Page 22 of Wrong Mate

“No. Tell me.”

He told her everything. All the details he had, which wasn’t a lot, but he hoped it was enough.

She started to shake her head. “Two days ago?”

“Yeah, I figuredtomorrow I’ll find someplace and feed her. She’ll get her energy back.”

“No,” Lucinda said. “That kind of stuff works for wolves. Leah doesn’t survive on food, Killian. She doesn’t work that way. Something is wrong.”

“She’s perfectly fine.”

Lucinda approached and she looked down at Leah. “She is too pale.”

Before he could stop her, Lucinda had already drawn back the covers.

“Damn it, Lucinda. She feels the cold.”

“I know she does, but that’s not what is making her weak.” Lucinda pressed out her palm, and he watched a bolt of light hit Leah’s face.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked, angry now.

“I don’t want Leah to wake up or to know that I’m here.”

“Ah, you want her to believe the covenhas faith in her ability to take care of herself?”

“This is none of your business, wolf!”

“Wolf. I’m wolf now.”

“Do you want me to tell her what mission you seek?” she asked. “The cost it is going to take?”

“Yeah, let’s get into that. Imust mate with her. You didn’t tell me that was going to be the greater cost.”

Lucinda glared at him. “I warned you that at the end of it, there was going to come a great sacrifice. Your loneliness. I told you the journey youseek would not come without a greater cost. I warned you as best I could, and I did my part. Every quest like this comes with more cost. You know this, Killian. You’re not stupid, even if your actions are stupid.” She put her hands on Leah’s face, then down her body. “Nothing. Nothing.”

“Because there is nothing.”

She stood up, pressed her palms out flat, and began to shoot light over Leah’s body.

“Damn it, witch, you fucking stop!” He was about to hurt Lucinda when he stopped and saw it. A black swirl danced around Leah’s ankle.

“You fucking bitch,” Lucinda said.

Shoving up Leah’s jeans, Lucinda removed her sneaker and sock, and on the outside, it looked normal. Lucinda ran her hand across the ankle, and that was when he saw the single black nail embedded in her flesh.

“What the fuck is that?” he asked.

“The siren is attempting to kill her. It’s rare for this to happen. Most sirens are good and only seek to protect humans, but this is her trying to kill Leah.” Lucinda gritted her teeth. “I need to wake Leah up. This is not going to be pretty. That nail is sunk in deep, attempting to poison her.”

“I had no idea.”

“Killian, you’ve got to hold her. This is going to hurt.”

He nodded, wrapping his arms around Leah.

“Are you ready?” Lucinda asked.

“Yes.”

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