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  Torrin entered the lab, and Arrista automatically moved toward him. Lily lunged for her, but Arton got there first. “Not gonna happen,” he told his mate.

  She struggled in his arms, flailing in her effort to reach her target.

  Arrista hurried past them and flew into Torrin’s arms. “We did it.”

  “No, you did it.” He gave her a hug, then kissed the top of her head.

  “A little help, please,” Arton snapped as Lily’s struggles grew more violent.

  “Wait for me out there,” Torrin told Arrista, suspecting she’d ignore him. He rushed to the wrestling couple and took a deep breath. The Shadow was clearly active. This is the opportunity had hadn’t had with Sonters. “This might hurt her,” Torrin warned her mate, not wanting a pissed off harbinger on his hands.

  “I know. Hurry. I’m not sure how much longer I can let this go on.”

  “Understood.” He placed his hands on either side of her head and shoved into her mind. Lily screamed, going utterly rigid in Arton’s embrace. Torrin didn’t hesitate. He found the nearest lenita and sent a pulse of electricity into the device. It vibrated then went dormant. This was the tricky part. If the others detected him, they might attack, or they might all go back into hibernation mode, which would render him powerless. If they were going to be destroyed, it had to be now. But how did he destroy them without damaging Lily’s mind?

  They are damaging her right now! Arton shouted. Can’t you sense it? Get to work.

  He was right. There was no choice.

  Torrin shot a thin connector through her skull and into her brain.

  What the fuck, Arton snarled, but Torrin ignored him. Every moment that passed allowed their hold to spread. He found the next lenita and blasted it with energy. He felt a strange surge and then sensed them surrounding him. He shot pulse after pulse, but they were coming too fast, and there were just too damn many to kill.

  In desperation, he drew them across the connector and into his own body. He continued to attack until the last lenita crossed and then dissolved the physical connection. Pain spread through his system, and his brain seemed to catch fire. He screamed, clutching his head with both hands as he sank to his knees.

  I love you, elf, he frantically pushed the thought into Arrista’s mind, then surrendered to the darkness.

  Chapter Ten

  “Torrin!” Arrista screamed, flying toward him as he collapsed. She caught his head right before it hit the floor and pillowed him on her lap instead. “What happened? Why did he scream? What’s wrong with him?” Arton just looked at her with pitying eyes, and she cried, “No! I will not lose him now!”

  She tried to access his mind, but his shields were impenetrable. If he could block her, then he was still alive. It was small consolation, but she drank it in. “Fight it, love. Keep fighting.”

  After laying Lily on a nearby cot, Arton knelt at Arrista’s side. “I think he shut down his body so he had more energy for the fight.”

  She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “How do we help him?”

  “Energy,” Arton told her. “We feed him energy.”

  “How? He won’t let me in.”

  “Let me see if I can help.” He closed his eyes and effortlessly located the link inside her mind. He moved with such fluid grace, it was mesmerizing. He surged across the link and butted up against Torrin’s shields. Rather than trying to force his way through, however, he drilled a small hole. “Don’t resist.”

  She wasn’t sure what he meant until she felt a strange sucking, not a physical pressure, but a metaphysical withdraw of energy. She remained still and open, allowing him to take all he needed.

  A large, warm hand closed around her shoulder, and she gasped. She opened her eyes and found Kage kneeling on her other side. Then sizzling energy flowed through her and into Arton, who in turn funneled it through the hole in Torrin’s shields. It was dizzying, yet oddly invigorating. She was more of a conduit than an energy source, because Arton was no longer feeding from her.

  She wasn’t sure how long it went on, minutes or hours? She honestly couldn’t say. But Torrin moaned and his head jerked from side to side.

  Arton eased out of her mind and said, “Catch your breath. He’s just about there.”

  Joy burst, and she released another sob. “Are you sure?”

  “Look,” Arton motioned toward Torrin’s face.

  His lashes quivered, and then he opened his eyes.

  “Oh, thank the gods! Are you okay?” She leaned down and kissed him before he could reply.

  It’s a little hard to answer with your mouth on mine.

  She laughed and raised her head. “Did you get them all?”

  “Every last one.” He groaned, then struggled to sit up.

  “That was incredibly stupid,” Arton said, then grinned. “Thank you!” He held out his arm and helped Torrin to his feet. “I don’t care what anyone says. You’re all right by me.”

  Torrin chuckled. “Is Lily okay?”

  “Confused as hell, but unharmed,” Lily answered for herself.

  Arrista looked across the room and saw Lily sitting on the cot, rubbing the back of her neck.

  Arton walked over and swept her up and into his arms. “It’s a long story, and you’re going to hear it in bed, because that’s where I’m taking you.”

  “Dr. Foran needs to clear her before you disappear with her,” Kage called out.

  Arton glared at him but headed for main medical rather than the elevator.

  “He’s right.” Kage turned back to Torrin as he pushed to his feet. “That was incredibly stupid.”

  Torrin just shrugged, features expressionless. “It had to be done. We couldn’t lose Lily.”

  “But we can lose you?” Arrista objected. Thanks to their link, she detected the relief and lingering fear he refused to reveal. “You almost didn’t make it.”

  He waved away her concern. “Details.”

  He was impossible, so she gave up. He would never admit how close he’d just come to sacrificing his life. “Lily’s not the only one who needs to be in bed.”

  “Same stipulation,” Kage told her. “Go see Foran first.”

  “Yes, sir,” she relented with a smile and held out her hand toward Torrin. She didn’t speak again until they were alone in the corridor. “That was incredibly brave. Stupid, but brave.”

  He laughed. “I’m sorry I scared you, but I had to shut everything down. I needed every molecule of energy for the fight. I would have warned you if I could.”

  “I’ll let you make it up to me once you’ve recovered your strength. Right now, that’s all that matters.”

  He reached down and pinched her butt. “A few hours of sleep, and I’ll be good as new.”

  Dr. Foran was scanning Lily when they walked into the clinic. “Your scans are completely normal,” the doctor said a few minutes later. “You’re one fortunate female.”

  “Of course she is,” Arton teased. “Look who she chose for a mate.”

  Lily slapped at him, but love shone in her eyes. “You said something about taking me to bed.”

  “My pleasure.” He picked her up again and headed for the door.

  She laughed and cried, “I can walk. This is embarrassing.”

  He ignored her and kept on walking.

  Arrista watched them with a hesitant smile. “I didn’t realize he had a sense of humor.”

  “He only uses it with Lily,” Torrin told her.

  “Your turn.” Dr. Foran motioned them over, and Torrin climbed onto the treatment table.

  She looked around as the doctor scanned her mate. There were two other patients in the large circular room. One was asleep or unconscious, the other chatted quietly with his visitor. Everything was clean and bright, organized and overtly technological. The Sarronti tried to blend technology with nature to create a more appealing aesthetic. The Outcasts seemed to have little interest in nature. The last time she’d been in this room, she had been terrified. Every
thing had seemed so strange, so alien.

  “Are you sure they’re neutralized?” Dr. Foran asked. “I was told they can hibernate at will.”

  She turned back around, looking closely at her weary mate. “The lenitas are still inside you? I thought you...I don’t know, vaporized them or something.”

  Torrin sent a soothing wave of warmth across their link but spoke to Foran. “I got them all. I’m sure of it.”

  Dr. Foran didn’t look convinced. “I’d rather not take any chances.”

  “What’s the alternative?” Arrista asked.

  “Regeneration.” The doctor walked to the work station on a nearby counter and activated the control matrix. He pushed his hands into the holographic grid and navigated through some records until he found what he was looking for. “Your latest scan was three weeks ago. With that as a reference, I can use the regeneration unit to eradicate the lenitas. It would be as if you never allowed them inside you.”

  “Will I retain my memories of the last three weeks?”

  Dr. Foran hesitated, and Arrista’s heart lodged in her throat. If he forgot the last three weeks, he would forget her.

  Torrin shook his head. “It’s not worth it. They’re neutralized. I made sure of it.”

  “If even one switched itself off before you could fry it, it can switch itself back on and start replicating. We’d be right back where we started.” After a tense pause, he added, “I’m not sure this is a choice. You would endanger all of us.”

  “You can’t force me to regenerate,” Torrin snapped.

  “He’s right,” Arrista said.

  “Damn straight,” Torrin stressed.

  “I meant Dr. Foran,” she clarified. “You have to do this. We can’t risk leaving even one active.”

  Torrin rubbed his eyes, looking as miserable as she felt. She moved closer to the treatment table and touched his arm. “If you forget me, we’ll just have to fall in love all over again.”

  “It’s a coin toss,” Dr. Foran told them. “About fifty percent of people that undergo regressive regeneration will retain all of their memories.”

  Torrin took her hand and intertwined their fingers, but his troubled gaze was fixed on Dr. Foran. “Will it destroy our soul bond?”

  Her chest grew so tight, she couldn’t breathe as she waited for the answer.

  “I don’t know,” Dr. Foran admitted with a heavy sigh.

  Torrin looked at her, his mind a torrent of conflicting emotions. “Will you be harmed if the bond is severed? Can it be reformed?”

  Like the doctor, she had no idea, but she smiled and meticulously shielded her mind. He had to do this. They could not endanger the entire community. “I won’t be harmed, and I can easily reform the bond. All you need to worry about is getting well.”

  “Then why are you hiding from me?” He shook his head, thumb anxiously brushing the back of her hand. “It’s not worth it. I’ll take the risk.”

  “That’s nonsense. You can’t live the rest of your life with Shadow lenitas inside you. We’re doing this. End of discussion.” Without giving him an opportunity to argue, she asked the doctor, “How long will this take?”

  “A couple of hours.”

  “Can I stay with him?”

  Dr. Foran shrugged. “You can sit beside the machine if you like, but the time will pass faster if you go to your cabin and get some rest. You look tired.”

  She started to object, but Torrin stopped her. “If I’m going through with this, you will go get some sleep. End of discussion.”

  “Do you two need a few minutes to talk it over?” Dr. Foran looked from Torrin to her and back, compassion warming his greenish brown eyes.

  “No,” Torrin said firmly. “We each know what we need to do.”

  She framed his face with her hands and kissed him. “You will be just fine. I know you will.”

  “Liar.” He kissed her, then tried to smile. The result was fairly pathetic. “I’ll come to you when this is over.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” She kissed him again, then hurried from the clinic so he didn’t see her tears.

  It was so unfair, so cruel to let them share the most amazing two weeks and then have it snatched away.

  It’s a coin toss. About fifty percent of people that undergo this sort of procedure retain all their memories. The echo did little to reassure her. There was also a fifty percent chance that he’d have no idea who she was when this was finished. She reached the elevators and activated the nearest one.

  Mistress Arrrrsta?

  Wenny never could pronounce her name. Yes, dear?

  Mistress Sara needs you.

  Is she with you in the enclosure?

  Yes. Come quick.

  The cub sounded excited, not frightened, but Arrista hurried anyway.

  The sky was dark and brooding, thick clouds blocked out much of the sunlight and rain fell steadily. Arrista ignored the annoyance but sped her pace. Did Sara want to trade places so she could get out of the rain? She disregarded the fleeting thought. Sara was not that selfish.

  The trail was slick and muddy, which made hurrying hard. Arrista’s steps faltered as she emerged from the forest and the enclosure came into view. What in creation was going on? Soldiers surrounded the fence, their weapons at their shoulders. Eddon, the worker who had approached her before, was deep in conversation with Sara, and the grassy enclosure was filled with restless battle cats.

  Sara spotted her first and said, “Arrista, thank God.”

  One of the soldiers opened the gate for her, and Arrista stepped inside. “What happened? When...why are all these karron here?”

  Certice approached from the left. The other karrons respectfully moved out of her way.

  My pride has chosen a new mistress, the battle cat announced. We no longer obey Isolaund. My pride now follows you.

  As she spoke the last sentence, all the cats, even the cubs, bent their front legs and lowered their heads. Arrista watched the gesture in awe and trepidation. This couldn’t be happening. What in gods’ names would she do with a pride of battle cats?

  Welcome, Mistress Arrista. We await your command. The greeting was echoed by the other cats until Arrista felt lightheaded and swayed on her feet.

  Sara grabbed her arm, steadying her. “Are you okay?”

  “This is just...today has been more interesting than usual.” And it wasn’t over. She didn’t know if her newly-bonded mate would forget her or not. She could still sense him, so the bond was holding, but the procedure had just begun.

  “Did the cats just bow to you?” Eddon asked. Apparently, the karrons had chosen not to link with his mind, so he hadn’t heard Certice’s announcement.

  “They did, which means they are no danger to me or anyone here,” she stressed. “Please call off your soldiers.”

  “I can’t do that, Miss. The overlord is on his way. He’ll decide what to do with the cats.”

  Perfect. That’s all she needed, a wounded mate, a karron pride, and an enraged overlord.

  She glanced at Certice and saw all four of her cubs lying at her feet. Wasn’t that worth whatever anger she would have to endure from Kage Razel? Cubs should be with their mother, even feisty little battle cat cubs. If the entire pride was here, and it sure looked like they were, there were eleven adults, and seven cubs. Arrista sighed. They were going to need a bigger enclosure and shelter large enough to house all eighteen felines.

  Kage arrived a few minutes later, looking annoyed rather than angry. “Have we opened a zoo? What is all this?”

  Certice moved forward again, her cubs trailing behind her. Wenny speaks highly of you, Overlord Kage. I am Certice, Wenny’s mother.

  Surprisingly, he turned to the karron and spoke to her directly. Are you responsible for bringing the others here?

  I am. It is no longer safe for us in the underground. Our former mistress has proven to be false, so we have chosen a new mistress.

  How was he communicating? Certice hadn’t had time to link with hi
s mind, yet he clearly understood every thought she transmitted. This was yet another clue indicating his great power.

  You should have asked permission, he told the karron.

  Certice lowered her head. I apologize. The development was sudden and unexpected.

  Kage sighed loud enough that Arrista heard. Do I have your word that none of my people will be harmed?

  You do. Certice raised her head, hope gleaming in her golden eyes. We only attack when commanded to do so, and we obey Mistress Arrista now.

  He looked at her, brows arched. “When did this happen?”

  “Just now. Are you really going to let them stay?”

  “Reluctantly.” He shook his head. “You’re damn lucky I’m a cat person. They can sleep in the barracks until we build them a bigger shelter.”

  “Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. They’ll have to earn their keep. I’ll give you a list of the things I expect them to do, as soon as I figure out what in all the frozen hells that is.” He took two steps toward the gate, then paused. “Can they hunt for themselves, or do I need to feed them too?”

  “They can hunt for themselves, as well as their offspring. Assisting your hunters could be one of the tasks you require of them.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He gave the order for the soldiers to disperse, then departed himself.

  The original four guards remained at their posts, but Arrista had gotten used to them.

  What did he mean by “earn their keep?” Certice wanted to know. We will not be beasts of burden. We are battle cats. Her noble head tilted to an arrogant angle as she stressed the title.

  "He wasn’t sure,” Arrista told the cat. “If you give me some idea of the things you’re willing to do, I will suggest them to the overlord.

  Certice bobbed her head. I will speak with the others and report back to you.

  “One more thing, Certice.”

  Yes, Mistress Arrista?

  “How in creation did you get out of the underground? I know for a fact it is impossible for a karron to do without help from a Sarronti.”