Logan held Madeline’s hand as he watched her slipping away from him. He closed his eyes as he prayed to whoever was listening to help Madeline get through this. He would do anything to save her life. He prayed. Logan felt the room go still when he heard his older brother’s voice. “Anything, Brother?”

Logan opened his eyes and looked at his two brothers standing close to the window. “What are you doing here?” Logan asked; his voice had a threatening tone to it.

His younger brother, Landon, held his hands up in surrender. “We are only here to tell you that Madeline’s name is on the list.”

Logan’s eyes widened as he shook his head. “No, it’s not her time. Things can change; there have been plenty of times a name has shown up on this list and then disappeared. I can fix this.”

“We just wanted to give you time to say your goodbyes, Logan. When we come back, we’ll have to take her,” Luke informed.

Logan got up from his spot and pointed his finger at his older brother, Luke, “Don’t tell me how this all works. I’m telling you, you’re wrong.”

Landon took a step forward to try and calm his older brother. “For your sake, I hope we are. But if we’re not, wouldn’t it be better if you get a chance to say goodbye?”

Logan shook his head. But he knew his brother was right. “How much time do I have?”

“Maybe a few hours, no more than that,” Landon answered.

Logan ran his hands down his face. “Leave me. I’ve got work to do.”

His brothers bowed and disappeared from the room before it returned to its original order.

Logan got back down in his spot and held Madeline’s hand in both hands. “I’m going to save you, Madeline, I swear to you. I going to save you,” he promised. Logan leaned in and kissed the top of her hand.

The touch brought a smile to Madeline’s lips.

Logan stepped back from the bed and was about to leave when he heard talk in the next room. He walked out to see a young girl he hadn’t seen before.

***

“Amanda? What are you doing here?” Ruby asked as she went to hug her niece.

Merida looked to Vita for help, but Vita just shrugged and insisted she hug Ruby.

Merida opened her arms and allowed the older female to hug her. She coughed a bit when she could smell the scent of a wolf.

Ruby pulled back, looking worried at Amanda. “Why are you here?” Ruby asked again.

“I, uh, came to help,” Merida suggested.

“Aunt Ruby. I call her Aunt Ruby,” Amanda said.

“Aunt Ruby,” Merida finished.

Ruby looked at her niece peculiarly but brushed it off as being exhausted. “Well, I’m glad you are here to help us. Hopefully, your mate won’t be too upset about us stealing you. I think I’m going to lie down. It’s been a long day.”

“That’s a good idea.” Zachary agreed. “Let us know what you come up with to help,” he told Amanda.

Mirada nodded.

She slapped her hands together and rubbed them. “So, where are the grimoires?” Mirada asked.

***

Rita peeked out, looking to see if anyone was coming around the corner. She knew it was only a matter of time before a target was placed on her back, and she’d be hunted down.

Rita didn’t understand why Emil was acting so upset with her. She was doing this all for them. The omens would release his precious Merga, and he could finally get rid of her once and for all. She was tired of living in the shadow of Emil’s first love. Rita wanted to be Emil’s queen and help rule over all the factions. It was only a matter of time before all the omens were opened. Rita just needed a little more time to figure out how to cast the final prophecy.

This had been Rita's plan ever since she chose Emil over Deak when they were younger. She realized that Emil was more powerful and an easy way for her to reach the top. So Rita cast Deak aside and pursued Emil.

“Emil will be mine if it’s the last thing I do,” Rita swore.

***

Emil stepped outside once it had finally stopped raining. He hadn’t seen rain like that since…

Then he smirked. Merida, his little witch, that he forced her family to have her mated to him. She was back in the city where it all began for him. He couldn’t wait to see those beautiful eyes that he missed so much. Emil’s excitement was hard to conceal. He couldn’t wait to tempt his mate to use her powers on the factions, making them weak and inferior to him. It was only a matter of time before she found him.

***

Esha looked around as she tried to find an exit. She needed to get home so no one could see her true self. Esha heard voices and hid in an empty room. Coming to the faction council was a waste of time; no one here knew what to do to fix all this. Esha needed to accept her fate, collect her things and get out of Silver City. Esha’s heart stopped when she heard a familiar voice outside the room she was currently hiding in.

“Hey, have you seen Esha?” Jasper asked on the other side of the door.

“She was here a moment ago,” a male voice answered him.

“Thanks,” Jasper told him.

Esha held the handle as she turned the lock softly. She closed her eyes and hoped Jasper would move on and not check the rooms around him. She played with the bracelet on her wrist, praying she had any magic left in it to convince Jasper to go away.

She shivered as she felt his presence get closer to the door she was up against.

Jasper sniffed the air and caught the faint scent of the girl he sought. “Esha? Come on. I’ve been looking all over for you. Please come out?” he pleaded.

Esha felt the pain in her heart as she refused to listen to his pleas. She wouldn’t allow the man she had been in love with for years to see her the way she truly looked.

Jasper jiggled the door handle that she had been holding before she turned the lock. “Esha, it’s no use. I know you are around here, somewhere. I’m not leaving until I know that you are okay. So stop playing these games and come out!” he yelled.

Esha’s eyes fluttered as she listened to the huskiness in his tone, trying to lure her out. She shook her head. It wasn’t going to work. They came from different worlds, and she was no good for Jasper. Esha needed to figure out a way to get herself away from the man that was currently hunting her down. In another world, she would eat this up and enjoy every minute of it.

But this was the real world, and girls like her didn’t get guys like Jasper.