Page 172 of Icy Cold Death

Oracle, you can’t! You’re in danger. You have to stay away. If you come out, they can find you.

There was laughter.

I’ll be protected. Just hold and protect. Say nothing. You’ll know when it’s time. I miss you, my friend.

I love you, Avi.

He felt a warmness roll over him, and Ridge did too. It sent warmth through his body, and pushed Ridge beyond his safety.

It was only a matter of time, only, he couldn’t seem to call out to his partner.

He was being drowned out in the static—just one more voice that Lucian was oblivious to.

Lucian! I’m losing my hold. You’re going too deep. I can’t tune this far into the static. We’re in danger!

He didn’t hear him.

But Oracle did.

It was clear that Lucian needed more than just this brief message. He needed a way to protect his family.

She’d work on that.

Be safe. We love and miss you, Lucian. Until later. The women you seek are by the water. They hide because they are confused. This is a mess. Nothing is what it seems. There will be more dead women that hide a secret.

And just like that, Oracle pulled out of the static, so that Lucian wouldn’t keep going further into it to reach her.

He wouldn’t survive without help.

Avalon had to let him go.

For now.

All around Lucian, the line of communication disappeared, and the static went haywire. All of a sudden, Lucian couldn’t find Ridge in it.

His partner was gone.

The link was no longer there, guiding him in and out of the static. Shifting consciousness, he felt Ridge’s body going limp against him.

That scared him.

His heart began racing as the millions of voices bombarded him, and there was no one to tune for him. His lifeline was missing, and Lucian knew it wouldn’t be intentional.

This was dangerous.

Ridge! Where are you?

There was no response.

Ridge! I’ll be trapped in here.

As he moved in the static, he somehow heard him, but Ridge felt like he was a million miles away.

Hurry. I can’t…

Lucian somehow found his way to him to that small spark of his voice, and then out of the static. When he did, and he opened his eyes, he found Ridge lying on the bed beside him.

Out cold.

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