Chapter 75

EMILY

I looked out the window, knowing he was staring at me again. He must think I was going to break or something.

I love my mate, but he is starting to get on my nerves.

After the war, I had to deal with my grief for my parents. But it wasn't just the grief I had to deal with; I mean my father's betrayal toward Mila and even my mother. I was angry at him; killing him never made me think I was a killer. He was a murderer for what he did to my brother. I did what I had to do for my sister. I knew I had to protect her from him and that witch.

"Em," Dane says softly. "You ok?"

I didn't say anything.

I knew I was ok, but I was not just dealing with my emotions but also my magic. I was like a volcano that was ready to erupt.

"Em, please talk to me," he said. I could sense him move closer to me.

I closed my eyes, something was up, but I didn't know what.

I could feel his hands go to the side of my mine as he glid them up and down, which sent tingles rippling through me.

I opened my eyes as I stared back at him through the window's reflection. My eyes were purple. My magic was to the surface.

I kept my eyes on Dane as he watched me.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know," I whispered. But I could feel movement behind him.

"Child," said my grandmother. Dane and I moved and turned around to stare at my grandmother. Her eyes were puffy, but there was something wrong with her too. Her eyes were glowing.

"What's going on?" asked Dane, looking between us.

I didn't say anything. Everything was heightened somehow, but my magic didn't feel normal.

"I believe it's to do with Mila," my grandmother said.

I stared at her, but something clicked. Mila must have been tapping into her magic, using it, or something was wrong.

I glanced at Dane, who had a blank expression on his face. I knew he was mind link, and I knew who he was contacting.

"How is that possible?" I asked her as I turned to look at her.

My grandmother smiled, but it was weak. "I think her emotions are everywhere. I think she's struggling with something," she said.

My heart sinks.

My poor sister, I thought. What the hell was she going through?

I was about to speak when there was a knock on the door. I looked over and spotted Nate looking in, but his eyes were glued to me. "Emily," he said. "What's going on?"

I looked between them all, but my heart was breaking. I wanted to be here, but I wanted to be with my sister more. I needed to help her somehow.

I sighed. "My grandmother thinks we are feeling everything Mila is going through," I said. "We are both connected to her, from when she was younger. I think she is struggling with her emotions or the magic itself. I can feel everything, and I must admit the power is more than my grandmother and I can handle."

Nate's eyes were showing more; he was hurting but also feeling the effects of not having Mila around.

I know he has been keeping himself busy, but he hasn't been with other women. They have tried, but Nate has banned anyone who seems fit to think they can try. He is trying to show and prove to be the man Mila deserves. I might have been in my little world for the last two weeks, but I can see a difference in him.

"Can you feel her?" he asked, with a bit of hope in his voice. He has been waiting to hear something, but none of us have.

I was about to open my mouth, but my grandmother beat me to it. "No, we can't," she said. "We can feel only her magic, not her."

Nate looked defeated, but he looked at me. "What is it you feel?" he asked.

I stared at him for a moment. "I think she is struggling to keep her emotions in check, or magic," I said. "It is hard to work out what's happening. It's like she is fighting with her magic."

Nate frowned. "What does that mean?" he asked.

"It means Mila is coming into her own magic and is trying to figure it out," said a voice from behind Nate. We all looked, and there stood leaning on the doorframe was Miles.

"We arrived a few moments ago," he said. "Anna has been feeling everything from both brothers, and it doesn't seem good. We need to be prepared for whatever comes."

Nate looked at him and moved back, so we were all in view of each other.

"I think we need to talk about this in your office," Miles said. "I think you might have a mole in the pack."

I frowned and looked toward Dane. His eyes were on Nate; they both had knowing looks. They must have been thinking or known something about it.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked, feeling slightly angry.

Dane and Nate looked at me, but Nate sighed. "Em, we were going to tell you, but…" he said. But I cut him off. "If there is someone here that will cause problems for Mila, I need to know," I said.

Nate stared at me.

"Babe, you haven't been yourself since the war," said Dane.

My magic fueled through my veins as I clenched my fists to the side of me. I was trying not to throw my mate into the wall.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm down. Once my magic settled, I opened my eyes. Everyone was staring at me.

"I know I haven't been myself," I said. "How is someone supposed to act when they lose their parents, and how am I supposed to act due to my father's betrayal? Huh!"

I glared at Dane. He has been supportive, but he shouldn't have been walking on eggshells around me. I'm a witch, and I can help.

"I don't need to be mothered," I said. "I need you to be my mate, and if there is a threat that will cause harm to my sister, you need to tell me straight away."

Dane nodded, but he never spoke back.

I looked at Nate. "Who do you think it is?" I asked.

"Eric," he said.

I looked back with raised eyebrows. Eric is one of their best friends. Dane has told me many stories about the three of them over the years and how close they were. "Eric," I asked. "You sure?"

Nate sighed. "We had a guy's evening," he said, glancing toward Dane but looking back at me. "Eric kept asking questions about Mila; he wanted to know where she was and why she wasn't around the pack as she is to be the Luna." I stared at him, but the mention of Mila and Luna in the same sentence had him in turmoil about the fact she wasn't here.

"His scent was off," exclaims Dane, which makes me look at him. "It wasn't his normal scent; it smelt like gone off cheese."

Magic.

Someone was using magic on him.

A witch was behind this, and we all knew which witch it was.

Aria.

"It has to be Aria," I said as I looked toward Miles. "Is Anna here?"

Miles nodded. "Anna and her mate are getting settled in her room," he said.

I looked at him. "Can you ask Anna to come here?" I ask him. "I need her to help me with something, and I think she might know more about what is going on with me and my grandmother."

Miles nodded, and I watched as his face went blank. I turned to look at Nate, "I think we need to have someone to follow Eric," I said. "But we need to keep it down low as we don't want whoever it is to know we know, even if it is Aria or someone who is working for her."

Nate nodded. "I think you're right," he said. "Once we know more about where he is going and who he is meeting with, we can sort him afterward."

I smiled. "We might have the upper hand at the moment," I said. "As long they don't know that Mila is not here, we can keep them thinking she is."

"I think I know what we can do," blurted my grandmother. I looked over at her, confused.

"What do you have in mind, Gloria?" asked Nate.

My grandmother smiled, probably for the first time since the war. "I think there is a spell we can use, which will give off the scent that Mila has been here," she said, looking over at me. "I need your help. As long Eric believes she is here, Aria will be more focused on us, not anywhere else. We need to give her time; she needs to get to the children and the dragon too."

I smiled. "We best get to it," I said.

My grandmother came over to me, but someone cleared their throat. "Anna will be here in an hour," Miles said as I turned to look at him. "She can help Gloria and you with the spell."

I nodded.

Miles turned to Dane and Nate. "Let's go to your office and see what we can come up with," he said.

Nate nodded and followed him out through the door. Dane stared at me, and I could tell he wanted to talk.

"I will meet you in my room," said my grandmother as she looked between us.

My grandmother nodded and walked out the door. Dane and I were left on our own.

"I'm sorry," he exclaimed. "I should have told you, but Em, I was worried about you," he said as he moved closer to me.

Dane stood in front of me as he placed his hand in mine. I never took my eyes off him. "Please forgive me," he said as he moved his head to the crook of my neck.

I closed my eyes, and his nose brushed against my neck—the tingles of the mate bond rippled through me like before. "Once we are sorted," he said as he moved and stared back at me. I opened my eyes. "Let me make it up to you."

I stared up at him and smiled. "I would love that," I said. I moved toward him and placed a kiss on his lips.

I move back and stare at him. "You need to let me know what you come back with," I said. "I will help grandmother and Anna with the spell."

Dane nodded, but I could tell something was worrying him.

I frowned. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Do you think this spell will work?" he asked.

I had to admit; I was worried about the spell too. But I know we need to have some faith and even hope that we can keep her force on us for as long as we can. We need to give Mila time. There are lives on the line, and not just Mila's. There is also Archer and the dragon, not to mention the children and whoever helps them.

We need to try.

"I think we need some faith and hope," I said as I led him to the door. "We need to keep them focused on us, to give everyone a chance to survive and to come back."

Dane nodded.

Dane closed the door behind us and walked me to my grandmother's room.

Once we were outside, Dane turned to me. "I love you babe," he said, kissing my cheek.

"I love you too," I said. "We got this, Dane. We must give Mila time and keep Eric believing she is here with us."

Dane nodded.

Dane turned and walked away.

I entered my grandmother's room and found her sitting on her bed.

"You ready," she said as she looked at me.

I smiled.

I knew I was and would do anything for Mila and even Sapphire.