Michael’s dark mocha skin glistened from the rain. He’d been standing by the boathouse for a while. “Where are you going, Celia? The master doesn’t want you to leave the premises without escorts.”

“I’m going for a walk.” Then a ride. “I’m not feeling well.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

“No. I can’t have anyone with me right now.” Michael raised his chin, already suspicious. “What I mean is I need time alone.”

Michael hadn’t been a vampire long. In fact, he was probably only twenty-six, like me. And yet his maturity and wisdom far surpassed that of the other vampires. So did his kindness. “Will you stay on the grounds?”

I nodded. For the next few minutes I will. I ambled onto the dock and stared at the lake for a long while. Waves splashed against the smooth boulders, one after the other. I counted to a hundred before I finally forced myself away and into the large patch of woods covering Misha’s thirty-acre estate. God, give me the strength to keep Aric safe.

I sprinted through the thick trees as soon as I lost Michael’s scent, using my powerful legs to leap over the great stone wall. I landed almost atop where Danny idled my car and hurried inside it, taking care to avoid his stare. He drove off without a word. Perhaps he hoped I’d change my mind.

“Where do you want to do this?” he asked when we turned off the road leading to the compound.

“There’s a small estate nearby that has been on the market for a while. Misha thought about buying it to house his mistresses, but decided against it.”

“What made him change his mind?”

I blew out some air; this was just another burden I carried. “His vamps told me it was his way of committing to me.” I tried not to react when Danny cringed. “Turn right here. It’s just up this street.”

Danny parked in front of the large metal gate just as the rain dwindled to a halt and the sun broke through the clouds. The house, although about five thousand square feet, was minute compared to some of the opulent mansions circling Lake Tahoe. Hell, Misha’s house alone was six times that size.

Danny’s gaze scanned the exterior. “What about security?”

“From what I remember, the house has an alarm system, but the detached garage doesn’t. Come on.” I scaled the gate and leapt over in a graceful flip. I landed in a crouch, rising smoothly.

Danny crashed next to me with a loud thud and a pained grunt. I helped him to his feet. “I’m okay,” he mumbled. His face reddened, but he didn’t pull away until he steadied himself.

“You’re just off balance because of the backpack you’re carrying.”

He bowed his head, clearly humiliated. His struggles to master the strength and powers of his beast deeply affected his self-esteem. I patted his back, wishing I could help him, before leading him forward.

I shifted underground when we reached the detached garage and let Danny in through the side door. The vast empty space was big enough to house four SUVs, and although well kept and relatively new, it carried an eerie vibe. I wiped my sweaty palms against my jeans. “Will this do?”

He nodded slowly and pursed his lips. “I have to ask you one last time. Are you sure? I mean, is there no other way?”

Tears filled my tired eyes. I sniffled, trying to keep my nose from running. “What do I have to do, Danny?”

Danny knelt on the floor and removed his supplies from the bulky navy pack. “According to the book, breaking the bond is emotionally and physically painful. You’re…destroying the spiritual link that connects you as mates. I’ll have to bind your hands and legs to keep your body from turning against you. You’ll also be opening your soul to the Native American weres who used to inhabit the area. The ring of salt I’ll surround you with will keep those spirits from entering your body and speaking through you.”

At that point, I was having a hard time worrying about me. “Will this cause any permanent injury?” God, what if I hurt our child?

Danny examined the pages of the book carefully. “You won’t be physically harmed, Celia. It’ll just feel like you are.”

I nodded. “If that’s the case, I want to take the brunt of the pain. I don’t want Aric to suffer.”

Danny met my eyes. “Celia, that’s not possible. You’re severing his connection to you. I’m afraid there’s no way around it.”

I buried my face in my hands. “What about his soul? Can spirits possess him?”

Danny’s voice shook and I could taste his fear. “Aric will be spared. Only the one who breaks the bond is vulnerable.”

I sat on the floor and hugged my knees. Danny riffled through the pages. “It took me a long time to find the right book because mated couples just don’t do this. In ancient times, when a pureblood and a non-pure were discovered to have mated in secret, the Elders would use this to force them apart. The spell was written in a rough form of Latin. I translated it into English as best I could.”

Danny handed me an old weathered book. The worn and yellow-stained pages had already begun to disintegrate at the edges. He pointed to a handwritten passage. The illustration beside it was less than encouraging. Two naked beings reached out to each other, unable to touch. Their asexual faces contorted with agony and desperation so gut-wrenching I almost wept for them.

“I’ll say the verses in English first and then you’ll read them aloud in Latin. This way you’ll understand what you’re saying.”

“I don’t want to understand.” It was cowardly of me to say it, but a future without Aric seemed unbearable.

“Celia, you’ll have to. Otherwise they’re just words and the spell won’t work.”

I pressed the book against my chest and squeezed my lids tight. They are just words. I’ll find a way back to you, Aric. I swear it.

When I opened my eyes again, Danny’s face was shadowed with dread. His voice cracked. “Are you ready?”

I placed the book down on the floor and knelt so Danny could bind my hands behind my back and fasten the ties to my ankles. When he was done, I crouched on my heels and he encircled me with salt. “Keep her safe, keep her strong,” he muttered over and over.

I stared at the open book in front of me. God, I don’t want to do this. Some time passed and my legs fell asleep. The sun moved across the room and still I did nothing. As if on cue, Anara’s hateful glare blazed across my mind like the flare of a match. I startled, realizing my time was up. Anara made it clear he’d soon choose his next victim if I didn’t act. I gritted my teeth and bowed my head. Aric…I love you. Forgive me.