With a soft sigh, my mother released Kade from her shadows. “Because he loves her.”
Emon’s gaze turned on my mother. “Yes.”
“You’re soulmates.” My mother continued.
“Yes.” Emon said evenly.
My brother cursed again and started to pace uncontrollably.
“I’ve masked the bond, it is not complete. She does not know.” Emon watched my brother pace warily. “No harm will come to her as long as it stays that way. If I fall, then she will still have a chance—”
I knew what he wanted to say. A chance to live, a chance to love, a chance to grow without him.
Tears filled my eyes. Emon had been beaten, experimented on, and raped for three long painful months. He was standing only with sheer will, his body broken beyond the injuries one could see, and even still, he was ready to fight a war alone…for me.
“Then I know what must be done.” My mother said softly.
From the shadows, an onyx scroll materialized into her hand and Kade paused with shock when she extended it to the shifter king.
“Daemon Ash Strider, King of The West Isles, Soulmate to the Princess of Shadows, I task you with the guardianship of the shadow scroll, you will deliver this to my daughter so that she may one day join us again.”
“And where will you be going?” Emon said, the relief evident in his tone as he took the scroll.
My mother shook her head. “It is best you do not know but the scroll will help my daughter find us when the time comes.” She placed a hand on his arm soothingly. “Be careful, my son.”
Emon swallowed hard. “I understand,” he said gruffly. “I swear to you, that I will deliver this to her with my own hands even through death. Thankyou, Eve.”
My brother watched with a stoney expression and his eyes flashed with rebellion. “I will do what my mother asks of me but you will not find me as accepting as her, shifter brother.” Kade sneered. “If my sister dies because you fucking left her…I will make it a personal mission of mine to end you. Whatever horrors you have suffered will pale in comparison to what I will do to you should you fail.”
Emon glared at him but nodded his head with understanding. “I wouldn’t expect anything less, shadow brother.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes.
My mothers blue green stare snapped over to me and I froze, my breath held watching her watch me…impossible!
She smiled then and I could read the silent words on her lips. “I love you, my chickadee.”
My tears spilled over. “I love you too, Mama.”
Then the memory draped in darkness and I was swimming through Emon’s consciousness waiting for the next one to come.
Chapter 70
Icringedattheblaringalarms and the knowledge that we were back in the facility where we had been held hostage.
Except this time, I wasn’t greeted with the memory of sterile white walls but of ones painted red. Thick splatters of blood were everywhere, staining the floors, walls, and even dripping from the ceiling. Eviscerated body parts shredded beyond recognition were strewn about along with lump-like forms that resembled very dead humans.
It was a slaughter and my shifter king was in the middle of it.
In a doorway, I spotted him, covered in blood…again.
The room itself was a wreck of overturned tables, strewn instruments, and ripped apart bodies. On the far side of the room, a heavy metal door was ajar, a cool mist pouring out of it, having been carelessly left open in a hurry.
Dismissingthe odd ice box and its empty shelves, I looked back at Emon, who moved to squat low in front of what seemed to be the only human left alive in this goddess forsaken place.
I read his blood splattered badge.
Dr. Gerald S. Gio.
