Page 25 of Cosmic Power

The Alpha shifter narrowed his eyes. “Stop calling me that.”

Scoffing, Zamorra replied, “you might be able to keep me here in this shithole, but you can’t dictate what I can and cannot say. What is it that you want from me anyway,Barney? Why am I here?”

She was afraid of what the answer would be, but she had to ask either way. Had to know what he had planned for her. If it was what she feared, then she planned to do whatever it took to escape. Even if it killed her.

Barnabas leaned back in his chair and shrugged casually. “You’re here because I need you. Plain and simple.”

“Need me?” she frowned. “For what?”

He ignored her question, staring at her with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. “You really do look like her, you know? If it weren’t for the hair, I could almost mistake you for her.”

Zamorra knew without even asking that he was referring to her mother. Anger heated her blood and her jaw tightened. “Don’t talk about her. You have no right,” she hissed. “You murdered her.”

“I did,” he nodded, unflinchingly. “She betrayed me and ran off with one of my men. I couldn’t let something like that slide.”

“Why? You had other females in your pack. You could have let her go. You didn’t need her.”

He gave a mirthless laugh. “No. I couldn’t. She was carrying my child, after all.”

“I told you, I’m not—”

Barnabas gripped her by the throat, his eyes blazing silver. “Do not finish that sentence. I’m sick of hearing you deny your true heritage.”

“Just because you say it doesn’t mean it’s true!” she rasped, trying hard to draw breath, her hand clawing at his.

“I’m tired of this. If you won’t believe me, then ask your were. She can tell you what is true and what is not.”

He released her with a shove and she stumbled. She gave him a dirty look as she massaged her throat, her eyes narrowed into slits.

“You know I don’t have access to her right now. I couldn’t ask her even if I wanted to.”

“That’s why Iris is here.” He clicked his fingers repeatedly and the light mage stepped forward. “Let me make this perfectly clear for you,my daughter—”

Zamorra glared.

“—Iris is going to lift the spell blocking your connection with your werewolf. If you try anything—and I meananything—she will slam the spell back into place so quickly your werewolf will be painfully ripped from your mind and you won’t have access to her again. Ever. Do you understand me?”

“I understand,” Zamorra replied quickly, excitement running through her veins.

The prospect of finally reconnecting with her werewolf would have her agreeing to almost anything right now.

Barnabas eyed her with suspicion. “This is the only warning I’m giving you. Try anything and I’ll make sure your werewolf gets locked away forever. Behave, and I’ll permit her to stay. Understand?”

“I get it, I get it. Unlike your men, I have complete control over my shift.” She couldn’t help chucking in that little dig. “Now can we get on with it?”

Waving a hand through the air, Barnabas signalled for Iris to step forward and she did, her face void of emotion. White lightning crackled in her brown eyes and her hands glowed white as she raised them in the air, holding them in front of her with her palms facing outward.

Power built quickly in the cell, making Zamorra’s skin tingle. She breathed in deeply and cracked her neck, waiting with anticipation. Once the power reached its peak, Iris thrust her hands forward and a bright white light flashed around them, momentarily blinding Zamorra.

Her connection with her werewolf slammed into her so hard it sucked the breath right out of her. She gasped in shock. Her body heated, eyes burning hotter than the sun as they flashed bright silver.

She had to work hard not to shift as her werewolf fought to be free entirely, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists while power flooded her whole body.

Are you there? Are you back?Zamorra asked, shaking with adrenaline.

Yesssss,her werewolf growled back.And I want out.

You can’t. Please, you need to stop pushing. If you come out, you’ll be locked back away permanently. Please, try to stay calm.

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