Elijah slammed into his body, feeling as if he had just fallen a thousand feet and hit concrete. He jerked upright, his lungs burning as he gasped for air for a few terrifying seconds. Beside him, Verika did the same. Her lovely face was flushed, her eyes wide and frightened.

Asking “are you all right?” seemed like a stupid question at the moment. Instead, he settled for grasping her hand and holding it close. Letting her know he was there, that he was real and she was safe.

For the moment.

“So?” Nik’s gaze bounced back and forth between them after giving them a moment to catch their breath. “Did you find out anything? Are Danica and Alara all right?”

Verika cast a sidelong glance at her mate. We can’t tell them about our bargain, she said telepathically. Otherwise, they’ll never let us go through with it.

I don’t want you to go through with it as is, Elijah said. But I assume that look you gave me in the dream world meant that you had some sort of plan up your sleeve.

A slight nod.

“Would you guys cut the telepathic bullshit and just give us some goddamned answers?” Nik said, exasperated. The guy looked as if he were on the verge of pulling his own hair out.

“We talked to Mistress Black,” Verika said calmly. “Danica and Alara are safe.”

“Why do I sense a ‘but’ in there somewhere?” Gage asked warily.

Verika took a deep breath, prepared herself. “She said she would exchange them…for me.”

“Absolutely not,” Nik growled.

“Finally, something we can agree on,” Elijah muttered under his breath.

“What does she want with you?” Gage’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m not sure,” Verika said quickly, cutting Elijah off before he could answer. “I assume it’s because we’re both Black Witches. There aren’t many of us in the world.”

“So, she wants to, what, bond with you or something? You’re telling me she’s suddenly feeling lonely, like an outcast?” Nik snorted. “Yeah, right. Give me a break. She wants something else from you.”

“It sounds like a trap,” Gage said.

“Well, duh,” Elijah said dryly.

“She seemed keenly interested in my heritage,” Verika said. “My late mentor, Satine, knew my mother—my real mother. My mother…kept a journal, which I now have, about me, that’s supposed to ‘reveal everything about my past.’”

“And have you read it?” Nik asked with surprising gentleness. He gazed at her with concern.

A low, nearly inaudible growl rumbled in Elijah’s throat. Mine, she heard his inner wolf speak into her mind.

Verika placed a hand over his to calm him, to reassure him Nik was not a threat. Elijah’s hackles lowered, though the flint remained in his eyes as he stared at his brother.

“No.” A shiver ran through her, and she hugged herself.

Elijah put a possessive arm around her. “Before you open your big mouth, Nik, I already know what you’re going to say. We should start there, with the journal. Maybe it contains some clues that will help us figure out why Mistress Black is so keenly interested in my mate.”

Verika nearly rolled her eyes at how he emphasized “my mate.” And she would have, had terror not slammed into her at the thought of opening that book, at smelling her mentor’s scent on its worn leather cover. The scent of the incense she’d burned in her magic shop, where the journal had been stored for so long.

Verika looked up at him. I don’t want to, Elijah. I don’t want to know.

I know. But we might not have a choice. He nuzzled her neck with his nose, took in her scent. I’ll be there with you the entire time, if you need me.

She took a deep breath; the room had gone silent as everyone awaited her answer.

“Okay,” she breathed. “I’ll check the journal.”

She’d locked the book away long enough, hadn’t even dared look at it. Because every time she did, she was both reminded of what and whom she’d lost and that her parents hadn’t wanted her.

But her reservations seemed petty compared to what was at stake now. She knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. Not if she was to help the ones she loved.

It was, finally, time to learn about her heritage.