Page 389 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

Jax notices it too as he tries to punch a hole in the barrier. “Fuck this. Just get them out of there.”

Ivor shakes his head. I sense his fear as he eyes us. “It’s not possible. Rielle—”

“What’snot possible?”

Ivor shares another look with Soren before turning to me. “Their minds have been connected to the core power of the Underworld. It would be like pulling someone out of a coma when they’re not ready. It’s too dangerous.”

Jax points toward Luka as the blood pools around him. “And that isn’t?”

Soren looks at Ivor. “They’re not supposed to be capable of getting physically hurt while in the link.”

Ivor tries to reassure us, but not even Soren believes him as he grows more worried.

While both are talking, I feel the energy shift behind the barrier just as Kiarra wakes. My heartbeat trebles as she stands up and glares at the empty space beside Luka.

“She’s awake. Kiarra’s awake,” I tell them.

The guys freeze before whipping around. But the longer I watch Kiarra, the more I know something isn’t right. I can feel it.

They need to get out. Now.

“Kiarra!” Jax moves, ready to go to her, forgetting about the barrier. Axel stops him centimeters from hitting it.

Axel narrows his eyes on Ivor. “Why can’t she hear or see us?”

Ivor swallows hard, growing paler. “She was supposed to be sent to the room you woke up in once she woke. Not here. Whatever is happening in there is not our doing.”

Damn it.

Soren frowns, watching her. “What is she doing?”

Kiarra turns toward the large sphere in the room. Focusing on it, I watch as energy slides over her body, moving from the sphere to her and then onto a spot beside Luka.

“Look. The energy is going somewhere. It’s not staying with her.” Axel points to a spot beside Luka where the energy seems to just disappear.

What the hell is going on?

“Rion?” One word and he already knows what I want to know.

Rion narrows his eyes on the spot. “There’s something else in there. Something powerful.”

I frown as I try to sense anything familiar on the spot, but all I feel is something off. Something that unnerves even me.

Rion’s eyes widen. “It’s King.”

Turning around, I rush forward and grab Ivor by the throat, pinning him against the nearest wall. “Drop the barrier or I’ll rip your throat out.”

There’s no fucking way I’m leaving my mate and brother in there alone withhim.

“I agree. Something isn’t right. I’ll do it.” Soren steps forward, raising his hands toward the barrier. He closes his eyes as I snarl at Ivor before dropping him to the ground and moving beside Soren.

We ignore Ivor’s splutters and gasps as the barrier shimmers in front of us. Soren’s body grows stiff, making my stomach drop. He opens his eyes wide, turning to look straight at me. “We’re locked out.”

Ivor scrambles up to Soren’s side. “That’s not possible.”

Ivor does the same thing Soren does, but just like him, he comes up empty; the barrier is still in place.

I can’t take it anymore. I lose it and start to shift; each of my hounds out for blood.

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