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good to be true. What happens if she does? she
asked, then ran to catch up with their group,
wiping her eyes clear as she did.
They found Leticia in one of the first cells. She
was aware and seemed unharmed except for a
slight limp when she approached the bars.
I m so glad you finally decided to come get me
out of here. Hurry up before they come back.
Why don t you just break out? Rose asked.
These cells are dead zones. I m powerless in
here. Leticia threw her hands up to emphasize
her point. Nothing happened.
Rose threw up hers and a ball of light floated
there. It doesn t seem to be affecting us out here.
Good, so get me out then.
Why did you try and have Emmalia killed?
Rose demanded.
Leticia narrowed her eyes.
Emmalia could tell she was debating on telling
the truth, trying to decipher how much they
already knew.
I saw her destroying us, mating a beast and
tearing apart our coven. We have been the
strongest for so long. I couldn t let that happen,
Leticia spoke without guilt.
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Emmalia knew she probably felt none. Probably
believed she was doing the right thing to protect
her coven. As crazy as her actions were, she
believed herself doing the right thing.
I agree that her mating was an unfortunate
mistake. She has asked forgiveness for it, she is
ready to redeem herself for it by taking place as
leader. She will take your power, Leticia. She will
be our new coven leader and we will all be
bonded to her.
Leticia shrieked in painful denial and Emmalia
almost felt sorry for her. It would be hell to know you
were about to lose everything you had worked so hard
for, everything you had lived for. Emmalia choked on
her thoughts, coughing as she remembered the
pained look on Terrance s face as he turned away
from her and ran off, no longer trying to stop her.
They formed a half circle around the cell wall
and began to pull Leticia s power from her. The
shrieks of rage and pain increased and Leticia fell
to the floor in agony, writhing and clawing at the
dirt as they pulled and pulled until there was a
glowing ball of power held in the center of them.
It was linked to everyone in their circle, except
Emmalia.
They cut the tie to Leticia and her screams were
silenced. She was gone. The ball of power was
there for the taking. Emmalia was supposed to
take it, bond herself to them as their leader and
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break her bond to Terrance. If she didn t, then she
would never be bonded to them, but could she
still be a part of them somehow? Emmalia looked
at her mother, who was smiling so satisfied with
this, wanting to welcome her as their leader and
forget all the Terrance silliness as she had put it
earlier when they had planned this.
Why couldn t her mother accept her mating to
Terrance? What were all the elders so afraid of?
Time was running out and she still didn t know
what to do. She closed her eyes and when her
mind filled with images of making love to
Terrance for far too few times, her decision was
made.
She pushed the power forcefully and it was
done, no going back. No bond would be made
with her coven. They could take her or leave her,
but she wanted her were.
It took a couple seconds for things to settle, but
as they felt around their new bonds, they stared in
shock, not at Emmalia, but at their new leader, at
Selene.
Why? Selene whispered.
Because you will lead them right, you won t
be afraid of the changes. Emmalia kissed Selene,
then her mother and then rushed out of there. She
had to find Terrance, had to tell him.
She ran full force out of the prison, but she
didn t go back the way she had come. She ran
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instead to the large house she assumed would
hold Henry and Lillian. They appeared on the
porch when she neared.
Gasping, she tried to explain herself, but could
only come out with two words. Find Terrance.
Lillian gave her a slight smile and Henry
barked a laugh, merged with his wolf and howled.
Terrance will return in no time to claim you,
I m sure. Would you like to come inside and
wait?
No, I will head out the way I came in, meet
him halfway.
If you insist, but please do come visit again
soon. I would appreciate getting to know you. You
remind me of my daughter. A deep sadness
passed through her brown eyes and she turned
and walked into the house.
Emmalia didn t have time to ask. She started
running for the woods they had come through.
How far could Terrance have gotten?
He had not gotten very far, apparently. As soon
as she crossed the broken wall, she heard and felt
him crashing toward her at full speed. She
stopped walking and waited.
Huge and black as night, his wolf jumped at
her. He split from his wolf in mid-leap and
crashed gently into her, his arms wrapping her up.
He turned as they fell and he landed on his back
with her on top of him. His lips crushed hers in a
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