me and love me back.”

“Would you ever pick him to be the father of your child?”

“I don’t know,” Holly answered honestly. “I have to know each of them in the deepest, truest, most intimate way before I’m able to make that kind of choice.”

“Is that a preference or a rule?”

“Both,” Holly admitted.

“I wish this could all be simpler.”

“You’re telling me.” Holly laughed dryly. “I suppose I should be glad only firstborn sons are in the running to father my child. I would’ve gone insane if any shifter in the territory could stake a claim to me.”

Elise gave a shudder.

“I don’t envy you now, but I really wouldn’t envy you if that was the case.”

“I don’t even want to think about it.” Holly laughed. “But I guess that’s better than thinking about what’s happening at the mines.”

“It drives you crazy that you have to stay here, doesn’t it?”

“Doesn’t it drive you crazy? Trevor’s in there.”

“Even though you broke my ankle.” Elise cast a look from the corner of her eye. “I believe you’re going to do the right thing. I also believe your pet shifters will follow your orders.”

“They aren’t pets.” Holly chuckled. “They’re…”

“Boyfriends.”

“Weirdly, I never thought of them by that term.”

“That’s not the only weird thing about this situation.” Elise chuckled. “But, as weird as it is, you’ve made a nice little family for yourself.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Holly leaned back against the couch. “Sometimes family is you, your four bear shifter boyfriends, and a woman whose ankle you broke.”

Elise tipped her head back and laughed. “I’m going to hold that over your head for a while.”

“I expected nothing less.”

They sat in a silence somewhere between comfortable and awkward.

When Elise turned to Holly, she had a serious expression.

“If you’re really worried, get me another bowl.”

“What?”

“They’re within Silver Spruce territory. I can scry without having to go up against that nasty veil. If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”

Holly leaped to her feet. “I’ll grab the whole jar of rosemary while I’m at it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE—Holly

Once again, the bowl was filled with water, and the appropriate herbs were crushed and mixed.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Holly asked.

“No.” Elise laughed. “I’m still feeling off from last time, but I know if I don’t, you’ll worry yourself sick. Besides, I need to make sure Trevor is all right.”

“Okay.” Holly bobbed her head too quickly as she nodded. “Only if you’re sure.”

“Will you stop saying that?” Elise rolled her eyes. “If I didn’t want to do this, there is no force on this earth that could make me. Besides, I’d rather do this than sit next to the jittery pile of nerves you’ve become.”

“When you put it like that…”

“Exactly. Be quiet and let me concentrate.”

Holly perched on the edge of the couch beside Elise. She tried not to fidget, but that proved to be difficult.

Elise lifted her hands above the bowl as she had before. This time, the water rippled peacefully as if being tickled by a gentle breeze. Shapes and images began to take shape in the water, but Holly couldn’t make them out.

“What do you see?” she pressed.

“If you calm down, you’ll be able to see for yourself,” Elise tutted.

“I can’t calm down. That’s why we’re doing this.”

“Your nervous energy is disrupting the process. Go into the other room or something. If there’s anything worth seeing, I’ll tell you.”

“I want to see for myself. That’s non-negotiable.”

“Do you think I’d lie?”

“If you thought it would protect your brother? Absolutely.”

Elise tipped her head to one side. “You got me there.” She nodded. “Seriously, scram. I’ll take a video recording of what I scry and send it to your phone.”

“You can do that?”

“Modern magic is a hoot, isn’t it?” Elise said with an overly cheerful smile, which faded as quickly as it arrived. “Now, get out.”

“I’ll bring you another shot, too,” Holly muttered. “It made you more docile.”

Holly strode into the kitchen and paced around the island. She picked at her hands until the skin around her nails bled. She chewed the inside of her cheeks until they were tender and raw. The sparkly heels she still wore clacked against the wooden kitchen floor.

Annoyed, she kicked out of them.

“What’s taking you so long?” Holly shouted.

Elise said nothing.

Worried, Holly walked about into the living room. Elise sat on the couch, her hands still lifted above the water bowl, still as stone.

“Elise?”

Holly stepped closer until Elise’s face came into view. It was streaked with tears.

“What’s happening?” Fear clenched Holly’s throat so violently, she could hardly speak.

“They’re outnumbered,” Elise whispered.

“What? Keller gathered at least fifty shifters. How many were in the mines?”

“More. Twice that. Maybe three times that. I can’t tell.”

“You couldn’t have given us a heads up?” Holly snapped.

“There were only fifteen of us when I helped you escape.” Only now did Elise tear her gaze away from the bowl. Her eyes were rimmed in red and frantic. “I swear, I would’ve warned them.”

“At least you don’t have to worry about Trevor now,” Holly spat.

“I want him to come here,” Elise blurted. “I’m willing to help you if you’re willing to help me.”

Holly glanced at the pendant against her chest. The stone returned to its natural blue shade. “Seems like you’re trustworthy only when our needs align,” Holly muttered.

“Isn’t that how people work?” Elise scowled. “My top priority is saving my brother. So long as that’s your priority, too, you can trust me.”

“That’s better than nothing.” Holly sighed. “What can we do?”

“I bet you wish you hadn’t broken my ankle now, hmm?”

“You can be as smug as you want after we handle this.”

“I’ll hold you

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