Aleena’s POVI knew coming here would be hard, but I would never have guessed it would be as traumatic as it has been. My mother is adamant about finishing the mind searches as soon as physically possible, my father is allowing me the help I need but very begrudgingly, and my brother won’t even speak to me now, all thanks to Myla – his wife and my ex-best friend – which I honestly wasn’t surprised about, but it does hurt a bit.“Aleena, what exactly is it you need to borrow and for how long” my sister Alysia asked, and I fully intended to tell her, but something was bugging me.“Alysia, I was sure I felt the magic signature of Natalia on the wards at the gate. But I have seen no sign of her? where is she?” I asked before I changed my mind.“Uh, well, yes, that was her magic signature you felt, and it was her who originally renewed the defensive spells; she was always the strongest” my sister seemed to be dancing around the subject, and it bugged me.“Alysia, get to the point”, I urged

Ayla’s POVIt was now or never, and this better work. I knew as I stood in the arms of my mate Aiden that we had to give everything we had to get this to work. Whatever it was Aleena needed us to do, we would do it without question. That included calling on Alune. The last bloody thing I ever wanted to do again. I really couldn’t see how we could get along, but I didn’t have any choice in the matter. She had merged with me, and I was now stuck being the Exalted being’s vessel; I guess I find a way to live with it or give myself over to her and become nothing – that was something I would never do willingly.Pacing the room, I took my time; calling on Alune was not something I would ever be ready to do. But Archer needed me, and frankly, I would walk through hell to save him if I had to and back again.“You ready for this?” Aiden asked. He hadn’t been keen when I walked out of his warm embrace and started pacing. I needed time to get my head straight, and I couldn’t do that wrapped up i

Aiden’s POVAnger, fear, rage, despair. All the emotions I had to deal with as I watched my girl sprawled on the floor, unable to reach her, even though she was mere feet away. I could feel Axel was struggling too. Knowing your mate could be in danger and you couldn’t help was the worst feeling in the world. I wanted to scrub my skin from my body. Everything just felt wrong.“I know what you’re thinking, and you know we can’t do it, so shut up and stop pacing”, Axel growled in my mind. I didn’t even bother dignifying him with an answer.Aleena had left us to watch over Ayla; she said she needed to collect a few more supplies she needed to maintain the spell. Michael had left a few minutes after, stating he needed to check in with Laura. I wished him luck, knowing she was in a foul mood; I was sure his face had lost some of its colour; I couldn’t blame him; the woman unnerved me to no end.“Aiden, watch that bloody candle, mate! You know any change will fuck things up for Ayla,” Axel s

Aleena’s POVThe feeling of blood on my hands will never be okay to me; having someone’s life on the line and I’m the one set to save them that’s just too much pressure. It’s why I wanted out of the roles bestowed upon me back home.Blood pooled around Ayla’s body. Her mates were frantic and in the way. I had no choice but to take command of the room. Once the brothers were out of my way, I could at least see what I was dealing with, which was bad. Three very long, deep, diagonal gouges crossed the entirety of Ayla’s back. Black sludge oozed from the wounds mixed with her blood, and the smell of sulphur was getting stronger.“Aleena, please help her”, Michael pleaded, but in all honesty, I wasn’t sure I knew what to do.Dropping to my knees, I placed my hands in the centre of her back; blood and the black substance coated my fingers in seconds. I recited every healing spell I knew, all the restorative chants I could think of, but nothing stopped the ebb and flow of blood leaving her b

Aiden’s POVWas no one in this whole goddess damn pack capable of doing anything? Or was everything left up to my brothers and me? I knew precisely why Alune would suggest I fix this problem for the Alpha, and it wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do. I could feel the rage building, the darkness clouding my judgement. I wasn’t blind to it; I just didn’t have much control over it any longer. The more I used my gift, the more it consumed me. If I had known this was the repercussion I would get for pissing around with the shadows; then I would never have done it so many times before.Alune was right; I was the only one capable of getting in there and getting the job done quickly. Anyone else would probably be seen and end up caught up in the same twisted shit they were casting on the Alpha. I swear to the goddess, it has been nothing but drama and hassle since we arrived. If it weren’t for Ayla, it would be safe to say all three of us would have up and tail-ended it as soon as we