“For you. They need you to track Deo.”
She shook her head. “I can’t feel him.”
Aisha didn’t need to see the look Maddie was giving her. It was either a big you’re stupid look, or one of pity. She didn’t want either.
“Yeah. They’ll explain. Let Lilly and I help you downstairs.”
Slowly, Aisha pushed herself up.
“I really think I screwed up. Why can’t I feel him? Shouldn’t I be able to feel more than whatever this is?”
Maddie and Lilly looked at each other.
“Let’s get you downstairs and maybe they can answer your questions,” answered Maddie.
A subtle nod was all she could manage as the two women put an arm around her.
She was okay. Her legs no longer felt weighted down. That was good. The stabbing pain in her chest grew though the more she sobered up, as if whatever the magic that had put her in her drugged state had also suppressed her connection to Deo.
She bit down on her lower lip, holding the pain in.
“Aisha, tell us what you know,” asked one of Deo’s brothers.
She shook her head. There was no way she could tell them what had happened. Instead, she pulled away from the two women and took a deep breath as she called on her newly found magic, one that flowed through her much stronger than ever before.
Flicking her wrist, the images of earlier replayed. Each of the warriors jumped at first, moving out of the way.
The same image of Deo being brought to his knees played again, and it was almost too much to watch. She’d failed him and he was paying whatever that price might be.
They each watched as the series of events replayed once more, over and over. This was being caught in her own nightmare.
Hugging herself, she sucked in the pain.
Searching within her she tried to use her magic to call out to him. It wasn’t like she understood what his mark meant, but she should have something. He’d said as much. She’d watched Lilly and Maddie, there should be something else there. But nothing.
Aisha had never felt this alone, not even when she had been single and her father hundreds of miles away. This was the feeling of true emptiness, like part of you was broken.
“This is the doctor,” growled one of the men, Kal, she thought she remembered. As Maddie walked to his side Aisha was certain she was correct.
“How did he survive?” asked another, one that she didn’t think she knew. Maybe that was Cy? His voice was familiar.
Lilly came from around Aisha. “I don’t know. He’s a monster, I don’t know that there is an easy answer when it comes to father.”
Eadric closed the gap between Lilly and himself, passing Aisha in the process and her shattered heart. He reached out for his mate and held her. Something Aisha desperately needed from Deo. Regret for even considering selling the chip joined the endless parade of pain and sadness.
But, no. This might have still happened. If only she’d destroyed the chip somehow instead of keeping it just in case she figured out that last missing compound. Her drive to not fail, caused her to lose the most important thing. Love.
She’d been so focused on herself. On her work, on her need for Deo, and her need to ensure that she would get what she wanted, that in the end she failed to see all the signs around them. Failed to see a monster in human skin.
She jumped at Eadric’s hand on her shoulder. “Aisha, can you tell us where he is?”
She swallowed a sob and called on her reserve of strength. “No. I don’t know. I just have a number to contact that, that thing. Doctor?” She pointed to the magical representation of the guy.
Eadric didn’t remove his hand, and although Aisha appreciated the comfort, it was wrong. It wasn’t Deo.
“Call out to him, here,” he pointed to her temple.
She lifted a brow. “In my head? It’s that easy?”
Lilly gave a reassuring half smile.
Closing her eyes, she tried.
Deo? Are you there?
Nothing. She tried again.
Deo? Please. Answer me.
Nothing. She held herself tighter as the churning in her belly worsened.
“What happened before he was taken? He did mate you, did he not? We can feel the bond, his scent is all around you,” Eadric said.
Aisha wanted to be offended, but that wouldn’t do them any good. “Yes.” She pointed to her shoulder.
Eadric lifted a sleeve on her other arm. “Sorry, but I needed to check. His marking is here as well. Your mating has been completed. You should be able to communicate with him-“
“Unless,” said another.
She shot a steely look at the guy. “Unless what?”
A man, a dragon with more gray eyes than orange held his hands up, palms out.
“Unless you rejected him?”
Her eyes flew wide. “What? No. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Can a woman even do that after this point?”
The man shrugged. “There are rumors of how a rejection might work, it’s just never happened. A fated mate is chosen by the goddess. There should never be a need. But you’re pale and you stink of something sour.”
This time she snarled. “Well excuse me for not looking my best after being attacked and losing the love of my life only a few hours after figuring it all out. I didn’t reject him. This man, this doctor. He offered me money, loads and loads of it and all for Deo. And I said no. I didn’t know he was here. I didn’t know he followed me. Or, or maybe it was this stupid fucking chip.” She shuffled over to the door where her bag lay on the floor. She yanked at it and pulled the dish out and thrust it at the man accusing her. “It wasn’t my fault. It was that guy. I mean, how was Deo not strong enough to beat him?”
Lilly stepped forward. “Aisha, calm down. No one is accusing you. It’s okay. We’re just trying to understand. But I think I can help at least.”
Breathing heavily, Aisha returned her arms around
