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Both of her daughters are dead. Wren and I are dead. Mom is all alone.

That realization just has me crying harder. How is this my life?

I don’t know how much time passes as I cry, but eventually, the tears dry up—even if the pain and grief don’t go anywhere. They sit heavy in my heart as I sit up, and I know nothing will fix those feelings except time.

I find Brenden and Donovan pressed against Wraith, one on each side, as all three of them touch me.

Being surrounded by them makes me feel a little better, but even my mates can’t wipe away the pain of knowing my sister is dead.

No. Not just dead—murdered, just like I was. She didn’t even recognize me, and I think that might be what cuts the deepest.

“Hey, firecracker,” Brenden murmurs, his hand trailing down my face. “I know you’re not okay, but is there anything we can do?”

“You’re already doing it,” I tell him because there’s nothing more any of them can do—except maybe Wraith.

Wraith sighs. “Where did you have to deliver her soul to?”

Turning so I can see him, I scoff. “Right here to the academy.”

“No.” Donovan lets out a growl. “Your sister was murdered? I’m so sorry, pretty girl.”

Pulling away, I know I need to tell them the entire story so they can understand just how bad this is. I push to my feet, pacing across the space before coming to a stop in front of my mates.

“Her bastard of a husband is the one who killed me. He’s probably the one who killed her.” At the surprise on Wraith and Donovan’s faces, I tell them the story about remembering everything. I should’ve told them before now.

Before I even finish filling them in, Donovan is on his feet and pulling me into his arms. Instead of returning to the couch, he sits in an armchair facing said couch. “I’m sorry. I just need to hold you right now.”

Softening slightly, I give him a quick kiss before wiggling in his lap until he releases me enough so I can face the others as I finish telling them the story. I sniffle, once again fighting tears as I tell them about reaping her. “She didn’t even recognize me.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Donovan growls, and I bite back a smile.

Wraith sighs. “Fucking hell, trouble. I wish you would’ve told us this sooner, but I can understand why you didn’t. That’s a lot, and you might be right—your sister might have been killed by her husband. Not that it matters now. She’s already here. You never should’ve been the one to reap her soul—I’ll be looking into that as soon as I can.”

“There’s nothing you can do about it?” I ask, almost afraid of his answer.

“About her being dead?” He shakes his head. “I don’t have the ability to bring someone back to life, but there are other things I can do.”

That gets my attention. “Oh? Like what?”

Wraith sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Anything I can do will have to wait until after I welcome her class at midnight. She’ll have to remain there until then. After that…”

“Well, don’t leave me hanging, Wraith.” I’m trying not to get frustrated with my mate, but that’s kind of hard when he’s not telling me a damn thing.

“I can give her back her memories if you really want to know who killed her, and so she’ll recognize you,” he finally says.

I stare at him in shock. “You can do that? You bastard! Why didn’t you give me back my memories, then?”

He rubs his forehead as he considers me. “Honestly? I thought it would be better if you didn’t remember how you were killed—although you apparently already knew. I was trying to save you from having to deal with it.”

“Do me a favor, Wraith, okay? Never keep something from me because you want to save me from something, okay?”

Now I’m pissed again, which is much better than dealing with my grief. There’s nothing I hate more than things being kept from me because someone thinks it’s better for me. Those are decisions I should be allowed to make on my own.

Wraith winces, eyes moving over my shoulder to Donovan, who chuckles. “I told him to give you the choice. He wouldn’t listen.”

“At least I know someone has my back,” I bite out.

“Hey!” Brenden frowns. “I always have your back.”