Page 60 of Her Eternal Mate

And then, we were silent, both of us just looking at each other with our eyes filled with love, our bodies exhausted from effort, and our hearts brimming with joy.

We lay like that for an hour, not speaking, just looking, until my phone suddenly rang, bringing us back to ground reality. It was Vincent.

“Could he have picked a worse time?” Will chuckled.

“Talk to me,” I said, picking up the call.

“Where are you guys? Maliha’s gone all crazy, and she’s done something. I need you both here back at the commune. Quick!”

“Uh-oh,” I said, looking up at Will, who was getting dressed.

“What happened?”

“Apparently, Maliha has done something. We need to get back to the commune.”

“What did I tell you about pattern recognition? Something bad happens when we leave the town.”

“Babe, it didn’t sound like something bad,” I said, putting my hand on his chest. “Are you feeling better?”

“I do. Thank you.”

“I love you,” I said, kissing him on the lips one more time.

“I love you too,” he said, kissing my cheek.

After we both got dressed, Will sailed us back to the docks, both of us eager and a little bit worried to find out what Maliha had done.

Chapter 28

Will

Even though I had told Alexis that I was feeling all right, that sensation of finality had not gone away. It came back even harder when we went ashore and returned to the commune. During the drive back to the commune, I took one last look at the smoldering building. The fire had been contained by the firefighters, and the area had been cordoned off with caution tape.

Something unfathomable deep within me spoke to me yet again. It told me that things as I knew them were about to come to an end. I had been brave all my life. The bravest I had been was when I was kidnapped and tortured for decades. I had not lost an ounce of hope, even in that darkness. My courage had not abandoned me now. This was a different feeling—a feeling of coming to terms with some covert prophecy.

In the old days, our ancestors used to adhere to the prophecy of Ragnarok. The death of the gods, the end of the world, and the birth of a new universe from that cataclysm. That same feeling resounded within me.

After all, everything must end. Even this life of mine, prolonged as it was, had to come to an end.

I was deeply appreciative of Alexis for two things. One, she had taken me out to the sea to distract me from my thoughts. Two, she gave me some space to get my head in order as we went back to the commune.

As we went into my home, I saw the clutter of wires, motherboards, circuitry, and strange terminals all over my coffee table.

“What is this?” I asked, looking at Vincent, who was grinning guiltily.

“I know you said that you didn’t want anything to do with the device, but Maliha and I got to talking, and we came up with something,” Vincent said.

For the first time ever, I was cautious. Not scared, but a little worried. Vincent was the man I was going to leave in charge. If he was not capable of making good decisions, then who was I going to leave in charge?

“What have you done?” I asked, my anger trying to break free from its cage. “Did you disobey my order?”

“Will! We did nothing of the sort,” Maliha interjected. “While you two were gone, Vincent and I tinkered around with the idea of creating a wavelength jammer, and you know, he’s quite gifted with computers. Not as much as me, but still quite gifted. We came up with a solution that you won’t hate. I promise.”

I shot a look at Alexis, who shook her head and said, “This was not my idea.”

“Fine. Tell me what you have,” I said finally, deciding to hear them out.

“This device,” Maliha said, placing a machine in my hands. “Creates a wavelength jammer that does not distort the original frequency. It creates a blockade that essentially freezes the motor functions of those who are controlled by the hive mind. Think of it like a dam. A dam stops water. This machine stops the wavelength. No soldiers will die. They’ll just be frozen in place, not knowing what to do,” she said.

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