Page 175 of Visions & Shadows

I turn around to face him and level him with a dark scowl. “I don’t want you healing me left, right, and center. I can take some of the pain.”

“It’s my duty, Alchera,” he argues.

“Put yourself in my shoes,” I say with a sigh. “I refuse to use you as a pain reliever. You mean so much more to me than that.”

He closes the distance between us and takes hold of my shoulders, and with our eyes locked, he says, “I’m stronger than you, and I can handle it. This is not up for discussion, Alchera. I will not have you suffer if I can take pain or torment from you. Don’t fight me on this, and let me protect you.”

From the determined look in his eyes, I know I’m not going to win this argument. I let out an unhappy huff before I mutter, “It doesn’t mean I have to approve of it.”

When he realizes he’s won this battle, the corner of his mouth lifts ina hot grin. “Thank you for caring about me, though.”

“Hmm…” I grumble, which earns me an amused chuckle from him before he presses a kiss to my forehead. His arms wrap around me, and I’m squashed against his chest. “My stubborn little dreamer.”

He holds me for a while before he pulls back and asks, “We’re good?”

A smile curves my lips. “Yeah, we’re good.”

Raighne’s eyes soften on my face, then he says, “You don’t smile enough.”

“It’s hard with all the shit going down around us,” I reply as I glance at the sliding doors where Ares is standing.

He’s leaning with his shoulder against the doorjamb and his arms crossed over his chest.

“I’m just sticking close by in case you get another vision so we can leave immediately,”Ares’ voice drifts through my mind, which has Raighne turning to face him.

“If you have something to say to her, speak out loud. Don’t enter her mind unless you need to see where we have to go,” Raighne growls at him.

Ares’ eyes narrow on Raighne as he bites out, “Got it, cousin.”

“Silvana’s awake,” Jason calls, distracting us from the tension between Raighne and Ares.

I head back into the house, and find my newest chosen one drinking a glass of water.

“How do you feel?” I ask as I move closer to her.

She clears her throat and whispers, “Like death, and after what everyone told me, I’m starting to think I did die.”

“You didn’t,” I say, and stopping beside her, I take in her disheveled look. “I’m just relieved I got to you in time.”

Her eyes flick from one person to the next, then she says, “I just need a moment to process everything.”

“Take your time,” I murmur, patting her shoulder before I walk to the kitchen to get some water for myself.

Raighne follows me with Ares right behind him, and I let out a sigh because their testosterone is a bit much to deal with today.

I pour water into a glass and take a couple of sips while I stare out thewindow. “Can the two of you chill until we’re done with the mission,” I say before taking another sip.

“Sure,” Ares mutters.

“Hmf…” is all I get from Raighne.

The tension doesn’t ease at all, and instead, it feels like it gets worse.

When I hear voices shouting from afar, a frown forms on my forehead, and I whisper, “It’s happening.”

As the glass slips from my hand, Raighne’s arms wrap around me from behind, and the next second, I find myself in the middle of chaos.

“Amandla!” a large crowd of protestors chant, and others respond by shouting, "Ngawethu!”

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