Page 74 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“How do I find it?”

“It’ll recognize you as soon as you’re in there. It’ll call to you.”

I grimaced when she touched my temple. Hot liquid poured through my skull. I gasped and grabbed her wrist. “Faye—”

“Relax. It’s me. I’m giving you a magical cocktail that acts like a mix of melatonin and morphine.”

My muscles relaxed. “Oh…I see…”

A heaviness draped over my muscles as the hot trail coursed through my neck, chest, and solar plexus. It coiled through my stomach like a serpent and slithered to each limb. I stared at Jillian as my hand relaxed and slipped to my side. Reality lost me—consciousness, too.

Then, my vision blackened.

***

Tarry pits bubbled beside me as I lifted my head in a shimmering teal hallway that reminded me of fairies and mermaid scales. Luminescent lanterns floated to the left of each door, made from various shades and styles of wood. Closest to my right stood a crimson oak with a gold design of ivy laid into the wood. The handle was brass, and a key had been left in the lock.

I reached for it.

“Not in my house!” The door rattled. “Lock it, Jillian!”

I cringed as I sprang to my feet. I skittered back as the woman shouted again, farther away, tossing something while she was at it. My stomach did a little flip when I realized that was probably the aunt Jillian had told me about who was mega paranoid about people breaking into her home. She used to yell at Jillian for forgetting about the locks.

I couldn’t imagine keeping that kind of memory anywhere inside my body.

Behind me, another door popped up, this one made of dark orange maple. Spiced pumpkin filled the air like someone was baking a pie. As I sniffed at the door, I felt a cold breeze skate over my elbow.

“Robby?”

I snapped to attention, turning right to face the voice I knew belonged to Jillian. “Jilly, where are you?”

“It’s so…cold…and dark…”

My heart raced as I clenched my jaw. “I’m coming, Jilly. Hang on.”

I raced along the hallway, peeking into each door I came across, no matter how frightened I got at my best friend’s unspoken memories. Strange, awkward encounters lived here alongside terrible childhood trips, and that one time, she almost drowned in the ocean. Door after door revealed insights into my best friend—but didn’t show me her remaining soul essence.

“Robby…”

I halted at the end of the hallway in front of a large, floor-to-ceiling painting of a hot spring. Inside the water floated a leaf. When I reached for it, it fluttered around, swirling the tip of my nail and then rounding my knuckle. Butterflies fluttered inmy chest as I recognized my best friend’s warm and welcoming energy.

Overcome with relief, I sniffled, “Jillian.”

Her hand materialized and snatched me into the painting, where I tumbled through a few shallow pools of hot water until I landed on top of a flat rock. I gazed at the marvelous, sunny sky and inhaled the striking scent of lavender. To my right splashed the very person I hoped to find.

I embraced Jillian. “You’re still here. Thank Goddess, I was so worried, Jilly!”

She chuckled, sobbed, and then chuckled again, the rotation repeating a few cycles as she clung to me. Steam twirled around our shoulders, hers clad in a white robe and nothing more. I smoothed her hair back from her face and smiled. “You really know how to make an exit.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out.”

She shook her head. “Please, don’t apologize for that. You were preoccupied.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make up for it.”

“Robyn, you’ve done nothing wrong.”

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