Page 23 of Fated Exile

Vivia surges towards the dark presence, her form shining with silver light. Raising her arms, she stops the sword from slicing down. Its dark energy collides with her strong arms and screeches like real metal slicing across rock.

I stumble back in fear, but only for a moment. As wind whips around me and my maroon hair flies, I shout over the screeching figure, "What do I do? Vivia, tell me!"

"Go! Run, now!" She grits her teeth, her spiritual form growing taller as she leans up to fight the dark presence. "The sun will banish it, and it won't be able to return once you've usurped Delphine."

"But won't you go too when the sun rises?"

"Just go!"

As she snaps her command, the dark presence frees a hand from the sword hilt and reaches down to pluck a dark dagger from its hip. The black blade oozes in its hand, and it turns its ember eyes on me.

I don't need to be told a third time. Whatever this thing is, I have no idea how to fight it. The very trees around us curl back at its rage, and the stones of the Mating Circle buckle beneath its feet. Even Vivia, with all her spirit and strength, is only able to hold it at bay.

In the distance, near the valley at the edge of Juniper, strands of sunlight peek across the horizon. So I shift into my wolf form, racing across the cracked Mating Circle on four paws.

Just in time, too. The dark presence throws its energy dagger at me and barely misses. It howls in rage, while the dagger itself sinks into the ancient stones and leaves a black, tarry stain behind. Jumping past it, I race into the trees and leap over a small stream, turning my nose towards home.

It's only as the sun rises on the front porch and I shift back into my human form to open the door that I remember Vivia was about to tell me how to kill Delphine.

If we're lucky, the immortal hybrid will die from a single stab wound once I'm powered up with five mates at my side.

Knowing my luck, though, it'll probably take an incomprehensible spell and five drops of unicorn blood.

I don't have the energy to think on it, though. There are only a few hours until morning hits, and whatever it was that dragged me out of my dreams is gone now. For the second time in one night, I face-plant on my pillow and sink into dreams.

* * *

I'm woken up by the sound of the front door opening and closing several times, followed by a muffled argument on the porch. Rousing, I inhale the scent of coffee and maple syrup. Checking my phone, I'm unsurprised to discover that I've slept in, and I have a few missing texts.

One in particular, from Roarke, makes me sit up straight.I invited John deLance over for a little negotiation. Didn't want to wake you. Maybe if we push hard enough, he'll help us before the Summit this evening.

As I shake off last night's dreams, I'm able to zero in on the voices arguing on the front porch, and yep—that's Roarke's deep rumble rising and falling next to deLance's placid yet irritated tones. Though I appreciate Roarke going to bat for the pack and demanding deLance do something more to help, I never got the chance to tell him that it won't be necessary.

We don't needthatalpha's blood to wake Vivia, because I already did it.

Of course, once I tell him, I'll have to add the part abouthowto lift the curse. Then I'll have to tell the other guys too. Followed up by figuring out how to fix Bastian well enough by tonight that he can be one of my five mates without compromising all our safety.

Five mates.That's a pair of words that makes my stomach churn. As I get dressed, spray some dry shampoo on my scalp, and run a brush through my hair, I can't help but puzzle over all the events that have led me to here. From exile to hybrid about to try to save her pack—with five men at my side who were brought to me by random circumstance... or by fate.

What if I was supposed to be captured by the vampires so I could meet Bastian in the arena and free him? Stranger things have happened. But in order for that to be part of my fate, I had to have been in the right place at the right time, and returning from exile was part of it.

Shimmying into a fresh pair of shorts and a T-shirt, I find myself wondering what my life would look like if my father had never put that chip in my neck, told Kieran to reject me, and had Niall drive me out of town. Would I still have met Lance, Finn, and Bastian? Or would there be other men in their places?

Maybe I never would've found out that I had five possible mates, or that I couldtakefive mates.

Of course, just because fate has thrown me together with them doesn't mean that everything is cinched. Taking a deep breath, I pause for a moment at my bedroom door, gathering the courage to face what's waiting for me on the other side.

Because if the thought of facing Delphine is frightening, the mere idea of confidently telling five men I'mtheone for them, and they're going to have to share me for eternity, is terrifying.

I only hope that they've gotten to know me enough that they're willing to say yes.

Even after so little time with them, the thought of losing just one is incomprehensible. Lance's steady hands on my shoulders were all that held me up last night when I was on the verge of exhaustion. Roarke's sure and easy leadership makes it easier to stand in front of the pack and tell them that I belong. Finn can bring a smile to my face when that feels impossible, so the future doesn't look so dreary. And Kieran... when I'm with Kieran, I remember the girl I once was, and feel connected to her in whole new ways.

As far as Bastian goes, I don't quite know where I stand with him. Every moment we've had together has been tainted by the dark presence in his mind. What I do know is that I want to reach down into those dark depths and drag him out, so he can finally be free.

Stepping out into the hallway, I stride confidently into the kitchen, say good morning to Cat, and snag a mug of coffee from her as I beeline to the front porch. Throwing open the door, I startle Roarke, who frowns as he's interrupted in the middle of berating deLance.

"I thought we were being quiet," he says apologetically. "I know you were asleep. I didn’t want to wake you—it was a long night, and I'm sure you're tired."

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