Page 79 of Eclipsed Heart

I shivered, and Bodey let go of my hand and slid his arm around my shoulders.

River frowned. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not pleasant.”

“So I’m not being paranoid?” A part of me thought that my mind was playing tricks on me. “When Dina heals me, it doesn’t feel the same.”

She shook her head. “The purpose of the magic is different. When we heal, we’re mending a person's magic and body. What I’m doing now is peeling back layers, trying to find the spell that binds you. My magic isn’t trying to soothe yours, but find what’s different.”

That was exactly what it felt like—probing, like when Tina had given me shots or taken my blood.

“Just focus on your mate’s touch,” she urged as she placed her hands on my forehead.

Her magic seeped into my skin, causing a chill to rack my body. Bodey leaned into my side, and I focused on the jolt of energy soaring between us. Everywhere he touched warmed me, like lying in the sun on a summer day, and helped push away the coldness of the witch digging inside me.

I closed my eyes, remembering Bodey’s and my time upstairs this morning, but then my body slowly heated in a very inappropriate way.

Uh…should I be jealous of River?Bodey chuckled.Or are you thinking about when I had you pressed up against the wall and sank into you over and over again?

Need built even stronger, and Stevie groaned, “I don’t know what’s happening, but I think Bodey needs to remove his hands from her. I love my sister, but I don’t want to smell whatever’s going on over there.”

“Same,” Samuel huffed.

Bodey growled. “Leave my mate alone. If she wants to remember our time together this morning…”

My eyes flew open to find River smiling, but the mirth was missing from her eyes. Her look was like a winter breeze blowing through my body.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Dina had clenched her hands. She asked, “Do you recognize the magic?”

Time seemed to stop, but then River nodded and dropped her hands.

Oh, thank gods. Relief flooded through me like water through a dam.

The lightheartedness vanished from Bodey as he leaned forward and placed his other hand on my leg. He asked, “Who?”

“Salem.” River took a few steps back. “She was part of my coven.”

ThatI hadn’t expected. “Was?” That didn’t sound good. A lump formed in my throat. What if I wasn’t able to get my memories back?

“She fell in love with a man who lived with a wolf pack in Oregon.” She clasped her hands together. “She moved there, but she died. Seventeen years ago.”

I flinched. “That’s when my memories were blocked.” My eyes burned as devastation took hold of me. I couldn’t believe that I’d hinged all my hope on this.

Damn hope. I knew better than to feel that emotion. It was such an evil bastard. I’d learned that while living with Zeke’s pack, and the first time I’d dared to feel it again, Fate smacked me around like I was her bitch.

We will figure this out.Bodey’s breathing quickened.I promise.

“Which Oregon pack?” Samuel asked.

“The one located south of Ontario.” River rubbed her temples. “But I can’t believe that she would have donethis.” She shook her head. “This isn’t like her.”

My voice cracked. “Is there no way to get my memories back?”

“Oh, child.” River’s face softened. “Her daughter can undo it, and I met her at the coronation dinner. She was there with the pack’s alpha, Lynerd. She can undo the spell.”

Ontario. Lynerd. My parents had given Oregon to Zeke instead of him. Nausea roiled in my stomach. Had Lynerd been involved in my parents’ deaths? My mind flashed to Sybil, the witch I’d met that day when I visited with Theo.

I wanted to curl up in a ball. Lynerd had seemed kind, but was that because he’d had a hand in my parents’ deaths and in erasing my memories? And I’d gone there feeling sorry for him and trying to diminish Theo’s aggression instead of letting Theo make a stand.

“It’s a damn good thing we didn’t go there before learning this.” Bodey’s anger pulsed through our connection, mixing with my devastation.

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