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“Don’t be stubborn. Come here,” I say as I step closer and take his face between my hands and kiss him tenderly. As I heal him, I can see the tension leave his body. I move to Callum and do the same before repeating the process with Daemon. “I need you all to be healthy. Let me help, okay?”

“Okay,” Daemon says, kissing my forehead.

We step out of the room, and the woman who looks like my mother is sitting lifelessly in a chair. She has a collar around her neck. I tilt my head and focus on changing her appearance.

“Woah,” Kael says.

“I don’t want anyone knowing until I figure out if this is really my mother,” I say.

“We understand,” Callum says. “We can bring her with us.” I nod, and he walks over and pulls her up to stand. The woman walks with Callum without hesitation. When we step outside, I moan when the sunlight warms my skin. We walk away from the building before I stop and turn back to face my prison.

“What do you want to do?” Daemon asks me.

“I want to blow it up,” I state.

“Then do it,” he says.

I picture the blast, and a few seconds later, the building explodes. I put up a barrier to block chunks of concrete flying at us. When the dust settles, I let it down and turn to hug my mates.

“It’s over,” I say.

“It’s all over, baby,” Kael says.

My mates surround me in a hug while my mother’s lifeless body stands nearby, staring off into space. I found my freedom. Now it’s time to find hers.

Chapter Forty Nine

Leli

Wearedrivingthroughthe streets of Estroria. There are hardly any people around. Occasionally we will see someone, but they are quick to disappear into a building. I am trying to keep the negative thoughts out, but it’s getting harder as we drive through the nearly deserted streets.

Thuly is uneasy. He has been whining and cannot sit still. In the last few minutes, he has gotten more and more antsy. All of a sudden, a loud explosion rocks the car. Vash slams on the brakes when Thuly starts losing his mind, whining and hollering as he tries to tear at the door. Dad opens the door and Thuly rushes past him. When we are all out, Thuly perks up and looks happier than we’ve seen him all week.

“Mom!” I hear a voice cry out excitedly in my head. I look around at everyone and they all look just as confused as I feel. Thuly turns and takes off running without even a glance behind him.

“Damn Suthul,” Dad grumbles. Clearly, Thuly knows where he is going, so we follow him.

Chapter Fifty

Lilith

Ihearanoisebehind me, and I don’t care to look until Daemon nudges me. “Incoming,” he says, chuckling.

I turn in time for Thuly to crash into me. Daemon catches us as he tackles me to the ground and licks my face. “I missed you too, buddy,” I say as I hug him. He relaxes into my arms and purrs softly.

“I think he loves you,” Kael says.

“Where did you come from?” I ask. He hops up off of me, and Callum helps me up. Thuly then turns his love on the guys and nudges them until they lean down and give him scratches.

“You’ve gotten bigger,” Daemon says to Thuly as he chitters.

“Lilith,” Kael says, pointing behind me. I turn and see my family jogging toward us. I take off running toward them and go straight to my sister. By the time we crash into one another, we are both crying.

“Thank the gods, you’re okay,” she says tearfully, taking my face between her hands.

“I’m okay, Leli,” I say, sniffing back my own tears. “They’re dead. I did it for us.”

“Oh, Lilith,” she says, pulling me into another hug.