Our peace was short-lived; I awoke to the sound of frantic shouts.

I sat up at the same time as my mates. Noel barely had time to cover me when our door flew open.

Bastien stood there, his face ashen. I flushed; my mates and I were all naked, but Bastien didn’t seem to notice or care.

“A carriage is approaching,” he said, “it looks like Edelnar’s. We can hold him off, but you all need to leave—right now.”

My mates were out of bed in a flash as soon as Bastien closed the door. I hastily got dressed. Hours ago, bliss and love had consumed me. Now, I was practically shaking with panic.

“Stay close to us, cherie,” Noel said, as they finished getting dressed. “But if necessary, leave us behind. Adan knows the way back to the portal.”

“I’m not leaving you,” I said fiercely.

They all looked down at me, tensing, but I held their gazes. I wasn’t going anywhere. I’d hoped they’d figured that out by now.

My mates formed a protective barrier around me as we moved to the door, and then headed out of the room, making our way down the corridor. Outside, I could hear more shouting and the sounds of pained cries. Bastien and the others were fighting. My heart twisted as I thought of the servants, and of Carina and Bastien. They had been so kind to us. Were we really going to leave them behind?

“Carina and Bastien are strong. As are Berenzi and Nya. We’ll come back for them, but they can hold their own for now,” Adrian whispered, reading my mind. “We need to focus on getting you out of here. Edelnar is here for you.”

They guided me to a second stairway that I hadn’t noticed before, at the far end of the corridor. We crept down it, careful not to make a sound.

It led to a back door, and we hurried out. But as soon as we stepped outside I froze, my panic turning to fear.

Edelnar stood there, a cruel smile curving his lips.

“It’s easy to use distraction to get what you truly want,” he said calmly. “Come, Liana. It’s time for you to be reunited with your own people.”

“I am with my people,” I hissed.

My mates charged forward with snarls. Edelnar lifted his hand, and they fell back with the force of his spell. He turned his hand towards me, and to my horror, my body moved towards him against my will. I couldn’t even summon my magic.

Soon, I was within reach, and Edelnar pulled me into his arms, his nostrils flaring with anger as he took in the bite marks on my neck.

“You bonded with them,” he growled.

“Yes,” I said, my eyes flashing as I met his, “and I enjoyed every second.”

I used his momentary angered distraction to lift my hand, silently issuing a spell that sent him flying back. Behind me, Gabriel and Noel got to their feet and pounced. In a series of rapid moves I could barely track with my naked eye, they began to fight.

“Liana, let’s go,” Xavier said, rushing forward to grab my arm.

“No,” I protested, shaking my head, “I’m not leaving Gabriel and Noel!”

“We have to get you out of here,” Adrian said.

“I can’t leave—” I began, faltering when a spell flung Xavier and Adrian back.

I whirled, panicked. Gabriel and Noel were now on the ground, eerily still, as Edelnar advanced towards me, rage contorting his features.

My own fury spiraled through me as I held out my hand, and that same burst of light that came from me in New Orleans shot from my palms, sending Edelnar hurtling back.

A force lifted him up into the air, and his eyes went wild with panic. I looked down at my hands, startled. I wasn’t doing that.

But Edelnar was looking past me now, his lips curling back in a snarl.

“How dare you turn on your own kind!” Edelnar growled.

I turned as Bastien approached. His hands were stretched towards Edelnar.

“And how dare you try to tear apart mates,” Bastien returned. With a flick of Bastien’s hands, Edelnar vanished from sight.

I immediately rushed forward to where Noel and Gabriel still lay on the ground. Relief flowed through me when I saw they were breathing.

“What did you do to Edelnar?” I asked, looking up at Bastien as Xavier and Adrian approached.

“A powerful Repelling spell,” Bastien replied, “it’s like . . . throwing him a great distance. But it’s a strong spell, and it drained me. I won’t be able to use my magic for the rest of the day.”

“We need to get out of here,” Xavier said, “Edelnar will be back. With reinforcements.”

“Carina knows of a safe place we can go,” Bastien said, nodding his agreement.

* * *

As we made our way from their estate, I found out the full details of what had happened. Edelnar had a dozen of his allies attack the front of the house as a distraction while he went to the back in search of me.

The house we were going to belonged to a distant relative of Carina’s who was now in the Barlad Isles. Unlike Carina and Bastien’s home, it wasn’t on the Council or Edelnar’s radar.

It didn’t take us long to reach the house, a cozy cottage that was small but with enough room for all of us, tucked away in the forests that bordered the mountains of Voznes.

As we entered the cottage, my mind was buzzing with all that had just happened. A chill slivered through me as I recalled Noel and Gabriel’s still bodies. What if Edelnar had killed them? I knew he wouldn’t stop searching for us. I wanted to have a life with my mates, but I couldn’t do that with Edelnar and the Council on our tail.

Around me, Carina, Bastien and my mates were in deep discussion about other places we could hide. I stopped walking. My mates froze, turning to face me.

“What is it, Liana?” Adrian asked with concern.

“How did Edelnar find us?” I asked.

“The Council likely has the location of our home in their files. They know Gabriel is friends with me,” Bastien said. “Someone told him where to look.”

“Well, we need to stop running,” I said.

“Eventually. But for the time being—“ Gabriel began.

“No. We have to end this. If Edelnar wants me . . . let’s give him what he wants.”

Carina and Bastien’s eyes widened, while my mates’ expressions varied from disbelief to horror to concern.

“You’re not serious, cherie?” Noel demanded.

“The only way we can kill him—and stop the Council—is to use me as bait,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm, though my heart pounded with fear.

“No,” Gabriel said swiftly, “we won’t allow it.”

“She has a point,” Bastien said after a long pause, looking at my mates. “If we could get a message to someone we trust on the Council to help us—“

“No,” Xavier barked, looking angrier than I had ever seen him. “How would you feel if Carina wanted to offer herself up as bait?”

“He wouldn’t like it, but he would respect my decision as his equal,” Carina said, her eyes flashing. “Don’t you consider Liana your equal?”

“Yes, but—” Adrian began.

“It’s my decision,” I said, pulling myself to my full height, “you can help me or not. But I refuse to live my life on the run.”

There was a glint of admiration in Bastien and Carina’s eyes. Gabriel’s mouth tightened; he whirled on his feet and disappeared down the hall. Xavier and Noel looked at me with disappointment before following. Adrian lingered for a moment, but he too turned away and left with the others.

“They’ll come around,” Carina said gently, stepping forward to take both my hands in hers. “You are only recently bonded, and they love you very much. They’re scared, that’s all. In the meanwhile, Bastien and I will help you come up with a plan.”

I nodded, but I still felt defeated. I knew my plan was crazy, but it was the best way to capture Edelnar. I was hoping my mates would have more faith in me. Hadn’t I chosen to stay with them rather than the relative safety of my world?