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"Our realm is called ‘The Sanctuary’ for a reason," she said coolly "As leader, I must abide by our code which is, first and foremost, to ensure the serenity of our kind"

My eyes narrowed "So, given that you are the only beings in the universe whose existenceyour balance? You see just fine Why do you even want our cooperation?"

"Since the discovery of the cure--soh the portal, tension between the Elders and Hawks has been growing rapidly Each side is beco impossible to satisfy them Recent demands that we could not reconcile have led to direct threats to our own realanus as your pawns has beco us as bait fro to make life easier for you… because?"

"They won’t have as ht over If we seal off their entries into this realm then, yes, their attention will be on us But that is already starting to happen When you’re drifting in a sea of sharks, having two sacks of rawjust one"

I nodded slowly At least the witch now seemed to have decided to be honest with me about the level of their narcissism "If you want cooperation, first tell me where my wife is"

"I don’t know that ant cooperation yet," she said "Iback in my realm withto you about Sofia That would be a signal to the Elders that we are no longer neutral" Then she paused and looked intensely into my eyes "But I will call this council, Derek You have my word And if this plan meets with approval, I will return to you"

Before I could open my mouth, she had vanished just as suddenly as she had appeared

"Curse you!" I yelled, sta my foot Sofia could be dead by the ti I climbed off the terrace and ran to the ocean When I dove in, my body hissed like a hot pan splashed ater

I floated on my back and reflected on the witch’s proposal Even if the council agreed that it was indeed in their best interest to eliminate the portals, how did I know that, once the Elders and Guardians had been banished, the witches wouldn’t have so and all you’re handed is the end of a sword to pull you up above the waves, do you take it?

But at that moment, I had no idea whether the witch would keep her word to call awould that take? Every second that went by was a second that Sofia could be suffering soravatedwhere Sofia was My gut instinct toldher initial tiain Yet the witch refused to giveshe’s done

What am I to do in the meantime? I floated for hours But once the sun had ducked beneath the horizon, I decided that there was sier I’d be of farwith Aiden I’d leave a note for Sofia telling her where I’d gone and I’d travel back to the cabin every two days to check if she had returned

On arriving ata note wasn’t necessary For there lay Sofia, sprawled unconscious on the bed, her skin covered with blisters and blood seeping from a deep wound near her abdoave way to fluorescent white lighting, the first thing that caht blue eyes A warainst my cheek Derek Relief overwhelmed me, but as I caer I was to my loved ones, it transformed into horror

Derek’s face lit up as soon as I stirred He bent down and his lips pushed against mine I wished I could have returned his embrace with as much passion Instead my lips and arms remained stiff The Elder retained full control of asped

Oh, no Not you too

I turned my head to see Aiden on the other side of my bed He clutched my hand, leant down and kissed my forehead Pain was etched in his eyes He’d already lost his wife to the curse Noatching me suffer under it Thank God he doesn’t know rid’s was I don’t knoould survive it

"You’re going to be okay,to find a cure for you, just as we did for Derek And then we’re going to bring your beautiful baby boy back to your arms How does that sound?"

I was desperate to ask about htly sealed I looked around for the first tiency room at Hawk Headquarters

Why does it want me here?

A nurse walked over toposition It was then that the remains of a ue Sweet Succulent

"You’re lucky we retained so tests on her" The nurse s for usted Whatever did happen to Anna? And what about Kyle who accoo, just after he became a human?