Page 103 of Visions of You

The mage shook his head. "We're only doing what needs to be done."

Jaron tightened his hold, his fingers digging into the mage's arms. "Tell me," he demanded.

The mage's eyes narrowed.

Jaron realized the man was going to cast another spell, something to throw him off, but then, instead of attacking, the mage started crying.

Just like that, he was bawling under Jaron.

Jaron blinked.

What…?

Was this a trick?

"That one's got a lot of issues."

Jaron looked up at the sound of the voice and saw Mordyn stepping out of the shadows.

Was this his doing somehow?

Mordyn gave a small shake of his head as if he knew what Jaron was wondering about. "Emotions are my playground," he said. "Or battleground, if need be."

Before Jaron could ask him to explain further, Keegan snapped out of his vision, his eyes focusing on the scene before him. He took in the crying mage and Mordyn's presence without a flicker of surprise.

"Took you long enough to get here," Mordyn said to him.

" I expectedyouthree minutes earlier too," Keegan replied. "We need to keep moving."

With that, he turned and strode down the corridor, leaving the mage behind. Jaron and Mordyn exchanged a glance before following suit.

After a few steps, Keegan slowed down and turned to Jaron, his gaze zeroing in on Jaron's shoulder. "You're hurt," he noted, eyes narrowing at the wound where the spell had hit.

Jaron shrugged, ignoring the sharp twinge of pain the movement caused. "I'm fine," he said, his voice tight. "There are more important things to focus on right now."

Jaron followed Keegan and Mordyn down the stairs, his senses on high alert for any signs of danger. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, as if the very air was trying to suffocate him.

Or maybe that was just his growing awareness that they were ever closer to getting answers he might not like.

Had Malkira really betrayed him after all this time?

Why?

Jaron's jaw set. He'd find out one way or another, and he'd face the truth, whatever it was.

They encountered another group of mages on the next level, their hands already weaving spells. Jaron was ready to fight, but Mordyn stepped forward, his eyes glowing red.

The mages faltered, their spells fizzling out as they stared at Mordyn in confusion. Then, as one, they turned and fled, their faces twisted with inexplicable terror.

Jaron shot Mordyn an impressed look. "Handy trick."

Mordyn shrugged, but Jaron could see the toll it was taking on him. The vampire's face was as pale as Keegan's had been when he was working himself into the ground.

It must be because Apollo was missing.

Without his mate's blood to sustain him, Mordyn was running on fumes.

But there was a steely determination in Mordyn's eyes, a resolve that Jaron understood all too well. Mordyn would do whatever it took to save Apollo, just as Jaron would do anything for Keegan.