Page 125 of Between Imminent Fates

“I think it’s worth discussing. What Remmus said about technology is true. It’s only a matter of time beforesomethingreveals our supernatural nature.” The wolf appeared behind his eyes. “If that revelation is on our terms, then we’d be better suited to controlling the message.”

“And those who’d ask to become one of us?”

“Obviously, pack children are always going to be the first in line,” Aidan replied, “but extending the offer to those who’d want immortality would be a good way to get the public on our side. There will always be those who reach for the promise of eternity.”

“We’d simply have to be selective about who was chosen,” Jax confirmed.

“Yep.” The trace of humor in Aidan’s voice made Jax frown. “Can’t have any old joe off the street join the ranks.”

“To be fair, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.”

“Says the man in love with his mate.” Aidan shrugged. “Happens to the best of us.”

As Jax’s thoughts turned to the woman who had his heart, he sobered. Being here without her seemed the greatest sin. He missed her—and would continue missing her until he saw her staring back at him once more.

“Try something for me, Jax.”

“What?”

“Tonight, when you’re curled up next to her,” the other alpha said, “try reaching out through your mating bond. Luna said Key’s almost fully recovered right? She might just need a guide to get her back.”

***

That night, Jax couldn’t resist the allure of sleeping in the same room as Key. The queen bed was big enough for them both, and he perched beside where she slept.

He wove his fingers through hers. Key had lost a considerable amount of weight, but she didn’t look emaciated, just as though she’d missed a few too many meals. Knowing that Zia, Jaeda, and the rest of her clan had been taking care of her made Jax’s heart hurt less.

Jax was going to do everything in his power to help her.

Gently, he pressed his lips to the back of her hand and shut his eyes. “Key, I know you’re in there, and I have to believe that you can hear me.”

As expected, she didn’t stir, so he kept talking. “I’ve been informed that we’re mates. And apparently, we’re going to have all of eternity ahead of us should you decide to quit napping. So, knowing you, I figured you’d want to get a jump on planning for the inevitable.”

Jax tightened his grip around her fingers. Though he’d been assured there was an entire mental landscape waiting for him, all he saw was the backs of his eyelids. Feeling ridiculous, he reached out into the darkness surrounding them. Still unsure this was anything but a farce, he searched for the mating bond that connected them.

If there was any chance he could find Key in the darkness, he had to try.

Driven onward by the slimmest of hopes, Jax searched inwardly for a connection he’d forged with Key. Nero had confirmed that their bond was alive, but the Raeth couldn’t locate it without the proper link having manifested.

The longer he searched, the more pessimistic he became. After an hour of fruitless hunting, he was ready to throw up his hands.

His wolf snarled, long and low. In his quest for Key, Jax had nearly forgotten him. The animal paced relentlessly in the back of his mind.

Jax paused.

The beast, it seemed, had known of Key’s importance to him long before he did. If he released the second half of his soul to its own instincts, the wolf might be able to find the bond like a bloodhound found a trail.

As soon as he called him forth, the wolf vanished. Instead of wandering around the mental landscape as Jax had done, the animal began to pull on a sore spot near his heart. It was immediately uncomfortable, but before he could chase away the feeling, a thread of connection shimmered into existence.

The impact of it lurched through him, and the bed wobbled. Eyes opening immediately, he swayed momentarily before he righted himself.

Key’s presence was warm inside him, a blinding light that illuminated every aspect of Jax’s soul and eclipsed any shred of doubt he still held. He felt every beat of her heart, every thread of her being.

It was as though he’d found a piece of his soul inside hers.

Key hadn’t simply known he was her mate; she’d opened the door for their matehood andleftit open. She’d done it so that when he did find her, their mating could formalize the moment he opened himself to her.

Chapter Eighteen

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