Page 135 of The Omega's Bloodlinem: Part Two

They quietly offered up prayers on our behalf before leaving us again with the task of burial. Once Laila and Emil were surrendered to the earth goddess, we marked the location with stones. Velda collected wildflowers, arranging them across the graves to spell out each of their names until we could arrange more official markers.

At some point we would have to tell those who fled that the danger was over, though it still wasn’t safe for them to return. We could let them know we were alive, but no one could come back yet.

“I should call the other nests,” I said, trying to work up the energy to stand.

“Already done,” Kendrick replied. “I phoned Seattle, Vancouver, Kananaskis, Sacramento, and Medford to tell them we survived, but to keep our people for now.”

I blinked at him.

“What?” he asked.

“I didn’t expect you to take initiative on that.”

“I knew you would worry, and I knew those who left would too. I made it my first task when I got upright.”

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He offered me a soft smile. “I think everyone could use a shower and a meal. We can assess the damage after that.”

I nodded, and he and I got Velda to her feet. “Come on, V. Mourning takes energy and we’ve all been through a hell of a lot.”

My pack had survived, and we would rebuild. We would make this place safe again. The important part is that we were together, and I was starting to believe that as long as that was true, we could get through anything.

The representatives for the Witches’ Council arrived near sunset like a crack of thunder, tearing up the dirt drive in a cloud of dust, one sleek black vehicle after another as if they were a motorcade transporting royalty. I suppose in some sense they were. The witches didn’t have royals, but the Council dictated their laws, handed out justice, and was the guiding standard for all living witches.

I put myself between them and Logan, as if keeping my mate from their view might protect her. I didn’t know what they wanted with her, but better safe than sorry.

Cecily sprinted over to meet them as they careened to a stop.

A woman who looked like her twin leapt out of the first vehicle. “Cecily, what on earth were you thinking? You’re supposed to be available for transport. You know Quinn can’t take all of us at once without you.”

“I’m sorry. It was an emergency. Did you bring the containment?”

“We did. Where is she?”

“Inside with Sharla.”

“And the other one?”

Cecily glanced over to us and I bristled. If she was planning to hand Logan to the Council, they’d have to go through me.

“We don’t have to worry about her,” Cecily insisted. “She gave up her magic to stop Godric.”

The rest of the Council emerged, observing us like they were trying to decide if we were worth the trouble.

A young-looking Asian woman left their ranks, pausing in front of our group with a soft smile. “I am Kim Jisoo, and on behalf of the Council I would like to extend our thanks for eliminating this threat. Please do not leave the premises until our initial investigation has been concluded.”

I nodded stiffly, my packmates offering their silent acknowledgments.

Jisoo introduced the rest of the Council to us, including the one who looked eerily like Cecily, which turned out to be her mother—and also the High Councilwoman—named Violet.

We all ventured back inside the nest, diverting to Velda’s suite while the witches took over Kendrick’s. We pushed all the beds together so we could rest. Even after showers and food, we were still exhausted. Without the bond I wasn’t sure we’d haveremained upright. The absence of magic, to me, felt similar to vertigo, as if I couldn’t quite find my balance.

The bond itself writhed and ached between all of us. Everyone’s fear, grief, and guilt were living things we all shared. That was the curse of bonding, but it worked in the reverse as well. As much as we shared each other’s pain, we shared the joy too. We didn’t have much joy to go around right now, but that wouldn’t last forever. Logan snuggled into my arms, the first kindling of a positive emotion lighting up the bond. It nudged some of the weight off my shoulders, rolling through us like falling dominoes.

Finally having her on a soul level seemed like a worthy trade. I didn’t want to think about how close I had been to losing her, to losing all of them. Right now she was warm in my embrace and that was what mattered.

A knock at the door caught our attention, and Seth went to answer it.

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