Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
A growl sounds from the bed. Cautiously, I force myself to step into the dark bedroom. There, Lucan lies still and chained, naked except for a pair of white briefs. I stare in horror at his gaunt cheeks and pallid complexion.
In the past few days, my brother has deteriorated far beyond what I imagined.
Swallowing my horror, I vow that when I see Sydney again, I’ll focus on nothing but my mission. Screw whatever I’m feeling for her. My first priority must be to find Anka and make Lucan whole.
An adjoining door opens to my right, and Sabelle exits the bathroom in a cloud of humid, perfumed air. She wears a simple white dressing gown, damp hair pinned to the top of her head, water droplets still clinging to her golden skin. Determination stamps her regal features as she strides to a chair beside the bed. When she glances my way and sees me staring at Lucan, regret softens her face.
“Mate mourning isn’t always this way.”
Her whisper is like a blade to my chest. She means to be comforting, reassuring. Instead, her words only anger me more.
“Caden,” Sabelle tries again. “His bond with Anka was so true and deep. He’s hurting now, but he had over a century of joy with a woman he loved. Any of us should be half so lucky.”
“To be reduced to an animal? You would feel lucky to endure this?”
“Mate mourning for a witch works differently. Wizards undergo a period of intense…adjustment. A female suddenly alone is often compelled to seek out another male for comfort, protection, and energy. She doesn’t remember her former mate, but she experiences a sense of loss. She pines. Just not in this way.” Sabelle gestures to my brother.
Meaning that Anka could be anywhere, her memory of Lucan completely gone, and shagging someone else. If the mate mourning doesn’t finish Lucan off, that knowledge might.
Sabelle places a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I know you find this unpleasant—”
“Horrific,” I correct. “He’s a lunatic, and he’s a burden to you. Will he ever again be himself?”
Chapter
Twelve
Regret shadows Sabelle’s expression. “His mate mourning is severe. We’re trying. Honestly.”
“I’m not faulting you. I don’t blame you. I don’t even blame your brother. Lucan knew the risks when he joined the Doomsday Brethren.” Though I’m convinced it never occurred to him that Mathias would rip his mate from him. “I’m simply…frustrated. With every passing day, he’s gotten worse.”
Her face softens. “Until he takes energy, he’ll be unable to stabilize.”
I pace, feeling so bloody helpless. “If I’m unable to locate Anka, is there any possible end, other than his death?”
“One day at a time. You’re trying. We all are. Don’t discount Lucan and his will to live. He’s strong. And it’s possible his mate mourning could end tomorrow. He could awaken perfectly fine.”
Or this condition could kill him.
I snort. “Magic would never be so kind.”
“Then give up on him.” She tosses her hands in the air. “But I won’t. Lucan is our friend. His death would crush my brother.”
Sabelle doesn’t wait for my reply before she approaches the bed and raises her hands to Lucan, lingering at one ankle, then the other. Then she makes her way to the top corners of the bed, murmurs a few words, and passes her fingers over each of Lucan’s hands.
Suddenly, the chains binding him loosen.
With a roar, Lucan thrashes about, testing his new limits. His eyes turn wild, feral. The whites are gone, his pupils mere dots in a sea of tumultuous blue.
“What are you doing?” I rush to tighten Lucan’s restraints again.
Sabelle stays me with a raised hand. “Serving him. Let me.”
I wish that didn’t mean what I fear. “Lucan could kill you. He nearly did the others because they weren’t Anka.”
“He smelled the other men on those surrogates. He assumed they were enemies come to kill him, so he attacked. I’m trying a new approach. I’m completely clean. I’ve washed with Anka’s soap and shampoo. I’ll try using my siren lure to persuade him that I’m her.”
“But allowing him so much slack in the chains… Isn’t that dangerous?”
“According to my Aunt Millie, when a wizard is feral, they need to dominate. In this state, Lucan will require any woman he beds to be beneath him. Besides, I hope that having some freedom will signal to him that he’s not under attack and enable him to take me. He’ll derive more energy if he does. It might even be enough to heal him.”
Yes, but… “You’re simply going to let him—”
“My body is a small thing to give to keep a dear friend alive. If embracing another eases him past his mourning, why would I not help him?”
Her selflessness is a blow to the gut. She’s risking life and limb for my brother. I’m grateful. Yet I’m terrified for her.