He nodded. “Never.”
I threw my visions of the future at Katrina. I wasn’t sure exactly how I knew how to do it—this wasn’t part of the training—but I managed it. If we were sharing a head, she could see how I saw. I selected fast. Gravestone after gravestone. Demons eating her face. In one of them, she fell into a pit. There were too many to choose from. Any of them that seemed at all positive were immediately discarded before she could see them.
She cried out, grabbing her face after one came through where her skin melted. That was right. That’s what she wanted. She’d put herself in my head. Now she could live with what I did.
The dark creature behind her yanked her backward and she vanished, gone from my sight and away from where I stood still holding Brody’s hand.
He calmly regarded me. My Five didn’t even seem stressed. How did he always keep his composure?
“I followed our link. Closed my eyes and I was here. I can’t really explain it.”
I kissed him, hard. “Thank you. For a second there, I thought I would once again be in the dark.”
He shook his head. “Never, Teagan. Never.”
* * *
The problem with the fifty women in need of help was that Katrina had done more than stick them on dark paths. She’d made them a pathway to reach me. Someone had to save them, but it couldn’t be me.
Eric had the sense to look for carriages, and we were glad to see that most of them were still there. Putting six into a carriage meant we only had to come back once. Everyone else we managed to transport to the train station.
When they were settled in their various rooms, my guys took to pacing the hallways, switching locations every hours. They had fifty-one Sisters, including me, to take care of. My morning sickness reared its ugly head, but I didn’t complain.
We’d left that place with fifty Sisters who I hoped could be saved and bags of books that Eric had already started to read. Hopefully before too long, we’d know things we hadn’t previously understood. Every bit of knowledge we procured brought us closer to wherever divinity was sending us.
Thaddeus sat down next to where I precariously lounged on the bed. Lying down was risky. I’d probably have to dash to the washroom any second.
“Noah told me that you could have used the power from our daughter to help you and you didn’t.”
I nodded. “Was that a question or just a repeating of things that happened?” Okay, so maybe I was really, really not at my best right at that moment.
He ran a gentle hand through my hair. “You ignored divinity.”
“They don’t get to be in charge of everything. I’ll follow their lead as long as it seems just.” Using an unborn child for her innate abilities? No, that wasn’t how I planned to conduct my life. She was my baby. “I wouldn’t hurt any of you, either. Some things, I’m going to say no to.”
He gently lay down next to me, pressing his forehead to mine. Vulnerability showed in Thaddeus’ gaze. My One was so rarely like this. I kissed the tip of his nose. “You okay?”
Thaddeus nodded, slowly. “Never better, my love.”
Aidan came in and climbed in bed, getting on my other side. I guessed they wanted me to sleep. Two with me at all times. I smiled. Eric poked his head around the door.
“I’m going to the engine room. Then back here. Love you, Teagan.”
He seemed to glow in the low darkness, so full of light. “Love you, too.”
A few moments passed in the near darkness. Thaddeus closed his eyes. Was he actually going to sleep? He so rarely did more than rest.
Noah appeared in the doorway. He held a finger to his mouth to indicate we should be quiet, and then he waved before winking at me. He pointed behind him. He must be going back to the hallway. I grinned.
I closed my eyes. It was a few minutes later that I opened them to the feel of Brody gently touching my toes. Next to me, Aidan snored lightly. Thaddeus hadn’t moved. They were both out cold.
“I wanted to say goodnight.”
“Goodnight, love.”
He walked on quiet feet back into the hallway. How had I gotten so lucky with the five of them? I’d thought my life was over; I’d tried to forget my past. Now, there was nothing but the future in front of all of us.
Good or bad—I believed. We’d face it. Together.
Thank you so much for reading Book 2 in the Last Hope series. This is not the end of this series! Please be on the lookout for Destiny Be Damned, coming soon! Sign up for my newsletter at www.rebeccaroyce.com to stay in touch!
About the Author
As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.
I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. I live in Austin Texas where I am determined to eat all the barbecue in town.
I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing. I've been told I'm a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
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