Page 49 of Bad Blood Alpha

Israel looked taken aback. “I don’t know. Harrison?”

The big lion shrugged. “Don’t look at me. It’s an Al-Maddeiri ritual, known only to their royalty, their sorcerers and their Elite Guard. They weren’t big on sharing.”

“This is getting us nowhere,” Kira said. “I don’t care what it was supposed to do. Right now, it’s not helping us.” She turned to Ashley. “Do you think I could deliberately induce a vision?”

“It’s possible,” Ashley said. “You might be able to see more detail if you were looking on purpose.”

“Or she might have a fucking brain aneurism,” Flynn said.

“I could go with her,” Ashley said. “Pull her out if it gets too bad.”

Kira said, “I want to try.”

Flynn snarled, “Are you crazy? You didn’t see yourself the last time—”

Kira put her hand on his arm. “I know.” She looked into his eyes. “But if it were you, you would do it. You’d try.”

Flynn stared into her eyes, his mouth pressed tight together. Then he turned away. “Fine.”

Ashley came around the table and stood behind Kira, her hands on Kira’s shoulders. Kira could feel the strength in her, strong and fiery.

She closed her eyes.

At first there was nothing—just darkness, and her awareness of Ashley behind her, Flynn beside her. He was annoyed, his breathing elevated, a little growl in his throat.

She shut that out and reached through the darkness, trying to focus on the woman in the chair. She felt close to her, almost as if she knew her.

She reached further, further, trying to remember the feel of the woman’s energy, to align herself with it.

It eluded her, and she called on the magic within her—the Al Maddeiri magic. She felt it, stronger than before.

So much stronger. She could do anything. She could find anything.

The magic surged, taking her over. She felt herself rushing toward her destination, no longer seeking, controlling—just riding a wave that was taking her where it wanted.

There.

She opened her eyes and she was in the lab, the domed ceiling rising above her head, filled with shadows. She was surrounded by lab equipment, lights blinking, monitors beeping. Beyond that were two huge carved stone doors.

She didn’t see anyone else. She tried to turn to look behind her, to see if the dragon was still in the cage. She couldn’t turn.

She was bound, she realized. She was attached to the chair, arms and legs strapped to it with thick leather restraints. She couldn’t move. She tried to call out to Ashley, and she couldn’t open her mouth. Her lips were stuck together, and now they hurt. The pain was growing…

Oh, god. She was inside the woman’s body. And the pain slammed into her.