Page 96 of The Mating Quest

How could he tell the love of his life that he felt himself fading into shadow and didn’t know how much longer he’d be withher?

“I want to go to earth, but a place where no Fae or Others will see me. A place where Skins will not detect myweakness.”

A place where I can remember our time together one last time.“The swamp in Florida. The cypress slough where we madelove.”

Alia looked doubtful. “Are youcertain?”

“Yes, but you will have to teleport me there.” He managed asmile.

Alia transported them to the wetlands in South Florida. A short boardwalk threaded through the forest of cypress and brush, but he smelled Skins, so she teleported them away from the humans. Gideon breathed in the humidity and smells of growth, listened to the insects humming and the wind sweeping through the trees. The slough was one of the last remaining ones in the area and channeled water to the vast Everglades. Cypress trees, pond apples, guava trees and ferns grew in abundance, creating a magical greenworld.

He loved it here, for it reminded him of the forests of the Unseelie, the Winter Kingdom where he had spent his mortallife.

They walked for a while in silence, Alia gripping his good arm. “I love you so much, Gideon. I don’t want to lose you, but I respect your choice. For I understand, and I love our people as well. If I can help, even assume some of your duties until this resolves itself, I am ready. I will do whatever it takes to help you and theFae.”

He stopped and kissed her gently, his heart swelling with pride and love for his mate. “I love you, my darling Alia. You are myworld.”

But as he pulled away, ice coated his veins. “C-cold, Alia. I’m, I’m socold.”

His mate looked at him with alarm. “Gideon it’s 98degrees!”

Then she hugged him tight. Stepped back. He knew what she saw, what shefelt.

“Oh dear goddess,” she whispered. “Gideon!”

He looked down. His right foot had started to fade. Gideon grabbed at a tree branch, but fell down with acrash.

“Gideon!” She threw back her head and screamed at the sky. “Caderyn to menow!”

The Shadow Wizard appeared. His tight-lipped glance said it all. In that grim assessment Gideon knew his time was growingshort.

“Take me home, Caderyn,” he said through his chattering teeth. “If I’m going to die, I do not wish it to behere.”

Chapter 26

Ilana didn’t wanttheir idyllic vacation to end. She awakened to the sounds of the shower running and her imagination immediately envisioned Ethan naked. A shower, Ethan soaping her body and then lifting her ass to slide deep insideher…

Oh yeah. Nice way to wake up. As she started to climb out of bed, Tristan popped into thebedroom.

Glaring at him, she covered her breasts. “Don’t you ever knockfirst?”

“You have thirty minutes before you rendezvous with Dakota.” The wizard’s face wasgrim.

Ethan emerged from the bathroom, a towel around his mid-section. He saw Tristan, and ground to a halt. “Something’s wrong. Are my peopleokay?”

Ilana realized with a start Ethan worried about his pack. He’d barely glanced at her. Her heart sank a little.I guess pack will always come first in hislife.

Tristan waved an impatient hand. “Your people are fine. Everyone is fine except Gideon, damnit. Someone found his talisman and is using it to drain his magick and cast him intoshadow.”

A string of low curses followed from Ethan, who looked visibly upset. But not as upset as she felt. Dread tunneled through her.This is my fault. I should have spoken upearlier…

Tristan didn’t look at her. “Get ready to leave. You have less than half an hour before I transport you both out ofhere.”

As the wizard vanished, she ran into the shower, ignoring Ethan. Ilana scrubbed and scrubbed, as if she could eliminate the stain ofguilt.

When she dressed in leather pants, a white T-shirt, her leather armbands and secured her weapons to her body, not taking the time to braid her hair, Ethan was downstairs, pacing. Not a goodsign.

“Grab some breakfast. Who knows how long it will be before we can eat, with this kind ofemergency.”