I can feel Hilda. Really feel her. Trapped deep inside herself, screaming, fighting.
Hilda,I call through the bond.We’re here, sweetheart.
The spirit screams, and Hilda’s body convulses.
“Stay out!” it shrieks.
“No,” Baylin snarls back at it.
We push harder, pouring everything through the bond. Love. Loyalty. Pack.
You’re ours, little one. Come back to us.
* * *
HILDA
I feel them.
Fuck do I feel them.
Our bond’s suddenly blinding with power, and I can hear them. Actuallyhearthem calling me.
Hilda. We’re here. Come back.
The mirror is screaming, thrashing, trying to hold on.
But they’re stronger.
They’re reminding me of who I am. What I’m fighting for.
Not the Evil Queen.
Not the mirror’s puppet.
Their omega. Their mate. Their pack.
And I have pups. Our little ones growing inside me. Our babies need me to fight.
So I push back. Hard as I can.
I feel the mirror’s hold weaken.
No!It screams.You’re mine!
Fuck you,I snarl back.I’m not yours!
I feel my hand move…myhand, undermycontrol…and grab the incomplete vessel.
The mirror realizes what I’m about to do.
No!
I smash it.
Glass shatters. The evil inside mescreams, the sound so loud it feels like my head will explode.
It tries to flee, tries to escape my body, but my mates are there. Empowering me.
