Page 30 of Captive Hybrid

Chapter Twelve

Mordecai

A cold bolt of fear spears my insides. Half-way through towel-drying myself after a shower, I freeze, dread seeping through my body. Zenna. I can feel her terror. I try to pry the bond open. Zenna, are you okay?

No response. Shit. I drop the towel and pull on my clothes, ignoring my still-wet hair. In a few long strides I’m out of my motel room and banging on Divina’s door.

The Dark Witch emerges, perfect-looking, even though it’s early morning.

‘Something’s wrong. I felt Zenna. She’s terrified.’

Divina’s dark eyes widen slightly, but she motions me calmly into her room. Everything is neat and orderly—the bed made, not a thing out of place. She gestures for me to sit at the small, round table. ‘Let me see.’

I don’t have time to hesitate, wondering what the Dark Witch can do with my mind. This urge to put Zenna first overwhelms me. Zenna? I can still feel that fear, but there’s something else, as well. As though the spice I would normally smell on her is stronger, her magic at the forefront.

Divina sets her hands on either side of my head. ‘Hold still.’ As she enters my mind, pain lances through me like a whip.

I bite down on the whimper, my shoulders going rigid, forcing myself to keep still. ‘Is she okay?’ I hiss.

‘She’s using her fae power.’ There’s a note of surprise mixed with pride in her voice. ‘I don’t think she’s in pain. She’s afraid, but… she seems to have things under control. Stay still,’ she adds sternly.

I didn’t realise I was leaning away. Zenna said the connection hurts her. Perhaps when our bond is strained by this dark magic, that causes pain. I don’t want to do that to her, but I need to know. ‘Is she okay?’

Divina’s grip on my head tightens, holding me in place. I grind my teeth together. ‘It seems so. I would be able to sense if she were injured. She’s calming down now.’ The witch releases me—to my relief—and lowers herself into the chair opposite me. ‘Are you alright?’

I loose a breath, searching the bond. She does seem calmer. I wish she would talk to me, but if she’s not alone, she can’t. Not subtly. ‘Yeah.’ I rub at my temples, trying to rub away the lingering ache of the dark magic. ‘I need to get to her before someone does hurt her.’

Divina surveys me across the table. ‘Since when do you care for her?’

My head snaps up, anger on the tip of my tongue, ready to lash at her. ‘I always have.’

‘Perhaps. But not like this.’ Divina looks me up and down. ‘Not like a mate willing to put her first.’

My hands clench into fists. She’s right. Ever since that kiss, then the horror of the explosion, the moment she was taken, I’ve felt different. ‘I need to be with her.’ Fear and pain wash over me. I rake my hands through my hair, tugging painfully. ‘She’ll never forgive me for rejecting her, will she?’

I don’t expect a true answer from Divina. I don’t know if witches mate, or if they do like us, but she barely knows Zenna.

‘I wouldn’t.’

I meet her gaze. ‘Zenna isn’t you.’

‘No, but she’s a woman scorned. I assure you, that is always hard to forgive. And then you let her be taken.’ Divina’s tone is full of hate, accusation. ‘A woman never forgets what a man does to her. If he rejects her. If he leaves her. If he fails to come for her.’

‘I am coming for her.’

Divina rises smoothly to her feet. ‘Indeed, you are. Let us hope it will not be too late.’

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