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The blonde stands up slowly. Her body will be changing as she keeps guard outside. Even as a ghoul, she’ll have a purpose.

“What do you mean?” Andrei asks.

I give them both a quick rundown of what happened in Alena’s dream before I was pushed out.

“But I did manage to learn one interesting piece of information before my beast attacked,” I say.

“Something we need to be wary of?” Asher asks.

I nod. “He’s got a hunter searching for her. I can’t guarantee he doesn’t know our location. The prophet was trying to find her through torture. I don’t know how he was doing it, but it was fucking bad.”

“What the fuck?” Asher spits out in anger. “How the fuck is this happening? It should be impossible for a vampire to work for them.”

I agree with him on that. “I wish I knew, Father. But we need to be vigilant. Caden and Maddox need to hunt down the hunter. But make sure they’re aware he has vampire blood in him.”

“Fuck,” Andrei says. “I’ll get them moving.”

A sharp tug on the bond practically rips me out of my seat.

Alena just woke up, and I sense her searching for me.

She screams in the basement.

Asher looks utterly bewildered. “She’s awake already?”

I don’t answer him. I’m already moving to the pantry to get her food. She’ll be starving.

She’s awake but in the frenzy.

I grab the healthy guy Asher mentioned earlier and fling him over my shoulder.

Racing down the stairs, I try to soothe her across the bond.I’m coming, my love.

Dashing into the room, I toss the guy onto the floor.

Bloody tears stream down Alena’s cheeks as she looks up from the corner.

She’s fucking terrified and the bond vibrates with it.

Alone.

Alone.

ALONE!

It’s an endless cycle that runs through her mind.

Dropping down to kneel before her, I put my hands on her cheeks and force her to look into my eyes.

Whispering quietly, I say, “I’m here, beloved. I’m here.”

Staring at me for the longest time, slow realization fills her eyes.

She fixated on her panic.

Fuck.

I should have been more careful, I berate myself.