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Her friend responded less than a minute later.

“Yes and no. The best we can do is create a portal for you to step through if you need to leave right away.”

“I do.”

“One sec.”

Three dots appeared, disappeared, then reappeared again. Asshewaited for Spring to offerupa solution to break through Stockton’s Blockers and leave this place, she kept an eye on the door. All she needed was for Trevor or Damian to show up as she tried to make good her escape. She felt terrible for lying to her brother-in-law. He wouldn’t be too pleased with her after she promised not to leave.

“Okay, here’s what you do. Create a protection circle and conjure five red candles for the pentagram points.”

She did as instructed.

“What’s next?”

“Speak this spell aloud.”

She laughed when she read what Spring had sent.

“Seriously?”

“It’s a room-joining spell. I didn’t make it up.”

“I’d be embarrassed for you if you had.”

“You want me to send my husband to rescue you or not?”

“Apologies.”

“Speak the spell. I can thump you on the head when you get here.”

Again, Soleil laughed.

The spoken words worked their magic as soon as they left her mouth. With each one, she felt the pressure build, pushing against the Blockers’ power and expanding it out. Their wards popped like an overinflated balloon, and Soleil felt freedom of movement come with it.

In another instant, a rip appeared in the fabric of space between Thorne Manor and the island. Knox was visible on the other side, and he smiled as he held out his hand. Right when she would’ve taken it, the room spun, and a kaleidoscope of images of places she’d neverbeen flashedacross the opening to Thorne Manor. The last thing she saw was Knox’sgobsmackedexpression before the gateway settled on a new location.

Rough-handed men reached across and dragged her through a portal, and her terror was complete as she glanced into the faces of what looked to be a private militia.

“Good of you to join us, Ms. Stephens. We need to talk.”

She stared at the woman in horror. It was like looking into a mirror—a very distorted, funhouse mirror reflecting a skinny version of herself, but a mirror all the same.

“Deni, I presume?” she asked with a casualness she didn’t feel.

Doubts about Trevor and his true feelings swarmed her mind. How was it possible he didn’t still hold feelings for this super-svelte lady-in-charge Deni? She was everything Soleil secretly wished she could be. Physically, at least.

A gloating smirk appeared on the perfect face across from her. “I see Trevor has told you about me.”

“He said you were a bitch.”Notentirely true, but Soleil took her opportunities where they presented themselves.

A granite-hard look settled on Deni’s visage, and her voice was brittle as she said, “It’s irrelevant. I’m here for a different reason.”

“Dare I ask? It can't be good if you’re reaching through portals to abduct people.”

“You don’t want to know your fate?”

“Based on the attempts on my life, I can hazard a guess.” Soleil refused to let fear rule her. Knox knew what had happened, and he would inform the othersin short order. When Damian found her, there would be hell to pay—for their enemiesandher.