LOGINCHAPTER 68: AftershockMIASilence.Complete, suffocating silence.My father’s words hung in the air like a death sentence. I replayed it in my head.“You’re the only one who can kill them.”I stared at him, not sure what I was searching for. Maybe he should laugh and say this was all a fucked up joke? Or to take it back. I would appreciate him saying it’s a lie to cover up all his other lies.He didn’t.No one spoke. Probably frozen in shock as I am. I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t hear anything. It’s like my brain has shut down. It wasn’t processing anything. Because if I let myself think about what he just said—Xavier shifted beside me. Like his body was trying to shield mine without actually making contact.I focused on that and the warmth radiating from him. The steady sound of his breathing.Real things. Concrete things.Not the impossible weight of what my father just dropped on me.Falcon broke the silence first. Her voice was careful.“What does it cost her?”My fathe
MIAMy father’s throat worked as he swallowed hard.“Gabriel,” Xavier growled. “Start talking.”“I—” My father looked between us. “I thought we’d have more time. I thought the suppressants would hold longer.”“What are you talking about?” I took another step forward.“Using your power.” His voice cracked. “Even that small amount sent out a signal. Like a beacon.”The room went very still.“A beacon to who?” Falcon asked.My father’s eyes met mine, that fear more than obvious now.“To them,” he whispered. “The ones who’ve been hunting lunar witches for centuries.”My knees felt weak. Xavier moved beside me. His hand on my lower back.“And now,” my father continued. His whole body was shaking now. “They know there’s another lunar witch alive. And they’re coming for you.”“Who are they?” Xavier demanded.“I don’t know their true names. Your mother never told me. She said knowing would put me in danger.” My father ran a trembling hand through his hair. “But she called them the Hunters. An
MIAXavier’s body stiffened behind me. His arms tightened around my waist and I could almost feel him vibrating. He didn’t like what my father said. That much was clear.“What do you mean he bonded himself to me? How?” My voice came out deadly calm, surprising even me.“It’s a partial bond through blood magic.” My father finally looked at me. “That’s why he’s so obsessed with you. Why he couldn’t let you go. He needs you to complete the bond so he can steal your power.”I felt sick.“You knew this,” Xavier said, his rage filled voice booming in the silent room. “You knew he bonded himself to her and you still arranged the marriage.”“I thought I could control it. Thought I could find a way to break the bond before—”“Before what? Before he raped her? Before he stole her power and killed her?” Xavier took a step toward my father. “You gambled with her life.”“I had no choice!” My father’s composure finally cracked. “They were getting closer. I could feel them. I’ve heard they were star
MIAEverything hurt.That was the first thing I felt when consciousness started creeping back in.My whole body ached. Like I’d been hit by a truck. Or exploded from the inside out.What happened?I tried to open my eyes but the light was too bright. I squeezed them shut again.I could hear voices. Though they sounded like they were coming from elsewhere.“—don’t care what your reasons were—”I recognized Xavier’s voice. He sounded furious. Who was he talking to?My eyes felt heavy when I tried to open them, so I just paused and tried to focus on hearing them more.“You don’t understand. I had no choice—”I knew that voice. What was HE doing here?My eyes snapped open. Something hot was burning under my skin. I didn’t know what it was but it pushed me fully open my eyes and took in the room.I was still in the main room, I was on the couch with a blanket over me.I followed the direction I heard the voices and found Xavier. He had my father pinned against the wall. His hand around his
XAVIERFeeling Mia’s heartbeat against my chest, her breathing evening out as sleep tried to claim her was the best thing I have ever experienced.Everything felt right. Perfect.For the first time in my life, I felt complete.Kane was satisfied. Content. Purring inside me like a giant cat.I pressed my lips to Mia’s hair and breathed her in. My scent was all over her now. Mixed with hers. Marking her as mine.She mumbled something against my chest. Already half asleep.I smiled, and pulled the blanket over us.My own eyes were getting heavy. The exhaustion of the past few days catching up. I’d rest for just a few minutes then go and deal with pack things.My phone had other ideas because it started ringing, the obnoxious sound shattering the peace and silence in the room.Mia stirred against me, blinking her eyes open. “What’s that?”“My phone.” I reached for it on the nightstand. “I’m sorry.”She lifted her head, her eyes still heavy with sleep and already drooping. “It’s okay.”I s
MIAI kissed him like my life depended on it. It felt like he did. If I didn’t get to touch him soon, or feel his skin on mine, I might just combust and disappear. He was the air I needed to breathe.Xavier made a sound against my mouth. Half groan, half growl. It vibrated through my whole body, making heat pool in my lower belly.His hands gripped my thighs and he pushed them wider. He positioned himself between them.I felt the hot hardness of him pressing against me.







