Page 113 of The Omega's Bloodlinem: Part Two

I tore my gaze away from Logan’s stricken face, and back to the screen with Anya. “How so?”

“She could have delivered her own magic plus yours to the monster with the bond. You freely bonded with her, so maybe she thought that would be the same as you freely offering yourmagic core to the monster to heal it. Unfortunately, it sounds an awful lot like what Fiona did to begin with since it’s not a true surrendering.”

Nausea turned in my gut. “She bonded me to steal my shifting?”

“I can’t say for sure, but it’s definitely a possibility.”

“So why didn’t she?”

“Maybe she couldn’t get access? She might’ve known where the monster was, but the magic of a lot of witches went into the containment. Sixty years ago she may not have been strong enough to get to it.”

Logan sat like a block of ice next to me, eyes unfocused. I had never experienced such a chill coming off her and I despised that I had caused it. I reached for her hand again, and while she didn’t pull away, she didn’t respond to my touch at all.

“Do you think she might’ve planned to tackle the monster again?”

“Hard to say,” replied Anya. “She moved out of the country some time ago, and I guess it’s possible she forgot all of this. It’s been a long time, and when her first attempt didn’t work, she could have moved on.”

How could she have forgotten something that almost destroyed me? That had caused so much conflict between Seth and me we barely spoke for decades?

“I’m having a hard time with how things have lined up,” I confessed. “I’m not trying to negate Logan’s sincerity, but fate has a heavy hand. It drew both Seth and me to her, and then it led us here. Now she has five bonds just in time to face down a creature that steals magic.”

Logan gripped my hand so tightly I yelped, her nails digging into my skin. “Sure fucking feels like you’re trying to negate my sincerity. I could say the same about you and Seth, and I’m not. You think it didn’t cross my mind that you guys only loved mebecause I was part of a bloodline that could fix this mess? I kept it to my damn self. You’d better get one thing really fucking clear before I risk my life for everyone, because if I die, you arenotallowed to lose me believing I didn’t love you.”

Her power snaked hot and bright up my arm.

“I’m sorry. I’m trying to trust myself and it’s hard. You know I’ve been trying, been pushing down every insecurity so I can support you in this whole process. I’m not infallible.”

“You’re not, you never have been, but I love you anyway. It’s not because of fate. I know the timing is weird with the others, and I can’t do anything about that. You’ve been there for me every single day, and fate may have brought you to my door, but it sure as fuck didn’t make me love you.Youdid that.”

“I know I’m not part of this exact conversation,” said Anya, “but I agree with Logan. Fate does indeed have a heavy hand on occasion, but it can’t force love. It draws people together who have a natural compatibility, it gives us an opportunity, but once it drops us on a path, it’s our own choice to walk it. If you had turned away from Logan, there’s a good chance you’d have kept crossing paths, giving you more and more opportunities, but I believe that’s as far as it goes. You don’t have to feel like your love is less or not as true simply because it was destined.”

I pulled Logan onto my lap, and she didn’t protest, just letting me envelop her. “I’m sorry. I love you so much, and even the idea that a repeat of what happened with Rachel could happen again made me lose my sense.”

“I get it. I do,” Logan promised. “You’ve been afraid this whole time that Seth would steal me away like he did with Rachel. Have I not proven how much I love you, that no matter how many others there are, I’malwaysgoing to love you?”

Each word was a kick in the chest. Logan had never faltered in her love for me. Even without a bond I knew that, but it didn’t stop old wounds from ripping open.

“I’ll do better,” I whispered. “I need time to process everything we’ve learned, but I swear I love you. I know you love me.”

Logan burrowed into my arms, pressing her cheek hard to my shoulder. I couldn’t let the damage Rachel had done to me hurt things with Logan, and I also didn’t relish having to share this information with Seth. How much destruction could one person cause?

Logically, I understood Rachel may have been trying to prevent exactly what we were experiencing now, but no matter how good the cause, I fully resented being the collateral damage in her plan. If she’d been honest, maybe I would have willingly given up my shifting to save lives, but I would never know. She hadn’t loved me or trusted me; she’d only wanted to use me.

“Logan,” Anya said, piping up again, “I’ll keep doing research. What can I help with in the meantime? I don’t think Maeve will be willing to train you, given everything we’ve uncovered, but I can be available for questions. I’m a terrible teacher, or I would offer that.”

“I’ll think about what I need to know. Thank you,” Logan replied.

“I promise I won’t forget my email exists again.”

“How do I give up my magic to the monster if I get close enough without dying?”

“If you truly want to, it will happen. I would suggest you make your peace with everything and instruct your bondmates to do the same. It’s a terrible situation, but if you survive, I’ll make sure you’re not cut off from this world. You’re still a witch even without your magic, and it’s not fair that you have to clean up the mess your ancestors left behind.”

Logan swiped at her wet cheeks. “Thank you. I don’t even know how I feel about losing something I just got. How am I going to ask the others to give up their shifting? Seth alreadylost his and has to rely on the amulet I won’t be able to recharge without my own magic. Feels like I’m asking them to cut off a limb.”

“I won’t lie and say it’s not similar,” Anya said softly, probably as gently as she could to make Logan understand the truth. “It will be difficult and traumatic, but if all goes well, you and your mates will survive. I’ll cast a few luck charms for you and pray that your patrons protect you. I’m so sorry, truly.”

Logan’s tears got the better of her, my sweet omega dissolving into sobs. I stared at the ceiling, trying to keep my own tears at bay. Everything felt like it was falling apart and I couldn’t keep it together anymore. If we failed, how many more might die? And what if I lost Logan? What if I lost Seth or Yelena? If the creature didn’t take me, I’d probably follow them into the damn grave anyway. There would be nothing left for me.

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