Page 123 of Between Imminent Fates

There was a pregnant pause as everyone in the room processed the thought. Celeste could admit that it’d make life easier for them—but if it turned back on them, it could spell doom. What Key had worked her entire life for was on the line.

“Is it better to reveal ourselves first?” Nero asked the group. “To come in the name of peace?”

Eden straightened where she sat next to her mate. “It’s worth pursuing, if only to discuss what the fallout might be from going public. I was recently human—as were Toni and Lucy. And Key’s mate, Jax, could help us. He has experience with the Army and could tell us what public opinion might be.”

“It’s definitely something worth discussing,” Zeke confirmed. “But we can’t fail in this, friends. If we fail, their sacrifice means nothing.”

Celeste knew the stakes were high. Once they revealed themselves to the humans, there would be no going back. If things took a wrong turn somewhere, their future could end up just as bleak as Key’s original visions.

Rukia, having watched the building conflict with keen eyes, had turned her attention back to Isaiah. Long, graceful fingers stroked a pattern into his shoulders.

Guilt made Nero’s face pinch before he said, “We won’t solve all the world’s problems tonight. Rest, Isaiah. Recover your strength. I believe we can all agree that you’ve earned a bit of time to put your feet up.”

Isaiah offered him a bland look. “If I put my feet up on the coffee table, Rukia would beat me for scuffing the furniture.”

“Damn right, Raeth.”

“We’ll take our leave,” Zeke said. “We’ll keep you all updated on any progress with regards to Nina and shifting the sovereignties.”

“I’ll expect to hear good news soon, then.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jax

As the weeks passed,Jax had begun to feel more at home on the island—and in his own skin. Routine scouting missions had helped him find his feet, and he’d spent a good amount of time with Aidan learning how to hunt and fight in his four-legged form.

After a lifetime in the military, the change of pace had been welcome.

The morning had brought with it rainy weather that’d made for a soggy run, but a warm shower afterward had helped. Calling out a greeting to Nero and Eden, he went upstairs to where Key lay. Daily visits helped take the edge off his wolf’s anxiety, and he’d spent nearly every other night here with her.

Last week, Nero had jokingly put an oversized dog bed and bowl of treats in one corner. The Raeth had laughed about it for hours afterward. It seemed the other man had finally started to believe that Key could wake up.

Jax held out hope.

The sound of quiet humming emitted from Key’s room. An ancient lullaby he’d heard numerous times before. Luna stood, taking the sleeping woman’s stats, as she swayed slightly to the melody.

“Morning, Luna,” he greeted.

A warm smile was his reply. The healer quickly finished logging notes, then began the transfer of energy to Key through clan bonds, as she had every day since Derikles had discovered its efficacity. During these sessions, Luna would often tell Jax how his mate was doing—and today was no different.

“Her psychic reservoir is almost full,” the healer said.

“That’s wonderful news.”

Luna nodded. “I’ve hope she’ll wake, but we have to be aware of the fact that her injury was not the same as Isaiah’s and Nina’s. Whereas they experienced a psychic recoil—a kickback from their gifts—her trauma was related more to the breaking of the Link and the echo of their destructive power.”

It was the same warning she’d given him time and time again.

Luna and Nero had both examined Key in the aftermath and agreed that what she’d experienced wasn’t a recoil or energy drought. The Link she’d created to bridge the Reaper’s abilities had shattered, tearing through her with a viciousness that caused her heart to stop. That, coupled with the continual drain on her reserves over the course of a thousand years, had caused Key’s mind to go into a state of prolonged psychic shock.

There was no telling whether Key—or her abilities—would recover.

“All we can do is hope, Luna,” Jax finally said. “You’ve given her a fighting chance and done everything in your power to heal her. If she was awake right now, you know she’d say the same thing.”

Luna had taken Key’s injury hard, hating the fact that she’d been unable to do more. In the weeks since, she’d been strong for everyone, including Jax.

“You’re a good man, Jax. I’m happy you’ve found your way to one another.”

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