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It hurts now, but we’ll heal. We have each other and my other three mates. They’ll help us put back together our pieces. We’ll be stronger for it, but both of us have lost something important today. I don’t yet know what it is, but I can feel the missing piece inside me throbbing with pain.

“While I know you don’t condone vengeance, Wraith, I don’t want you to grant Nex his request. He doesn’t just get to run away after what he did. He doesn’t get to hide from the pain he caused. He needs to be here to see what he did. Brenden and I will make sure he sees the error of his ways, but when he comes crawling back, we know his words will be lies. Then we’ll crush him, make him feel the pain he made us feel.” I smile, though it falls a bit when the three of them flinch. “What?”

The three of them share a look before Wraith steps forward. “Nothing, trouble. You just sound tired. You both probably are after what you’ve gone through this morning. Let us take care of you. We need you both at your best for tomorrow.”

I hum, knowing he’s right. I need to focus on taking out Michael and fixing that problem before worrying about Nex. One step at a time. One foot in front of the other.

“That sounds nice,” I finally say, and he smiles.

“Good. Let’s get the two of you upstairs and into something comfortable. Donovan and Cassian will cuddle with you two while you watch a movie or something. I’ll call to get you checked out. Plus, there are a few administrative things I need to take care of before tomorrow. I’ll join you as soon as I’m finished.”

I shrug as Wraith leads me over to Donovan, who picks me up in his arms. I lay my head on his shoulder with a sigh.

“Brenden, Wraith and I will help you upstairs,” Cassian offers, and I hear Brenden scoff.

“I don’t need help to go up the stairs.”

I lift my head to see Wraith still reaching for Brenden. “Remember, Brenden, we’re here for one another. We’ll be your strength. There’s no reason for either of you to be strong through this. Lean on us.”

Brenden shrugs with a shake of his head. “I have no problem accepting your help, Wraith. I thank you for wanting to be here for me, but I’m fine.”

His voice is so monotone, it’s almost as if he’s shut down. Kind of like me.

It’s only then I realize I no longer feel the pain of Nex’s betrayal. In fact, I feel nothing. I feel blank and empty.

I wonder if I should find that disturbing. Right now, I don’t think I have the energy to worry about why I feel as I do. Wraith is right. I need to rest.

“I’m ready to go upstairs now,” I tell Donovan.

With a nod, he carries me up the stairs. I hear Brenden, Wraith, and Cassian follow us up, but I suddenly don’t have the strength to lift my head. It feels too heavy for my body.

In fact, all my limbs feel that way. I don’t feel in control of my body, and I know that should freak me out. It doesn’t.

“Okay, pretty girl, I’m going to set you down now and get you a shirt to wear, okay?” Donovan asks when we reach the bedroom.

Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to need a response as he lowers me to my feet. I blink and he’s back.

“That was fast,” I tell him, surprised. He moved as fast as Brenden does when he uses his vampiric nature. I didn’t know he could do that.

Donovan hesitates before undoing the towel and allowing it to fall to the floor. I lift my hands over my head as he helps me into the shirt. When he bends down to help me slide my panties on, I use his shoulders to keep me upright before he leads me to the bed.

Brenden’s already lying there on his side in a pair of sweats, so I crawl over to him and curl around him. Neither Cassian nor Donovan joins us immediately as they talk with Wraith quietly.

At first I can’t make out what they’re saying, then suddenly I can hear them so well, they might as well be standing next to me.

“What the hell is wrong with them?” Donovan asks, sounding panicked. “What can we do?”

Wraith sighs. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I think they might be suffering from rejected mate syndrome.”

“That makes sense for Audrey, but Brenden and Nex aren’t fated mates,” Cassian says slowly.

“Do you know that for a fact?” Wraith pushes.

“Brenden hasn’t said anything,” Donovan replies. “But would he have if he knew? Knowing that it would hurt Audrey?”

Cassian grunts. “But he’s been at the academy longer than Audrey. Don’t vampires sense their mates by smelling their blood? Wouldn’t Brenden have noticed that before he even met Audrey?”

“Fuck,” Wraith curses. “Nex takes pills that change his scent. They’re often used when someone is hiding from another supernatural. Brenden would’ve had no idea. I’m going to fucking kill him.”