Page 59 of Shark 2

“Are there limits to how the compulsion works?” I asked. “Would he be able to make me attack you?”

“Roman is a vampire mage,” Theo said. “He can make anyone attack anyone else. If there’s a hint of dislike, it strengthens the compulsion.” She scowled at Koia. “Which is likely why it worked so well on her.”

“Does he have to touch you, or how does the compulsion spell work?” Reed asked. “Do you have a picture of him so we can share it with each other?”

“He has to stare into your eyes to get the spell to work. I’ll get a photo from my computer files and send it to everyone,” Theo said and stood. “And I’m going to start tracking him down.”

“This is a trap,” I said with certainty. “He gave you a way to track him down, his magic, knowing you would do that. Why else announce his presence in this way?”

“I know,” she said and smiled sadly, “but I have to keep you and everyone I care about safe. This is my sin from the past that I must fix.”

“You don’t have to do it alone,” I reminded her. “That’s what we’re here for.”

She hugged me gently and said, “Thank you, Kass. I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like you, but I’ll do what I can to protect you and everyone else. And I won’t do it alone. Unlike someone, I know it’s better to work together with your friends than face a strong enemy alone.”

“Wow, way to butter me up to tear me down,” I grumbled against her shoulder. “And after I got stabbed for you.”

She patted my back where the wound had been. It was fully healed already. “You can take it.”

Standing, she stretched and said, “I’m going to my apartment. I’ll send the photo and more details about him. What are your plans tonight?”

“We’re going to my parents for our farewell dinner,” I answered, dropped my towel, and went to the closet to grab clothes. “Do you want to come?”

“No, thanks for the invitation, though. Tell them I hope they have a great trip home. Guys, keep an eye on her, okay?”

“Will do,” Reed replied.

“You keep yourself safe, too,” Grant ordered her.

“Bye!” she called out.

“Bye!” I called back as I finished dressing. Stepping back into the room, I realized Theo had taken Koia. “Well, not quite the start to the evening I had anticipated, but I suppose our lives are rarely calm.”

“And for once, it wasn’t your enemy,” Grant teased with a smile.

“Come on, we’re already late. We need to hurry,” Reed said and pushed me out of the room.

“We should grab flowers as an apology on the way,” I suggested. “Mom will forgive us if we bring flowers.”

Turned out, she was just happy I was safe, but she did put the flowers in a vase in the dining room and kept looking at them throughout the meal.

We ate delicious food, told stories, and cried as we hugged each other for the last time.

“I’m so happy you’re mated now,” she said. “I was worried about leaving you alone, but you have come very far in your life. We are so proud.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I hugged her tight one more time before leaving them so they could finish packing.

As I walked out of the house, I felt like a chapter of my life was closing, but I also knew it was the start to another, greater chapter. One with mates who loved me as much as I loved them.

The greatest chapter of my life yet.

As long as we could take out the guy after my best friend, that is.

“Let’s go see Silver and my sisters,” I said, determined to keep Theo safe. “We need to prepare for yet another battle.”

28

Everyone was on high alert with pictures posted everywhere to keep those we cared about safe.

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