Page 96 of Third Offense

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It was too realistic.

Too… too…

My eyes widened.Fuck.

“Sorin!” I shouted. “Zian!”

They stirred beside me as the portal started to dissipate.

“Sayir!”

But myfather, the Reformer, was already gone, leaving only a hint of smoke behind as the portal closed.

And a jagged mark on the floor.

I scrambled off the bed to trace the line, my lips trembling.Sayir was here. In my room. In real life.

“Raven?” Sorin murmured.

“It wasn’t a dream,” I breathed. “He… he was here… Sayir washere.”

Zian was at my side in the next instant, a blade in his hand as he evaluated the room. His nostrils flared, taking in the metallic cologne that clung in the air.

From him.

My father.

Sayir.

The Reformer.

I stood and did a circle over the portal line, searching for anything of importance when his words slammed into me again.

“If you don’t heal Prince Ketos, you and your mates will die.”

I parted my lips, ready to repeat the words to Sorin and Zian when a bellow reached my ears. A bellow shouted inmy name.

Auric.

He called my name, but I wasn’t sure how I could hear him.

I did another circle, my skin crawling with energy as the air rippled and fractured around me.

What…?

Then everythingshattered.Like glass. Only it wasn’t tangible. It was my vision crumbling away to reveal the truth behind the mirage.

Oh, fuck…

A cold sensation hummed over my skin.

Followed by a blistering heat that had me hissing in a breath.

Nothing around me changed—and yet, everything was completely different.

I was in the same room.

Wearing the same silky pajamas.

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