Page 205 of Without a Trace
“Then you know this is war.”
I faced him. “It’s already been war. You just didn’t want to admit it.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’d side with the Order?”
“I’m not siding with anyone,” I said. “But I’m bonded. That’s not something I chose.”
His breath came sharp through his nose “Don’t pretend you don’t want them.”
“I won’t,” I said. “But this—what’s between us—goes beyond want.”
Heat licked at my spine, rising from somewhere deeper than bone. I turned toward the boys—my boys—letting the truth settlelike armor across my shoulders. I wasn’t hiding anymore. I wasn’t running. The bond had always been there, waiting.
“They’re part of me now. Not by choice. By design.”
My father’s voice carried years of silence. “The bond will unravel you.”
“Maybe,” I said. “But it’s mine to carry.”
Thirelin pulsed beneath us, the magic drawn tight.
And I knew.
This place wasn’t just reacting to me. It had been waiting, for its heir.
Scarlett
The world didn’t fall apart all at once.
It started with a sound.
The creak of ancient hinges as the manor doors split open.
I didn’t move. None of us did.
Not until I saw her.
Brielle stepped through first, black-clad, smug in that chilling way she wore like perfume. Her gaze slid to mine like she’d been waiting for this moment.
But it wasn’t her that made my lungs seize.
It was the girl beside her.
Lena.
My best friend.
My anchor.
My fucking sister in everything but blood.
Zeke barreled into the room just seconds behind them, breath ragged. “Scarlett—get back—”
I couldn’t move. I was too busy rewiring reality.
“Scarlett,” Brielle purred. “Did you miss us?”.
Lena didn’t look scared. Or confused. Or even sorry.
