“Farren, calm down,” Caitlin said. “Look at the sigil. Really look.”
Eli extricated himself and held out his arm so his mate could see the new mark clearly. Peter leaned forward. “That’s different from what’s in the book.”
“It is.” Caitlin went on to explain that the inked version of the sigil on Eli’s forearm had an unbroken circle around it, which she believed meant the Thirteen couldn’t sense it or channel their magic through it in any way. “I think Eli can send some ofhispower through this mark to Sameen’s. If she’s outside the wards that protect this place and Eli momentarily drops the casting keeping the Thirteen from sensing her...it could work. Her mark could activate all the others. If he combines his magic with an air location charm, maybe...?”
“It could lead us to Mara,” Cade finished. “Do it.”
“Hold on a minute.” Peter released Sameen’s hand, pushed to his feet, and stalked over to his alpha. “We’re talking about causing Sameen a hell of a lot of pain. And putting her at risk of the Thirteen finding her. This isn’t a decisionyouget to make on your own.”
“I want to help.” Her voice was so quiet, Peter almost didn’t hear her over the roar of his own heartbeat in his ears. “I’ll do it.”
“Sameen...”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “I’ve shared the pain of every single person to ever wear this mark. When Mara reached out earlier? She must be very strong, because I didn’t only hear her words. I felt what she felt. It was...” Sameen shook her head. “She’s terrified. She needs to know she’s not alone.”
Peter grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Can we talk about this? Privately? Please?”
“You won’t change my mind.”
Peter’s heart cracked, and the gaping wound throbbed with every breath. “I can’t lose you.”
“Until yesterday, you didn’t have me.” She sniffled, staring down at the floor. “I didn’t have a life before I escaped. Not one I remember, anyway. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t see, couldn’t even move of my own free will, and now? I’m warm, clothed, and surrounded by people who don’t know me at all, but have protected me. No one more than you.”
With a heavy sigh, she reached up to lay her hand against Peter’s cheek. “You make me feel like a person.”
“Youarea person. A very special one. My mate. Even if you don’t accept me. Even if once the Thirteen are dead, you leave and I never see you again, you will always be the most important person in my life. I would die to keep you safe, don’t you understand that?” His anger simmered just under his skin, and his wolf asserted himself with a feral growl. He ached to throw Sameen over his shoulder and carry her upstairs, away from Eli, Caitlin, Cade...anyone who thought using her and activating her sigil was anything but a terrible, horrible idea.
“What I understand,” she said, her voice taking on an edge he hadn’t heard before, “is that you want to control what I do. The Thirteen took every one of my choices away for more than twelve years. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you do the same.”
Shock stayed his steps as Sameen pushed past him and headed for the door, only pausing once she’d crossed the threshold.
“I need a few minutes. A bathroom. And shoes, if we’re leaving the house. Can someone help me...?” she asked.
“Let me,” Caitlin said and rushed after her. “Do you want to take my arm?”
The two women left the room, Sameen’s hand tucked in the crook of Caitlin’s elbow, and Caitlin whispering quietly to her.
Peter balled his hands into fists and let out a low, frustrated growl. Until Cade grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him up against the nearest wall. “Look, asshole. I know I’ve been a shit alpha the past few days. Hell, ever since Mara started losing time. But if you don’t get yourself under control, you’re going to lose her before you ever have a chance to find out if she cares about you.”
“Get off of me.” Peter tried to jab Cade in the stomach, but his left arm failed him, sending pain radiating down his side, and he sucked in a sharp breath. “Fuck, that hurts.”
“Did you miss the part about me beingyour alpha?” Cade’s snarled words forced Peter’s wolf to back down instinctually, and he slumped in the other man’s grip. “That’s better. Two choices. You either listen to what I have to say, or you can leave this pack once we find Mara. You know my rules. Know they haven’t changed since I took over for Mike years ago. We’re a family. And family sticks. You haven’t claimed Sameen. The way you’re acting, you might never get the chance. But that doesn’t matter. She’s your mate, so she’s family too.”
“You’re asking her to sacrifice herself. To put herself back in the Thirteen’s hands. They’ll kill her, Cade. You know they will.”
“If you took a minute to pull your head out of your ass,” his alpha grumbled.
“We’re not going to let the Thirteen take her again,” Eli said. “We’re going to try this before dawn. Regulus can join us. We’ll be six wolves, an elemental, me, and a vampire.”
“Two vampires.” Everyone whirled around at Regulus’s voice to find him and Ewan standing in the doorway. “The young one has completed his transition, and even as his wolf, mytalentscan keep him in line should he lose control. No one who attempts to harm your mate will live to see the sun, Peter. That, I can promise you.”
* * *
Sameen
Caitlin led her upstairs and into a lavishly furnished bedroom. “Ya’ look like ya’ might be about Farren’s size.”
“What?” Sameen was too busy trying to get her bearings. This wasn’t the room she’d shared with Peter. It didn’t smell the same. But she had no idea where that other room was.
