Page 27 of Logan

“Most families chose to live in the caves, but our mother needed the open spaces. She was needy, and father cowed to her every whim.”

“Her gift was directly responsible for that requirement. She loved visiting the caves and the other druids. We were within walking distance from the main cavern. Why would you be so petty about such a minor inconvenience?”

Lothos shook his finger at Logan. “That’s why I turned. You had an excuse for everything. The dragons dying, the druids abandoning us. It was all a grand plan that only Legion could see.”

“That plan came to fruition when he met Mara. Had you not turned dark, you would have had a future. A mate. What made you turn? Was it torture?”

Lothos grunted. “You are so blind, brother. I turned the day I burned our home to the ground. I didn’t want you looking for me until I was ready. While you slept the centuries away, I trained. Making use of every century to hone my skills. Just in case Legion’s plan worked.”

“It doesn’t matter now. You can’t return to the light Lothos. You will never have a mate.”

Lothos nodded. “I know that. Unlike the majority of my brethren, I never believed Allorin’s lies. I knew there was no going back, but I have a loophole. I also knew you would never turn. You were such a Goody Two-shoes when it came to the rules. If anyone would have a mate, it was you. I just had to wait for her to emerge so I could take her from you.”

Logan’s eyes blazed with fire. “You will not touch her.”

Lothos’ smile was wicked. “Now you are getting it. We are identical in every way. Our looks, our blood. She had no way to keep me out of her head and I have been searching for her since we first detected a trace of druid blood in these lands.”

“We may look alike and share the same blood, but we do not share a soul as yours is dark.”

Lothos tipped his chin toward Emily. “Do you know what she is here to steal?”

“Some kind of jewel. I really don’t care.”

Lothos chuckled. “That jewel is our mother’s last pearl. You assumed it was destroyed in the attack, but I took it with me.”

Logan growled. “She created that pearl for me. I always wondered why she never made one for you.”

Lothos nodded. “Because she knew I would turn. She came to me the day before she and the others died. The seer had warned her, and I am told I wasn’t the only child who had a visit from their parents. Anyway, she begged me not to do it. To trust in you and wait for the plan to come to fruition. I had no idea what she was talking about and thought she had overexerted herself flying that day. But I understood when they both dropped dead.”

“I was there. We both cried over their corpses. Why didn’t you tell me about her warning? I would have helped you.

Lothos snarled. “That’s the problem. I didn’t want your help. I don’t want to be tied to a woman; I want to use her and feed fromher. I may bind Emily to me so she doesn’t age, but only because I can’t replace her. The others will be used as the cattle they are.”

“You are despicable and no longer my brother. You will die for your betrayal.”

Logan felt the subtle shift in the air, a ripple of magic coalescing around his twin like a gathering storm. Though nothing betrayed the tension on his brother’s face, Logan could sense the intensity of his focus, the raw power building within him. As their connection grew, it became impossible for Lothos to shield his presence any longer.

With a primal roar, a laser-like stream of energy erupted from his brother’s outstretched hand, hurtling toward Logan with deadly intent. In a swift motion, Logan summoned a shield, forming a protective barrier around himself and Emily just in time to deflect the lethal blast.

The force of the impact reverberated through him, sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through his veins. With a feral growl, Logan surged forward, closing the distance between them. As they clashed, their bodies became a blur of motion; their claws sprouted from their fingers and began tearing at each other’s flesh with savage ferocity.

Dark blood dripped to the floor, staining the pristine surface with the evidence of their brutal confrontation. Logan’s gaze flickered briefly to Emily, who stood poised and determined, a velvet pouch clutched tightly in her hands. Even in the midst of chaos, she remained steadfast in her goal.

With renewed determination, Logan redoubled his efforts, pushing himself beyond the limits of pain, and slashed his brother’s chest.

Despite the chaos unfolding around her, Emily’s attention remained fixed on the task at hand as she deftly opened the velvet pouch. The air was thick with the acrid scent of iron, and the sound of growls reverberated through the air, a stark reminder of the fierce battle raging nearby between Logan and Lothos.

With practiced precision, Emily retrieved the pearl from within the pouch, her fingers trembling slightly as she cradled it in her palm. As she gazed upon its iridescent surface, she couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the swirl of colors that danced within the depths of its otherworldly origins.

But even as she marveled at its beauty, Emily knew that this pearl was no ordinary treasure plucked from the depths of the ocean. It was a creation of magic, forged by the skilled hands of a druid. The very same hands that had once cradled Logan as a child.

With a sense of reverence, Emily slipped off her glove and pressed the pearl against her skin, her pulse quickening with anticipation as she felt the faint thrum of energy pulsating beneath her fingertips. In that moment, she knew that this pearl held a power unlike anything she had ever encountered before—a power that resonated with the very essence of her being.

And then, as if in response to her touch, the pearl began to pulse with a gentle glow, its vibrant hues swirling and shifting with an ethereal light. And just as quickly as it had appeared, the pearl dissolved into her skin, leaving nothing behind but a lingering sense of astonishment and regret.

“No!” she whispered.

As Emily’s frustration mounted, she couldn’t help but curse her own impulsive actions. The pearl, though it had appeared innocent enough, was no ordinary trinket—it was imbued with powerful magic. And yet, despite the warnings that echoed in the depths of her mind, she had been unable to resist the pull to touch it, to feel its enigmatic energy coursing through her veins.

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