earlier? Ye’re mine, and I’d die for you.”
“No, no, no,” Eli moaned and squeezed his eyes shut. “I don’t want to remember. None of it! Please!”
The words held so much pain, Farren almost let go, hoping to stop whatever the fuck this was. She felt his agony right along with him. Words she didn’t understand sped through her mind, faster and faster until they were nothing but a blur of sound, and a band tightened around her chest, making it hard to breathe.
“Eli. Fight. Please,” she panted. He was wheezing now, short, stuttering breaths that couldn’t possibly sustain him for long, and Farren leaned in, still holding his and Mara’s hands, and kissed him.
Ye’re mine. My mate. And I’ll protect ya’ for the rest of my days.
She didn’t know if he could hear her or even feel her, but when he broke off the kiss, he screamed her name.
The scent of the soil, of mossy earth and fresh rain and sand filled the room. Just as suddenly as it had started, the shaking stopped, and Eli crumpled to the floor.
Caitlin and Mara stood back, giving Farren space to kneel next to him. “Eli? Please say somethin’, luv. I need to know ye’re okay.” She cupped his cheek, and though his eyes didn’t open, he leaned into her touch.
“I...remember,” he whispered. “Everything.”
Chapter Twelve
Eli
He was only vaguely aware of the chaos surrounding him. Voices. Shouting. Angry. Farren’s cut through the din, and he grabbed onto it like it was all that would save him.
“Eli? Can ya’ hear me? I need ya’ to open yer eyes.”
Can’t.
His head felt like it was about to split in two. Unsurprising since he suddenly had fourteen new years of memories stuffed into his brain.
Tears burned behind his shuttered lids, and he groaned as he fumbled for Farren’s hand. When their fingers intertwined, his thoughts started to clear, to sort themselves into some sort of logical order. Images came back first. His mother’s smile. His father’s eyes. The comic book he’d been reading when they’d come to his room, their faces somber.
