“You’re going to have to explain a bit more, precious,” Yelena said, prompting her.
Seth squeaked from how hard Logan was holding him.
“I have to give up my magic to the monster, willingly. I can’t just let it take it. But the only way I can get close enough to do that and survive is to let it siphon off magic. It’s going to keep consuming. I’m a conduit to all of you with the matebond, so it’s going to take from everyone while it’s taking from me.”
Yelena set up stiffly. “You’ve borrowed before and I recovered just fine. Why are you so worried about this time?”
Tears slipped down Logan’s cheeks. “There won’t be a recovery this time. Anya said the monster takingeverythingexcept our lives is a best-case scenario.”
My whole body went taut as I processed her words.So if we survive, we…
“Will lose your shifting, yes.” Sorrow burned brightly in my omega, the weight of it sitting on all of our shoulders. “I won’t be able to help anyone like I did with Seth. I’ll have nothing left to give, assuming I don’t die in the process.”
I shivered. Losing our shifter abilities was a base fear for all of our kind, and was one of the most nerve-wracking things about being ill or injured. The thought of being trapped in a single form for the rest of my life made my stomach turn so hard I nearly threw up.
Logan swallowed hard. “Anya made it clear that part of how the monster is healed is by everything being voluntary. This isn’t just my sacrifice to make. I can’t stop it from happening, but it’s the only way. If we don’t get this to work, even more lives will be lost.”
Yelena pulled in a sharp breath and ran her hand over my fur, a testament to how agitated she was. “We should make plans.”
“For dying?” Velda asked quietly.
“If we don’t have our core of magic, we won’t be able to access our artifacts. The nest would be unprotected. Maybe we should choose some others to take over if needed.”
A lot of ifs. Logan had made it pretty clear what was going to happen, and it didn’t sound like this was anifsituation, more like awhen.
“Logan will keep the torque,” Kendrick announced. “If it’s useless at the end of this, so be it.”
“Who would we even choose to take over Protector positions?” Shakti asked. “Isn’t that something that would be left to the Council?”
Velda sighed. “Yes and no. It will be easier all around if we can have a plan in place. They’ll probably just roll with it.”
“All right, then,” said Yelena, “Let’s entertain the possibility that the Protectors bonded to Logan will be unable to continue their duties. Who would we leave in charge in our stead? I think Cora would be a good option. She’d be able to help the others adjust to their new roles, though it might be better to keep her as nest manager for that purpose.”
The others nodded.
“Who else?” Yelena asked.
“Margaret,” Kendrick suggested. “She already runs the library with an iron fist. She could handle the nest.”
“All in favor of Margaret?” Calliope asked.
All of the Protectors raised their hands. Surreal didn’t even begin to cover watching them plainly discuss their replacements if they died. They weren’tallowedto fucking die.
“Estrella would kick ass,” Velda added. “I would trust her with the nest, given how she runs her kitchen.”
“All in favor?”
Another unanimous acceptance.
“Dr. Atling?” Logan offered.
And just like that the replacements for Yelena, Kendrick, and Velda had been selected. I hated it. I didn’t care that those chosen would do an excellent job; this wasn’t how things were supposed to work.
Velda looked frighteningly dead in the eyes when she suggested, “We should get a will in place so that our fortunes stay with the nest.”
I growled, shooting to my feet.Are you all seriously accepting death so easily?
“Accepting is a bold word choice,” Velda replied.
