Page 123 of The Mating Quest

“You could have warnedme.”

“Warned you that you held great power and wait to see what happened?” His expression grew cynical. “Your intentions were clear. You became lovers with Cormac. You made your choice, my dear, when you thought he was giving you tremendous power. The goddess waited to see what choice you would make with your new powers, if you would turn to embrace them forgood.”

“Had I turned toevil…”

“You would have been destroyed like Cormac. And in doing so, destroyed your twin mentally. You have always been a challenging case, Ilana. Not for the sake of your own life, but another aswell.”

Power, not for the sake of ruling others, but helping them. Ethan had believed in her and finally, she had believed inherself.

“Ethan.” Her heart felt sorrow at the thought of leaving him behind. “I love him so much. What ofhim?”

Caderyn looked thoughtful. “The decision to mate with you is his own. He has free will. But if he chooses to be with you, he will be granted immortality aswell.”

She only hoped Ethan wouldagree.

Chapter 32

The palm treesneeded fertilizing again. Ethan sat in his office, logging notes on his laptop. Brows knit, he focused onwork.

Work helped, if only alittle.

In the past two weeks since Ilana had died and he had returned to Florida, Ethan seldom met with anyone. His pack knew. Maybe Tristan told them. Or not. He didn’tcare.

Everyone wanted to help. Help so much he felt smothered and snapped at them to back off. Then he’d run off into the Everglades, racing on one of the roadbeds by the levees, until he collapsed from the heat andexhaustion.

Ilana was gone and his life feltempty.

He pulled away from the computer, headed out of the cool, air-conditioned office and nearly ran headlong intoBrianna.

“Ethan.” She looked concerned. “Ethan, talk to us. You’ve barely spoken since you got back, except to bark orders around here. Talk to me. I’m yoursister.”

The gold locket containing Caderyn’s hair still hung around her neck. He wanted to snap it off, toss it far, far away. It reminded him of Ilana and how she fought him, trying to steal thelocket.

Everything reminded him of his wonderfulIlana.

“I’m going to fertilize the palms,” he muttered, pushing pasther.

“You can’t keep ignoring us. Or pushing the pain down deep. I know you loved her, but you have to release your grief. Ethan!” Brianna ran afterhim.

“If you’re so eager to do something, get rid of that fuckinglocket.”

“I will,” she yelled after him. “I already told Tristan I don’t want it anymore. Or to be some powerful werewolf who aids Caderyn. I only want to stay here with you and the pack. And I want my brother back. Ethan! Will you listen tome?”

“Leave me alone,” heshouted.

Storming out of the office, he went to the shed, grabbed two one hundred pound bags of palm tree fertilizer and several empty seed sack bags, tossed them onto the ATV’s bed and headed for the farm’s southern edge. Palm trees grew in straight rows like sentinels. Quiet back here. He shut off the engine and for a moment sat, the heat plastering his T-shirt to his body, the breeze rustling through the palm leaves. Freshly turned soil and rainwater filled the air. It had rained this afternoon and the scent reminded him of Ilana, how she’d nestle against him and he’d inhale her sweetfragrance.

“That’s no way to treat yoursister.”

Furious, he climbed off the ATV and turned toward the voice. “Who’s there? Showyourself.”

A woman stepped out from behind a tall royal palm tree. A leather corset covered her chest over a green suede dress with a long hood and sleeves. Leather armbands covered her wrists and forearms. The dress formed a V, showing long legs clad in green leggings and knee high leather boots. A clip held back inky black hair from her face, showing her deep blueeyes.

The scent of fresh rainwater and lilacs surroundedher.

Impossible. Ethan turned, opening one of the seed sacks. Either the sun had gotten to him or it was a hallucination, wrought bygrief.

“Ethan,” a soft voice said. “Ethan, look atme.”