Page 100 of Visions of You
The article talked about Malkira, painting a picture of a brilliant but controversial researcher. There were mentions of unethical experiments involving a magical virus.
"We talked about this a little while ago," Jaron said softly. "She claimed she wasn't really at fault, but what if she was?"
Keegan met Jaron's gaze, seeing the pain of betrayal in his eyes. He rested a hand on his mate's shoulder. "We don't know for sure."
Jaron's brows furrowed. "What if she's really kidnapped my little brothers? What if my mom was right about her?"
Keegan heard the words he didn't say: Then it would be all my fault.
"We'll get to the bottom of this," Keegan assured him. "Your brothers will be okay."
"Can you promise me that?" Jaron asked. "Can you look into the future and promise me that?"
That wasn't how his powers worked. He saw possibilities, not definites—most of the time. But that wasn't what Jaron neededto hear now. "When I searched for Casca," Keegan said, "I saw a very long life for him."
Not a lie.
There was a chance Casca was going to live a very long life, and that hope was what Keegan needed Jaron to cling to.
The muscles in Jaron's jaw tensed. "Let's keep looking."
Keegan sifted through the papers with Jaron, frustration mounting as nothing useful surfaced. Nothing but incomprehensible spells. Then, without warning, his vision tunneled. The papers in his hand slipped through his fingers, fluttering to the floor.
The world around him dissolved, replaced by a stark, sterile lab. Malkira stood in the center, surrounded by glowing runes and arcane symbols etched into the floor. Her hands moved with precision as she prepared ingredients for a ritual. Keegan could see Casca and Fei bound to chairs, their faces pale and eyes wide with fear.
A clock ticked loudly in the background, each second a hammer blow to Keegan's heart.
He understood what his powers were trying to tell him.
They were running out of time.
The vision shattered like glass, and Keegan staggered back, gasping for breath. His knees buckled, and he would have collapsed if Jaron hadn't caught him.
"Keegan!" Jaron gripped him tightly. "Are you okay?"
Keegan steadied himself. "Malkira… she's preparing the ritual now. Casca and Fei are there."
An expression of horror settled on Jaron's face. "Where? Did you see where?"
Keegan shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. "No… just the lab… it's happening soon."
Before they could process further, Keegan's phone buzzed in his pocket. He fumbled for it and held it to his ear without checking who was on the other end of the line.
He was surprised to hear Mordyn's voice.
"I found them," his friend said.
"Mordyn," Keegan said. "Where are you? Are you all right?"
Mordyn ignored the second question. "Apollo's people told me what district to look in, and just a few minutes ago I sensed an unnatural surge of fear. Tracked it to a building."
"You think the victims are in there?"
"My mate is not a victim," Mordyn said sharply, "but he's in there. I know that. The place is crawling with wards and enchantments. I'm going to find a way in."
"Mordyn, wait. We?—"
"I'm sending you the location. I've sent it to Altair and Apollo's people as well." That was all he said before the call cut off.
