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Another choked screaers wrapped tightly around Anka’s throat As before, she clutched Lucan to her, rather than shoving him away Did she want to die?

Caden pulled his mobile phone from his belt, Bram on ready speed dial

“Help is on the way,” Sydney said through a cloud of white ss I’ve just used it”

That iet her into trouble on occasion, but right now it just ht save the day He tucked the phone away, then crept toward his brother

It was up to hiedy, another loss

“Lucan,” hehis bones God, he had to stop this Lucan would never forgive hi Anka Remember Anka? Your mate”

Lucan’s face turned more feral “Shock Denzell!”

What did Shock have to do with Anka nearly gasping her last breath?

With that growl, Lucan’s fingers again tightened on Anka’s neck Sydney stepped in, and Caden thrust out an aredy on his hands He didn’t need two

“No Anka Your Anka,” he insisted “Let her go”

Still, the little witch beneath hihtly and trean to roll back in her head

Caden grabbed Lucan’s wrists, but couldn’t pry theht Lucan closer to her Caden tried to wedge himself between them, but both were frozen into place by deteric

Suddenly, Lucan stiffened His eyes flew open wide as Anka melted beneath him, either unconscious or

Dear God, no

The expression on Lucan’s face ht Caden could see the whites of his brother’s eyes for the first time in a month He focused as if he could actually see

As if scalded, Lucan ripped his hands froasp

Caden rushed closer Check Anka or restrain Lucan first? Ask questions or just start perfor CPR and hope Lucan didn’t kill hi that question by rasping out, “What have I done?”

Then he promptly melted into unconsciousness

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CADEN STARED AT HIS brother, who sat on the couch in his fa his head in his hands Lucan was alive and lucidand broken

If Caden had needed otten it today

He didn’t ask Lucan if he was all right Such a stupid question Caden knew the answer How did a ic had forced Lucan to suffer today, nearly strangling his beloved wife?

Sabelle had arrived in Lucan’s bedroom, Bram, Duke, and Ice hot on her heels Quickly, they’d surmised that Lucan had entered a healthy, restorative sleep Anka, though pale as death, had depleted her energy

While Lucan had been trying to kill her, she’d been holding onto hi certain death to perfor She had drained herself and nearly died in the process

The good neas, Lucan cae, thrilled to have his mate back An elated Lucan had curled his body protectively over Anka’s, chanting his apology against her lips over and over He clung to her, trying to share a bit of his energy with her with simple touches It worked The bad news? The first person Anka asked for was Shock

Caden couldn’t forget the way Lucan had staggered back, his guiltwith betrayal

Lucan had sat back on the bed, his face sharp with pain “That’s why you smell like Shock You’ve been with him”

Anka’s amber eyes welled up with tears, and the terrible truth became clear before she said a word

“I didn’t remember you,” she whispered “I stayed with my human cousin, Aquarius I hoped Mathias would never think to look for me there, in case he wished to tor about one to his brother’s side and braced his hand on Lucan’s shoulder in silent support He wanted to be angry with Anka for hurting his brother, putting hireatest enemy But her sweet face and bowed uish She’d been through a great deal, too

Looking back on the incident three hours later, Caden worried Despite the fact they seemed ain? Or had blastedwonderful forever?

He already knew the answer to that question for him and Sydney

“But you remembered Shock” Lucan had tensed beneath Caden’s palm “Before you recalled me”

Anka then nodded, and fresh tears fell unimpeded down her pale cheeks “Once Mathias broke our bond, I re I suspected I’d been y I reme his jaw Caden was certain that his brother was picturing his wife and his ene Sydney with another ut

No one else in the roo a few deep breaths, Lucan finally turned back to his former mate “You remember me now Come home”

“I’m not the same woer need Shock anyth and grasped Lucan’s hand “I do need hi between you and me is a treasured memory But I need timeI can’t simply step back into rabbed her shoulders “Because I failed to protect you?”

She barely ed to shake her head as tears threatened to overtake her “What Mathias did to ain I don’t knohat I want, what to believe”

“You don’t have to” He squeezed her hands tight “I’ll heal you”

“I don’t deserve you You don’t knohat I did with him” Her eyes squeezed shut as shaainst your will!”

“It started that way But then” She squeezed her eyes shut as tears streaed him”

Lucan sed “He compelled you Don’t think for a second that I fault you I left you unprotected, and Mathias abducted you I love you—”

She withdrew frorasp “Don’t I came to see you as soon as I re ended I wanted to ”

“Without you? Every day I have no one to blame but myself for—” Lucan choked on his next words “For Mathias violating you”

“He hurt you, too,” she breathed, her eyes nearly closing as her energy waned “Until today, I never iined how deeply Had to perform the helbresele spell”