Page 369 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“There wasn’t time,” I added uselessly.

“It’s alive. Like a serpent in her veins,” Saraya said.

Ally, I called mentally, I need a read on Mags. What was entailed in that bond of theirs?

Her response came back like a shriek: Aren, she said no. She didn’t consent!

Even now, in crisis, her conscience wouldn’t allow her to violate that law she’d created for herself. Even my mental voice turned sharp. Alvara. I need you to read my mate. Can we save her alone?

Give me a second. Everything’s shattered. I’m trying—God, I’m trying.

That didn’t reassure me. I pulled out my phone, dialing Nat. No answer. I tried Blythe. Then Rika.

An argument exploded outside.

“He can get fucked,” Alec barked.

Kenna’s voice finally answered, hoarse and breathless. “Commander? What-in-the-Jumanji-is-fucking-happening?”

“Ken, I need every healer you’ve got at my townhouse. Now.”

“We’re a little preoccupied⁠—”

“It’s Mags,” I snapped. “My healer doesn’t know how⁠—”

But she was already shouting away from the phone, “Mom! Rika! Kari!”

Before I could hang up, boots were pouring over the threshold. My coven spilled into the townhouse, trailed by several bloody, detirmined Hazelharborians, all sprinting. Kenna made straight for Adrastos—Ansel was levitating him in, lip curled in disgust.

“Bell!” she cried.

Nat, Rika, and Kari rushed to Mags, draped over my countertop. My breath caught, and I had to close my eyes against the tide of fury and regret.

“Don’t touch him,” I growled. “That’s Adrastos.”

Every eye in the room snapped to mine. Every move I’d made in the past few weeks had been wrong.

A vaguely familiar southern drawl cut through the haze, talking about reaper’s bullets and making sure the shells were out. Flushing the wound of the venom. Something about it taking five minutes or less to cause irreparable damage.

Nat’s eyes flicked to mine and she shook her head—Mags was fine in that regard.

But my focus was still on the bastard as he moaned. The one they were tending to. The one whose blood ran through my mate.

It was brilliant, really. Target your enemy’s unknowing mate—a healer. Someone not even on a bounty hunting list. Bond to her. Hide behind her power. I had to give him credit. I could be ruthless, but I wasn’t a monster. I didn’t see this coming and Alvara hadn’t, either.

Her jaw was tight as she caught my eye across the room. One grim shake of her head told me everything.

Bound.

Mags had tethered herself to him. Willingly sacrificed her freedom to keep this man alive. And now his death drained her. The web of lies this man must have spun…

There are no threads where he does not live and they both do, she whispered. We need him to win. Now or months from now, his death solidifies theirs.

Theirs?

The word hit like a blade in my chest. Visions sparked behind Alvara’s eyes, but I turned to Nat, who was already focused on Magnolia.

“Where’s Blythe?” I spoke softly. Even still, Nat’s eyes were frantic as she shook her head.