Page 248 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“You broke your phone before you left, remember? She called you as we were driving down here,” John explained from behind me.

“You knew?” I asked my best friend and Beta.

I loved John like a brother, but I would kill him if he kept this from me. If he kept me from her.

“I found out yesterday. You’ve been asleep for days.”

I tried to digest everything, but I was too overwhelmed, so I chose to focus on the one thing that made me happy. “So, you think we’re second-chance mates, and this Martha person took it from us?”

“No. I think you were her mate all along. The spell needs a target to work. Bells didn’t find a fake second-chance mate since Brandon died, so Martha must not have found another person she could transfer the bond to. That means she did it eight years ago, when Bells met Brandon.”

Eight years.

I was there the night she met Brandon. I watched that smug son of a bitch claim the woman I wanted, and all this time, she was supposed to be mine. She was mine and he stole her from me. Took the life I’d dreamt about, and didn’t even treat her like she deserved.

Nyko and I started shaking and losing control, as we grappled with the knowledge that eight years had been stolen from mylife with my mate. My aura flew out of me, unable to control it, and I heard everyone around me whimper. I tried to rein it in, but the longer I looked at my mate, unconscious on the bed, the more out of control I felt. Then, I felt something under my hand move, and Nyko and I stopped. Wonder replaced the storm raging inside me, as I looked at where my hand was lying on top of her stomach.

“I-I think I just felt the pups move.” My voice was so quiet, I wasn’t sure anyone heard me, but Evie’s mom must have.

“I think they reacted to your stress,” she replied.

“Stop her meds so she comes to, please,” Violet instructed.

“I’ll need you to sign some forms on her behalf.”

“Whatever it takes. Cade, you need to get in bed.”

“I’m not leaving her.”

“I’m not asking you to. Get in bed, and we’ll lock them together. What Bells and you both need right now, is contact. Once she’s awake, you both need to have a conversation that’s long overdue.”

I obeyed, though the minute it took for them to push the beds together caused my body to shake and ache.

“Why is this happening to me?” I asked, seeing Bells’ monitors begin to beep in alarm.

“Bond sickness. Eight years’ worth,” Chris explained.

The moment the beds were secured together, I scooched over until I could wrap an arm over her stomach and lay my head on her shoulder. The sparks felt incredible wherever my skin made contact with hers, and against my will, my eyes fluttered closed and I fell asleep with my mate in my arms. The way I always wanted to.

“Cory. Calm down before I have you removed from the room.” Violet’s raised voice woke me.

“Then, explain to me what the hell is going on, Bug. Why is Cade wrapped around my sister like she’s his comfort blanket.”

“I’ve been trying to, but you can’t just try to beat up Bells’ mate.”

“Mate? What the hell, Violet! Since when? Is he the pups’ father?”

“Yes. Will you lower your voice? Those two have been through the wringer, and Bells might wake up any moment now.”

I kept my eyes closed, trying to keep my breathing even. I wasn’t scared of Cory. I just didn’t care what he thought at the moment. I had my mate, My Princess, and I didn’t want to rejoin the real world for a good long while. I listened to Violet explain everything to Cory, including the relationship I formed with Bells while I was there, and how it ended. Hearing it told out loud, hurt all over again, but the sparks I could feel where our bodies touched, and her scent mixed with our pups surrounding me, made the pain lessen.

Whatever happened from here on, I wouldn’t give up on my mate and my pups. Bells would have to kill me to get me to let her go this time. I wouldn’t even accept a rejection. I would fight for her, until she could push through whatever trauma that asshole put my mate through, and she could trust me.

I kissed the shoulder I was sleeping on and felt her stir. I sat up, trying to see if she was awake, but her eyes were still closed. I sighed with disappointment, but now I had the attention of the room.

“Her arm twitched,” I explained. “I thought, anyway,”

“How are you feeling?” Violet asked.

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