Page 50 of Amaris Rejected

Jeni lifts herself onto her elbow and gazes at my face. "It seems like he's out."

Marcus, you and the guys should take him to the first bedroom on the left for the night. Jeni, you can stay there with him. The rest of you females can sleep in the bedroom next door.

"Remi, can I borrow a car? I have an errand to run," Jeni asks.

"Sure, you can take the blue Escalade parked next to us," he says, pointing to another car in the driveway. "It’s got a full tank of gas."

"Awesome! Is there a black magic shop where I can pick up a few things I need?"

"Yes, it's just two blocks over," he points out. "I have an account there. Just charge whatever you need to me, little cousin."

"Thanks, Remi. I'll be back by morning." She smiles, leans into my ear, and whispers so I’m the only one who hears. "I'm heading up north to get rid of Amaris for good." She laughs and kisses me passionately. If my body were functioning properly right now, I’d be throwing up.How has my life devolved into such a nightmare?

Everyone piles out of the van, and I’m dragged inside and thrown onto the bed like a sack of potatoes. I can't move; I can barely breathe. I need to do something to prevent Jeni from reaching Amaris. I must protect my family from her.

My wolf stirs within me. “Rue! We have to burn through whatever poison they injected us with. You need to wake up! Jeni is on her way to hurt Amaris, and we have to stop her.”

I can feel Rue trying to shake off the toxin that is paralyzing us, his presence growing stronger with each passing second. Unable to move or speak, we’re trapped in my body. Yet my mind stays alert, desperate to escape. Jeni mistakenly believes that eliminating Amaris will force me to mate with her. I can't let that happen, no matter what. Rue and I are fighting with our combined strength; the duality of our nature is a powerful force as we attempt to purge the harmful substance from our system. I sense my wolf’s fierce determination as he snarls and thrashes in my subconscious, struggling to break free and protect our mate. His resistance makes my heart race, helping the toxin dissipate more quickly.

As the poison’s grip weakens, we gather every ounce of strength to break free. With a surge of power, Rue and I unite like never before. We push against the pain, my body screaming in protest, but I finally manage to move my finger. Encouraged, I concentrate, urging my hands to curl and uncurl. Gasping for breath, I will my arms to lift. My muscles initially resist, but gradually, they respond. Trembling with the effort, I grasp the headboard. My back arches slightly as I struggle to sit upright.

My legs are the true test. Gritting my teeth, I force my toes to flex, then my feet. Pain shoots through me, a sharp reminder of the poison still coursing through my veins. Struggling against the stiffness, I command my legs to move. Sweat soaks my body, and my muscles shudder, but I keep pushing upward.

Even though the room is spinning, I can finally plant my feet on the floor. My legs shake, threatening to give way. I steady myself and rise, drawing on reserves of strength I didn't know I had, fueled by the purpose of saving Amaris—no matter the cost. With my heart pounding and breath ragged, we’re determined to reach her before it’s too late.

I stagger to the window and wrestle with the lock. After a few attempts, I finally get it open and throw my still-recovering body over the ledge, hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Gasping for air, I drag myself toward the van. Before I even think about hotwiring it, I realize the keys are already in the ignition. With a grunt, I haul myself into the driver's seat, buckling in to keep myself steady. I fire up the engine and quickly back out of the driveway, my mind sharp despite the pain.

Looking around, I see I’m in the city's dregs, where criminal elements hide in the shadows. It’s dark, grimy, and reeks of desperation. I note the street we're on so I can share that information with the enforcers later. Right now, reaching Amaris is my top priority. It took me too long to get moving. There’s no time to waste.

Jeni

It was easy to find the little shop Remington directed me to. It was in a back alley, and the area appeared as seedy as the rest of the neighborhood. Opening the door, I am overwhelmed with the noxious smell of black magic.Yep, this is the place all right.

Taking a shopping basket, I enter the first aisle and start filling it. On my list are the ingredients I’ll need to enchant Devon and his wolf, keeping them under my control. I might add a few ingredients used in love potions. While those are mostly myths, the ingredients have real properties that will help tether Devon to me.

Grabbing a bottle of wine, I move past the shelves, trailing my fingers through the dust on the jars and vials. I carefully select wolfsbane and a silver tincture, the essential ingredients for what I’m about to create. Next, I add St. John’s Wort, which helps the nervous system maintain emotional balance, preventing sudden bursts of aggression and effectively diminishing Rue.

Cedarwood follows, chosen for its ability to calm wild energies. Valerian root, recognized for its sedative properties, will help temper the beast’s volatile nature. I reach for hops, which will dull the senses and bring about calm. Chamomile and lavender are next, chosen for their ability to soothe. Basil and sage are the perfect herbs to offer protection and cleansing. Black salt is crucial, as it disrupts the link between Devon’s human and shifter sides.

Mugwort comes next; its strength lies in its ability to further suppress the wolf’s instincts, establishing a mental separation between his two natures. I reach for Dragon’s Ash, a fine powder harvested from dragon fire breath, known for its ability to control primal aggression. My eyes find the moonstone essence, and I grab it. Known for its lunar connection, this liquid harnesses shifting energies and helps suppress the wolf.

Following that, I add rose petals, honey, ginger, and cinnamon to my basket. These will sweeten the effects and spice up the love potion element. I also include Damania, which, as an aphrodisiac, heightens sexual attraction and emotional intimacy.

Lastly, meticulously infusing Witches' Blood Root and Bindweed into the concoction will create a strong, unbreakable bond between Devon and me.

As I approach the register, I notice a display for a new product calledMesmerdust.The ad claims it can induce a short-term trance, temporarily making targets compliant and obedient. I pick up a container, knowing that it will be useful at some point.

I add gloves, rope, and duct tape to the collection of items needed to secure what I’ve worked so hard to achieve. Then, I grab a silver knife, a mortar and pestle, along with a small cauldron to blend everything. My thoughts drift, and I reflect—this is my life’s work. For as long as I can remember, my sole aim has been to bring Rue to his knees and Devon into my heart.

I can’t recall a time when I didn’t love Devon. Having grown up together, played together, and sometimes even napped together, we’ve been inseparable since childhood. Naturally, I committed myself to this pursuit. It’s all I ever wanted, and our parents supported it wholeheartedly. Well, except for Luna Wright.

Everything was going according to plan until Luna Wright practically forced us to attend that darn Meet-and-Greet, where we encountered our mates. I missed the chance to be the mate of the most powerful Alpha in the Kingdom, but I don’t regret it. All I want is Devon. I’ve spent my whole life keeping the females away from him, even if it meant hurting a few of them along the way.I can’t help but laugh.

With my purchases in hand, I head to the SUV, carrying the bags that contain the items to strengthen my bond with Devon and further my plan to eliminate Amaris. I leave the city and take the main road through the territory.

Before long, I pull up to the gates of the Sunlight Shimmer pack. A couple of enforcers are on duty, and I need both to get close for my plan to work. I roll down my window and start flirting with the young enforcer who approaches me.

"Hello, handsome," I coo with a mischievous smile, fluttering my lashes.

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