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.I miss Sam more than I ever thought possible, but being reminded of my loss everywhere I turn keeps the wound bleeding.”What could I say? Apologies were out of the question.Since she wasn’t in a reminiscing mood, I went for the next thing on my mind.“Are you ready for your mission?”She rolled her eyes, but her expression shifted to interest.“Go on.”“How are you with going undercover?”16EmilyVALEN TOOK A SEAT ON THE carpet next to me and Blade.My first instinct was to protect my son, which earned me a frown from the fae.“I’ve already told you I do not wish to harm you or your child.”Chit-chat wasn’t something I wanted to do with this man.“What do you want from me?”He peeked at me through dark lashes.“Are all modern Elementals this rash?”I smirked.“Are all fae so vague?”He smiled, relaxing his posture, then spreading out on the floor.His long body took up entirely too much space.I scooted back a tad, shifting Blade to my other hip.I waited for him to respond — and waited.Exasperated, I attempted to ignore him.Blade wobbled to his blocks and grabbed one before he returned to me, holding it out.I smiled and took it.On my knees, I made my way to the blocks and perched it where it had been.Blade frowned and shook his head, pointing to a place near the top of his makeshift fortress.“I don’t think it will stay,” I said.His dark eyes pleaded with me, so I set it down gently, holding my breath.When the structure remained sound, Blade clapped.A low chuckled sounded behind us.Whipping around, I cornered him with a stare.“What do you want from me? No more evasion, please.”“Very well,” he said, picking at a tuft of sandy carpet.“I want you.”I grunted.“You said so before.Why do you want me, and what exactly do you mean by want?”His full lips pressed together in a thoughtful pucker.“Perhaps you were once naïve, but I suspect you are no longer so.I desire you to be my bondmate.The why is relatively simple.I have grown fond of you.”Vomit edged up my throat.I couldn’t be the fae’s bondmate.I couldn’t give myself to someone else when all I wanted was Travis.Valen stood.“The boy does not deserve you.”A seething huff puffed out of me.“And you do?”He gave a simple shrug, content to remain emotionless.“I would like to think so.”I stood and paced, picking up my son along the way.Over my shoulder, I said, “I do not share your ardor.Please leave me be.”One moment he was on the floor.The next, he stood in front of me.Gone was the cool exterior.His expression held anger and hurt, something I thought was impossible for the man.“You do not have a choice in this matter, girl.I suggest you get used to the idea.”Then, he did the unthinkable.He reached out and brushed his fingers against my arm.My world tilted and my mind jolted with unfamiliar longing.I found myself staring into those fathomless eyes until Blade screamed and kicked me in the hip.Disoriented, I rushed past the fae and raced for my room.Once we were securely locked inside, I let Blade down and covered my trembling mouth with shaking fingers.I’d never experienced such a visceral reaction to a person before, not even with Travis.With stiff legs I made myself march to the bed and remove my journal.I opened to the first page and devoured the words, seeking the comfort of real emotion.When the knock sounded at my door, I yelled, “Go away!”Lambert kicked the door in, followed by three beefy men.I jerked up and sprinted for Blade, but Lambert was quicker.He grabbed my son as the men lunged for me.In the chaos of punching and kicking, I lost my grip on my journal.“No!” I cried, bending for it, but they had me sandwiched between them.One yanked my arms and another shackled my legs.The last shoved a bag over my head.Something smelled wrong.I thrashed until I choked.They were killing me.With my vision al-ready black, the last thing I remembered was the wail of my son.ZachCREED MATERIALIZED IN FRONT OF ME, carrying a grim expression.He brushed past pleasantries and Luke, who had jumped up from the grass.I blocked out the rest of my team and their suspicious looks.Creed pulled me with him until we stood un-der a large tree, out of earshot, or so he thought.With the way Luke inched closer I was sure he would hear most of the conversation.Creed’s voice remained hushed yet carried well.“Valen has issued the price on Travis.”The man was depraved, but he couldn’t be so foolish.“Are you certain?” For the apparent insult, I was given the silent treatment.“Of course you are.You wouldn’t be here otherwise.Have you told Rayla?”He shook his head, eyeing me if I’d lost the last of my brain cells.“I didn’t think it wise.”I clapped him on the back.“Good man.Now, tell me everything you know of the situation.”“It appears Valen has his sights on the girl Travis seeks.Travis does have a child … a son.”My gasp rushed past my mouth before I could stop it.“Male Elementals?”Creed shifted his stance, staring past me to where Luke stood gaping.I closed my eyes and counted to three, then I turned and yelled for Luke to join us.His stride was rushed, but he didn’t run.I would have laughed if I could have.My mind rumbled with the news, trying to sort out what the development meant for my people.When Creed’s voice erupted in my head, I jumped.As a courtesy, we did not violate another’s personal space.He wouldn’t take his eyes off Luke, who made space for himself by shoving Creed and I apart.“What’s going on?” asked Luke, but I barely noticed with Creed taking up my attention.It is not wise to tell the others at this point, Creed said.I have reason to believe you have a traitor among you.To Luke, I said, “If you’d give me a moment to figure out what is happening, I might be able to tell you.” To Creed, I said, Who?Luke looked between Creed and me before he gnashed his teeth.“Don’t leave me out of this! I hate it when you don’t include me.”Creed stared incredulously at Luke, while Luke gave him a smirk.If Luke were the traitor, I would cut out my tongue.The man was rash, but he wasn’t stupid enough to assist Valen in his foolishness.Still, Luke had a big mouth.“Would you give us a moment, please?”Crestfallen, Luke tromped away
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