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Relentless, energy balled like fire between her fingers, tinged with dark purpose and glowing light as it blasted from her palms, hurling Cerberus into the back wall. Was she working with the hulking angel?

Adriel didn’t trust the vision. It had been days of torment, and hope had abandoned her long ago. This had to be a hallucination from the pain.

For a moment, it seemed they were truly there. The formidable duo of her greatest love and whatever god fought by her side. They were a beacon of hope, too surreal to believe. Yet, the cruel fantasy briefly masked the pain.

Cerberus hissed and charged, lunging for the god-like male.

“No!”Juniper heaved a blazing ball of white light at him.

He slammed into the shadows.

“Protect Adriel!” the male yelled.

Adriel shrieked as hands lifted her broken body from the ground. The slightest movement caused her excruciating pain. Gravity pulled at her broken limbs like anvils.

“It’s okay. It’s me.”

Her eyes opened, but she couldn’t see through the smoke and tears. A white light flashed over the cave's crevices, and the familiar silhouette of Dane took form. He was armed and dressed all in black. His mission was clear.

“I’ve got you, Ade. We’ve come to take you home.”

“Careful,” another voice called as Dane laid her on a blanket by the cave's opening. “Put her here.”

“She’s as fragile as a broken bird and needs blood.” The slightest touch brought agony. “We can’t move you any further until you feed. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

The other figure drew closer, and she gasped, praying this was a dream and she wasn’t actually seeing her son emerge from the shadows of smoke and flashing light as a battle broke out behind them. “You’re safe now, Mother.”

No!She wanted to argue, but panic choked her. Christian had a mate. She needed him. It was too dangerous! They must leave this place.

“Mother, be still.”

When she tried to stop him from helping her, Dane restrained her. “Adriel, let us help you.”

Her heart jolted as she tried to speak, but her jaw was broken, and she was far too weak to fight them.

“She needs blood. Now. We cannot wait.” Her son rolled back his sleeve, blocking her view of the cave.

Cerberus roared as Juniper chanted in ancient tongues. A whirlwind of energy erupted and twirled through the cave, lifting debris and pebbles that whipped around with hurricane force.

They needed to leave this place before Cerberus went too far. She could bear the physical pain, but seeing her greatest loves harmed would destroy her in ways she couldn’t bear.

Her voice scraped against her crushed throat.

“Do not strain yourself, Mother.”

Christian draped a light cloth over her withered body. The weight of the material burned her flesh but shielded her from the wind.

When she couldn’t escape the hallucination, she shook violently. Were they truly there? Chills wracked her battered limbs. She could feel the blanket on her skin and smell her son’s hair.

“Drink, Mother.” He pressed his wrist to her mouth.

Warm, life-giving blood coated her tongue, but her throat was too ravaged to swallow. She coughed and sputtered, choking violently.

Dane cradled her head in his lap. “Try to relax, Ade.”

How could she relax when there was a nightmare unfolding behind him?

She coaxed a few drops down but then violent growls spewed from the dust clouds. A blast of wind swirled with ghostly howls into the cave and someone’s body slammed into the wall.