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  “To come get you, doll.” Kat frowned. “Believe me, it’s no fun but Sylvan seemed to think I was the one to come. I guess I have to say I agree with him even though that doesn’t exactly make you my favorite person right now.”

  “I’m sorry,” Becca said stiffly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Sorry that you had to come all this way but I’m not going back to the Mother Ship.”

  Kat lowered herself down into the couch with a relieved sigh and then looked up at Becca.

  “Why not?”

  “I…can’t say.” Becca had decided not to tell anyone—not even her friends about the strange visitation she’d had from Mother Superior and the warning she had received. It sounded too crazy to anyone who hadn’t actually seen what she had. Much better to just keep her distance and try to forget about Truth and Far and everyone on the Mother Ship…which would be much easier to do if she wasn’t experiencing bouts of weakness and sharp, stabbing pains in her head which Kat had warned her were the hallmark of a partial bond. Still, Becca was strong and she was determined to tough it out.

  “Come on, doll—you can tell me,” Kat wheedled. “Does it have to do with your guys?”

  Becca tried to swallow a lump in her throat as the image of Truth and Far rose in her mind’s eye. She couldn’t help remembering the last time they’d all been together—the hurt look in their eyes when she’d sent them away. The—

  No, she told herself firmly. No, don’t do this to yourself. Don’t think of them. This is hard enough as it is without torturing yourself.

  “Becca?” Kat asked and she realized she’d taken too long to answer.

  “I’m really sorry, Kat but I can’t tell you.” Becca’s voice wavered but she lifted her chin, determined to stand firm.

  “All right.” Kat sighed and started to heave herself to her feet. “Hey, give me a hand, will you?”

  Becca helped her up. “Do you need the restroom?”

  “Huh? Oh, no—I’m going. Back to the Mother Ship, I mean,” Kat said as though it was no big deal.

  “That’s it? You’re giving up just like that?” Becca demanded.

  Kat shrugged. “Well, you seem to have your mind all made up. I only told Sylvan I’d try to bring you back—not that I’d hogtie you and drag you up to the Mother Ship by force.” She gestured at herself. “I’m in no shape for that as you can see.”

  “I guess…” Becca was surprised at the feeling of disappointment that flooded her. Though she’d been determined to cut herself off from her friends aboard the Mother Ship, the truth was that she missed them all desperately. Her grandmother was nice but she was also distant and surprisingly busy for a senior citizen. Her days were filled with bingo, quilting club, and her bowling league. She didn’t really seem to have time to sit down and talk which was what Becca was dying to do—not that she could tell anyone what was actually going on. But still…

  Another spike of pain lanced through her head. Becca put a hand to her temple and winced before she could stop herself.

  Kat looked at her knowingly.

  “Partial bond getting to you, is it?”

  “No,” Becca lied. “I’m…I feel fine.”

  Kat shook her head. “Don’t feed me that. I know what you’re going through because I’ve been there myself. Being apart from your guys is killing you in every possible way. It hurts emotionally, mentally, and especially physically but you can’t let yourself go back to them because the three of you had a fight and you’re too proud.”

  “It’s not that at all,” Becca objected. “I mean, the fight part, isn’t. Although I’m sure Truth would have a few choice things to say to me by now.” She sighed and the sigh turned into a groan when another pain lanced through her. “But I’m not going back,” she insisted when it faded to a dull ache. “I can’t.”

  “I don’t believe you don’t want to go back,” Kat said. “If you really wanted to be free of Truth and Far, you would have had a priestess break your bond before you left the Mother Ship.”

  “I tried,” Becca protested. “But the one I talked to wouldn’t do it. She said we had to get the unmated males thing resolved first.” She frowned. “Which it should be by now so technically…”

  “Actually, it’s not,” Kat said flatly. “Which is why I came down here to get you.”

  “It’s not?” Becca frowned. “But the amulet—”

  “Isn’t working. Maybe the priestess knew there was going to be trouble and that’s why she wouldn’t break your bond,” Kat said.

  “Maybe…” Becca said hesitantly.

  “Maybe nothing. Apparently they need you up there to help activate it or something.”

  “What? Why me?”

  “Because you and Truth and Far are the ones that found it.”

  “Garron’s the one who actually dug it up,” Becca pointed out desperately.

  “Yes but he was following your coordinates, wasn’t he? Didn’t the three of you do something to locate it in the first place?”

  Thinking of exactly what they had done to locate the amulet made Becca’s face hot.

  “Well…yes,” she admitted at last.

  “Okay, then. That’s why we need you.”

  Becca shook her head. “If it involves seeing Truth and Far, I’m sorry but I can’t go. I can’t see them.”

  “But honey, you need to see them.” Kat sighed. “Especially Far.”

  “What?” An uneasy finger of dread began to creep down her spine. “What are you talking about?”

  “Becca, I didn’t want to tell you this. I was trying to act casual, to get you to come back on your own. But…” Kat reached for her. In her friend's firm grip, Becca could feel that her hands were trembling—her whole body was shaking, in fact, with the sudden fear that gripped her heart and wouldn’t let go.

  “Just tell me,” she whispered through numb lips. “Tell me what’s going on with Far.”

  Kat took a deep breath. “The poison he got into his system on Pax…apparently he got the antidote too late.”

  “He…what?” Becca’s heart felt like someone had dipped it in icy water. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying he’s dying, honey. And the partial bond you guys share is probably the only thing that’s keeping him alive—that’s what Sylvan thinks, anyway. But it won’t work forever.”

  “No!” Another sharp pain lanced through her head but Becca didn’t even care. She took a step back, pulling her hands out of Kat’s. “No, I…I can’t believe it!”

  “I’m afraid it’s true.” Kat looked so sad Becca thought she might start crying. “So you need to come with me, honey. You need to see him before…before the end.”

  “I…I…” Becca couldn’t make any coherent words come out of her mouth but her thoughts were going round and round in a helpless loop.

  How could this happen? How when I kept my end of the bargain? I haven’t seen them since I left the shuttle when we got back to the Mother Ship. I haven’t even talked to them! It’s not fair…not fair…

  “Life isn’t fair, honey,” Kat said gently and Becca realized that she’d spoken the words aloud. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you but you’ll hate yourself if you don’t come back and see Far—I know you will.”

  “All right,” Becca said numbly. “I guess…I’ll come.”

  She didn’t know what else to do.

  Chapter Forty-four

  “Far? Are you okay? Where is he? Where’s Far?” Becca dashed into the suite almost before the door slid open wide enough to admit her.

  “He’s in the sleeping chamber,” Truth growled. He had his arms crossed over his broad chest and he was glaring at her in a very unfriendly way. “But why should you care?”

  “Of course she cares, Truth—don’t be an ass,” Kat, who had come with her, said sharply.

  “Apologies, Lady Kat, but her behavior for the past week says otherwise,” he snapped. “I do not know many females who ‘care’ so much for their mates that they run off and