“Marcus has discovered where they’re holding Issac. I’m waiting to hear that the mission is successful and they are heading home.”
The lady touched her arm. “You must be brave.”
The leader of the Ancient Ones always spoke in a cryptic way. For once, she wished, if she had something to say, she would just come out and say it.
“You say that as if you know what’s to come. Do you?” Ella asked, a heightened edge to her voice.
The lady smiled in her gentle way. “Ella, even if I did, I could not intervene.”
Those words flew around her, bringing the past right smack into her face, making her question the identity of the woman before her. She swallowed, unsure, but stared deep into the bright eyes of the supernatural creature, looking for an answer.
“I asked you here because we haven’t received any word from Trent Le Var or King Zayn. I cannot spare anyone to go and seek them out, but I need to know where they stand.” Ella motioned for the lady to sit down and she did too. Sitting opposite her, she rubbed her shoulder and swallowed a swig of her water. Aside from her thirst, she was sleep deprived, cranky, and yet driven to fulfill her role as best she could. The lady lifted her hand and stroked her palm. Exhaustion hit her like a tidal wave, and she yawned, closing her eyes, unable to stay awake.
“Ella, are you all right?”
She blinked several times to correct her hazy vision, unsure where she was. Snapping her eyes wide open, she frowned, staring at a full moon that beckoned to her through the window. The window in the doctor’s office. An unsmiling Dr. Elizabeth Davies faced her. Surely, only a moment ago, she had been talking with Lady Tenille. She frowned, puzzled as to how she had arrived here. What happened? Did I faint?
“How did I get here?” Ella asked.
The doctor pushed her to lie back down, and she stuck a bandage on her skin, which throbbed.
“You walked in here an hour ago, for some bloodwork, and fell asleep. Don’t you remember?”
Ella pressed her eyes shut and rubbed her temple, trying to recall the events of the morning, searching deep inside her mind. She remembered chatting with Lady Tenille and an overwhelming need to sleep invaded.
“Lady Tenille…I was talking with her, but I don’t remember what happened next.”
As soon as the image of Lady Tenille appeared inside her head, it vanished, and Ella was no longer certain that had even been today. “Honestly, pregnancy hormones—they’re doing a real number on me today. I better get back, if everything is all right?”
Elizabeth grabbed her arm and frowned. “Ella, you’re not pregnant. I’m sorry, I know you and Alexander have been trying, but it’s still early.”
A cold blast of what the hell made her jump off the examination table. Her legs buckled as a wave of dizziness swept through her. The only thing that saved her from dropping to the ground was a pair of strong arms that captured her around the waist. The bright pair of blue eyes belonged to the man the doctor mentioned, dressed in dark jeans and a navy top. Alexander smiled at her with his boyish grin.
“Honey, I was only gone for a moment. There’s no need to throw yourself at me—I’m here. Are you ready to leave?”
Ella glanced between the two people inside the doctor’s office, confused. Her palms were sweaty and the air in the room wasn’t enough to fill her lungs. She started to hyperventilate. This whole scenario was wrong. Was she dreaming? She glanced down at her left hand, rubbing her finger over the huge square diamond and a gold band that lay there. Closing her eyes, she tried to pull the seams of her life together, knowing this didn’t make sense, but unsure why. Was she going crazy? Her mind was playing tricks. It was an effort to remember where she was.
Alexander squeezed her arm. “Perhaps you need to lie down for a minute longer. Having your blood taken always makes you feel faint.”
She refocused on him. The man’s concern seemed genuine and touching, perhaps too much so.
She’s not buying it.
What do I do?
Hearing a conversation swirl above her made her break away and search around. The female voice was unmistakable. The Morrigan. Her enemy. She backed away, looking at Elizabeth and Alexander. Her heart skipped beats as she looked for a way to escape. But her legs buckled, and she gripped the corner of the desk to support herself.
“What have you done to me?” she shouted.
Cornered in the room by the two, there was nowhere to run. She pressed her phone in her back pocket, wanting to do something to alert Orion. She closed her eyes; she needed to lie down. How could Elizabeth, her friend, betray her like this?
“Elizabeth…what’s… going on?” It was hard to get the words out. She forced her eyes open, but a weariness and light-headed sensation threatened to sweep her away.
“It’s just a sedative, Ella. Let it work. She said it would be easier this way. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
The doctor started to cry, but she felt no pity and lunged at the woman. Right away, Alexander grabbed both her hands and looped his arm around her waist. She slumped into his side but managed
