Page 77 of Visions of You

Keegan swallowed hard. "A laboratory… and a book about mind control."

"Mind control!" Jaron's eyes widened. "Who do they want to control? Wait, do you think it's me? Cause that's the only way I would ever…" He trailed off, but Keegan understood what he was talking about, and it made perfect, chilling sense.

The only way Jaron would hurt Keegan was if he was being controlled by someone else.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their discovery heavy on their shoulders. The pieces were falling into place—the shadowy figure, the book on mind control, Keegan's visions of his own death…

Jaron broke the silence first. "We need a plan. We can't let this happen."

Keegan nodded, his mind already racing ahead. "First, we need to find out who they are and where they're hiding. And we need to find a way to protect you from them."

Jaron's brow furrowed. "Protect me? How?"

"I don't know yet," Keegan admitted. "But there has to be a way. A spell, an amulet, something. We'll figure it out. I won't let them control you."

Jaron's jaw set with determination. "We'll stop them. Together."

A flicker of warmth spread through Keegan at that word. Together. It was still a foreign concept, having someone by his side in this fight. He'd always had his coven, of course, but that was different. Jaron was here only for him.

He always would be.

That was a powerful feeling and not one Keegan wanted to lose.

"We should talk to Altair," he suggested. "He needs to know about this. And he might have some ideas about protection from mind control."

"You think so?"

"He's been reading up on the topic for reasons."

Jaron looked at him curiously. "What reasons?"

"His own mate has recently developed the talent to control others through their blood."

Jaron's eyebrows rose. "I didn't know vampires could do that."

"It's a rare gift. In any case, we need to get dressed."

Jaron agreed, ready to spring into action. Quickly, they put their clothes back on and left the room. The building was quiet. Most of the vampires had gone to sleep.

Keegan and Jaron found Altair still in his office. Sven lounged in an armchair in the corner, yawning widely. Altair's eyes were closed, his fingers twitching slightly—likely monitoring the city through the eyes of his crows.

Sven looked up when they entered. "Oh, hey," he greeted softly, rising from his seat. "What brings you here?"

Keegan glanced at Jaron before speaking. "We need to talk to Altair."

Sven nodded and crossed the room to Altair's side. He placed a gentle hand on Altair's shoulder. "We've got visitors."

Altair's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he looked uncharacteristically disoriented. The lines of fatigue etched into his face made it clear he'd been trying to find some hints regarding Apollo's whereabouts all day.

"Keegan," Altair said, shaking off the remnants of his trance. "Is there news?" His gaze flicked between Keegan and thedragon he hadn't been introduced to, weary but sharp. "Did you mate?"

"Yes," Keegan admitted. "But that's not why we're here."

Altair's expression sobered. "You saw something?"

"I had a vision," Keegan said, taking a deep breath. "I think I saw the kidnapper. They have a lab filled with arcane ingredients and a book called The Subtle Art of Mind Control."

Altair's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "Mind control…" He glanced at Sven before returning his focus to Keegan and Jaron. "Do you have any idea who this person might be?"