No wonder she’d been so shocked at our arrival. The thought that her sanctuary was so easily infiltrated must have filled her with a level of fear that would have felled a lesser being.

When Angel took her final layer of power, she was literally glowing, sparkles of gold falling off her skin like glitter. “We must return now,” Shadow said, and he wrapped me up before Angel could touch me. “Mine,” he added for good measure, nailing the angel-faced beauty with a glare. “Even as powered up as you are, I will destroy you if you claim Mera again. The first bond is bad enough. Don’t make it any worse.”

I was missing something here, but there was no time to ask. Angel’s eyes flashed to a deep molten gold. “Don’t push me, Shadow Beast,” she snapped. “You cannot lay full claim to Mera, since there’s more than one bond connected to her energy. Mine, Midnight’s, Torin’s, and now yours.”

I cleared my throat. “Look, I fully intend to murder Torin, so you can scratch his ass off that list. If I’d had my memories in Torma, he’d already be dead.”

Shadow was pissed, flames sliding up and across his body as he pulled me tighter into his chest. “Mine, Melalekin. Last damn warning.”

Because I was messed up, his words had me purring like a damn kitten. Shadow had always been possessive, but it used to be in the way of an object he didn’t want others to play with. Now it was the possessiveness of a shifter with his true mate. The sort that spoke of a deep-seated need to protect his heart and soul to the bitter end, destroying any who got in the way.

I was into it, no lie, but now wasn’t the time. We had bigger enemies to fry.

“Guys, we really don’t have time for another clash of the immortals,” I said, looking between them. “Figure out how to divide me up later.”

I understood their stance—I’d literally kill any who tried to remove our bonds. But our best chance at defeating Dannie before she destroyed the world was to be united. “We have one chance to take Dannie out before she realizes what we’re doing,” I reminded them. “There’s no time for any other battles.”

Angel and Shadow exchanged a long, power-filled stare-off, and I could tell that there were “words” being spoken, just not out loud. The tension that filled the space was thick and heavy, and as much as I wanted to interfere again, I allowed them this moment to mentally duke it out.

“It is done,” Angel finally said, her voice deeper but still musical in nature.

“Let’s return to the library,” Shadow said in reply to her obscure statement. “We have a battle to plan.”

And just like that, it was done. Apparently.

34

No one spoke as we climbed through the layers of Angel’s world to the surface. When we reached the top level, where the beautiful golden fields remained unchanged, Angel took a few minutes to ensure all of her securities were in place.

“Is there any danger to your family land with the loss of power?” I asked her.

She shook her head. “Not at all. I’ve taken a mere fraction of what I hold here. It’s too much power, really; power that should have been spread across many family members. But with all of them gone, the responsibility falls to me.” She patted the ground, sealing up the final cuts in its essence. “I can pull more from here if needed, even at a distance. It’s slower and not as effective as taking it in the manner I just did, but if we need it, there’s more power.”

That was good to know, even if I was praying we’d never need it.

Once she was satisfied with the securities, Angel followed us back to the library. Shadow was quiet, and I felt the brooding simmer of his energy. Our connection was new and hard to read, but I sensed that he was starting to mentally prepare himself for what was to come. Fighting against your mother was no easy task, but Dannie really hadn’t left us much choice.

I loved her too. She’d been more of a mother than my own.

A twinge in my chest reminded me that my “real” mom was dead. I’d spent weeks thinking she’d run away from Torma, when all of that time, she’d been buried in the pack lands. The loss felt somewhat raw and new, but it was still built on “what ifs” rather than true grief.

What if we’d gotten our shit together and tried to form a relationship? Or what if she’d stopped drinking and started caring? Truth be told, I’d never really known her as a proper mother, and I wondered if maybe all along it had been because she’d felt no real bond to me. The child who was only half shifter.

I’d been forced into her world through the machinations of a goddess. I’d hated my mother for a long time, but maybe all along, I should have cut her some slack. It was too late now to know if her drinking and hatred of me had been thanks to Dannie and my hybrid nature. But it didn’t stop the questions from crossing my mind.

“A few of the guys are back,” Shadow said, drawing me from my heavy thoughts. “They’re waiting in the lair.”

Angel’s lips twitched. “It’s actually cute how you’ve adopted her Meraisms. Maybe you two are true mates after all.”

Shadow shot a rumble of angry energy her way. “Nothing about me is cute, Angel.”

He deliberately emphasized her name, like he was reminding her that she was also using the moniker I’d given her. Another “Meraism,” as Angel had put it.

“Touché, my friend,” she said. “It grows on you, her refreshing way of addressing the world. Sometimes I almost forget how jaded I am.”

“You are both just super old,” I reminded them, hoping to lighten the mood. “Don’t be too hard on yourselves.”

Shadow had me in his arms so fast that my head spun. Or maybe that was just the result of being held by him like this.

“Your smart mouth is about to turn your ass red,” he murmured close to my ear, the hard length of his body pressing into mine as his power surrounded me.

“That would be quite the skill,” I managed to choke out.

“Not at all,” he replied easily. “Just count yourself lucky that right now, we have places to be.”

I pouted. “I don’t consider that lucky at all, thanks very much.”

Flames sprang to life in his eyes, and I could see the battle he fought. One day my ability to bring him to the brink of losing control would bite me on the ass. Only time would tell if I liked it or not.