They knew Dante wasn’t in control anymore.
Once the doors were shut, Dante threw his fist into the wall. “I know you’re still there, little brother,” he hissed. “I don’t know how you figured out this little trick, but the longer you stay, the more I can destroy you, too.”
In my own body, I tensed. But in his mind, I laughed.If you wanted me dead, you would have done it already, Dante. You’re just scared you aren’t as smart as you thought you were. You know, if I can do this, how many others might try? How long before the voices of all your prisoners fill your head and you go mad?
Dante stared at himself in the reflection, eyes deranged, dark. “You know, I was trying to protect you. I never told Marion to do what she did.”
I don’t believe you,I replied, stomach twisting. Marion…the healer we’d brought to the safe house. Marion, the witch who we allowed near Ivy’s mother, her sisters.
Marion, who killed Kerry Sullivan? Who…
“You would have gotten the child, you have my word. But now…” He trailed off, straightening as soon as the doors opened. The hallway ahead was unlike any of the other corridors he’d shown me. “Now, if I find her, I’ll cut them out of her womb and feed them to my hellhounds. Then, I will steal her power once and for all.”
I lost my grip on his mind and was forcefully thrown out. Pain rushed through me as I came back to my own body. The cold chains around my chest. The chair beneath me.
Maeve’s eyes widened as she tipped my face upwards, forcing me to meet her stare. “What happened?”
I gasped for breath, feeling the fire of Ivy’s gunshot through my shoulder. How was it even possible when we hadn’t felt anything from her since she was taken?
I coughed hard, squeezing my eyes shut. As soon as I did, she appeared in my mind as she’d looked through Dante’s eyes. There was blood and dirt on her face. Her hair had been a wild mess. The nightgown she wore looked dirty and torn. And the collar…
Goddess above, I thought I might throw up at the sight of it.
“He shot Ivy,” I finally said, throat sore from shouting. “In the shoulder. She…fuck. She’s escaping right now, Maeve.”
Her hands fell from my face. I opened my eyes to watch her take a step back, red forming around her irises. “Are you sure? He could be tricking you.”
“I saw it all through his eyes,” I said, tears burning my eyes. For the first time since losing her, I actually felt hope. “I watched him shoot her. She had Hawk with her. And the Primal. A bear shifter. A winter Fae and another female. My father, the rest of my mother’s mates, they’re alive. Ivy was going to meet them, and they were going to escape through tunnels?—”
Maeve held up a hand, stopping me. “You saw this through hiseyes?”
“Get Blythe down here if you don’t believe me,” I snapped, heart pounding. “She should be able to get him out of my head. He’s weak. Hurt. She can do it.Ican do it. But we need to do it now.”
Suddenly,there were too many people in my cell. Blythe moved to stand behind me as Maeve, the Windermere matriarch, and two witch guards took up position by the wall.
“Where are Rowan and Elias?” I asked, straightening when I felt Blythe’s fingers against my temple. “They’re going to need to hear what I have to say.”
Maeve shook her head, lips pressed together. “I’ll tell you once you’re free of him. For now, focus on that.”
My stomach sank, but I gave her a single nod in response.
Are you ready?Blythe asked inside my head, her voice chilling, but not nearly as painful as Dante’s.
Yes,I replied, feeling stronger than I had in weeks. It was almost like he’d stolen my energy and power, but now that he was weakened, I could finally get my strength back.
Close your eyes, she said.Take me to that place where he resides.
I blew out a breath and did as instructed. In the darkness, I felt lighter than I had half an hour ago. Freer. Like taking that ounce of control back really did something for me.
I moved to the corner of my mind where Dante liked to sulk, but where his presence usually hid, there was nothing but that darkened path that would take me back to his head.
His hold is weak,Blythe said, sounding surprised.Good. I’m going to strengthen your ability to block him out. I will help you, but it’s you who needs to force him out.
I could do that. I could kick him out and keep him away. Especially knowing what I knew now. Especially when Ivy was so close to getting out.
The others needed what I knew to save her. To find her and get her out before Dante could hurt her, this time worse.
I couldn’t risk him entering my head again, not with her coming back. Especially not with what he told me.
