The second Gina disappeared, Mark was on his feet, marching into the kitchen. Sure enough, they were gone. He spun around and glared at Tremaine. “Where did Robert take Gina?”
One corner of Tremaine's mouth tipped up. “I’m guessing to meet with Kindra where Gina is less likely to slaughter her.”
“You think Gina would slaughter Kindra?” Mark balked.
“Yes.”
Druciela smirked. “Oh yes, definitely. I saw the look in her eyes when you started to explain what happened to you.”
Mark rubbed at his face. That didn’t make sense. He’d never gotten the sense she would be that protective. She was always the one he wanted to protect. But when he thought about it, that wasn’t fair.
“At least you’re smart enough to see how you view her.” One of Druciela’s brows arched. “You need to change that. Gina is a lot stronger than anyone gives her credit for. Her mate is in danger. And she’s a werewolf.”
Mark nodded slowly.
Tremaine leaned forward. “Relax. Robert won’t let anything happen to her. And I’m sure he picked Preston up on the way. You need to trust him, even if not her.”
“I trust Gina more than anything. Can you blame me for worrying?” Mark demanded. “She was taken by vampires for two days. Someone attempted to make her something else, and another entity stepped in.”
Tremaine sat up straighter, looking Mark in the eye. “Which won’t last. Look, things are going to change for her. Possibly you. And until I get some clarification, I don’t want to worry you further. So let’s focus on what you know about Gerard and the other doppelgangers. Because I have a feeling they aren’t going to wait long to find you.”
Mark turned to Druciela. “Anything you need, you got it. And I hope someone watches over you while you’re in there with them, so we can get you out.”
She smiled. “I’m sure one of our mage friends can cover that, but I was already given this.” She held up the talisman. “And I’m not terribly concerned for the moment. I need to go over there and see what I can learn first, and it will be best if I drive, so it looks less suspicious.”
Mark rubbed a hand through his hair. “And you need to come up with why you would want to try a coven after so long of being away from one.”
“There’s another very easy explanation.” She glanced around before shrugging. “I came from another coven that suffered a terrible fate and I’m looking for another. It will make me seem smart and powerful enough for them to let me in. They may also hope for survivors, in which case, I can lead them to a group who could determine who is a safe witch and who was a doppelganger.”
“Did you come from a coven?” Mark asked.
She nodded slowly. “Yes, but I was not happy there. I chose to leave when I was young. The politics behind a coven were drilled into my head. I’ll be able to convince them.”
“You plan to lure them somewhere?” Tremaine asked.
She tipped her head back and forth. “If it’s necessary, yes. I suppose we’ll see what I find when I go out there.”
“If I can think of anything else useful about the people I knew, I’ll share, but it’s been ages, and I have done everything in my power not to think about any of them.”
“I can’t say I blame you,” Druciela offered. “They didn’t listen to you, preferring to believe you were crazy.”
“Something like that.” He rubbed at his face and let out a sigh. It was a part of his life he had left behind. No good could come from dwelling on a past that didn’t want him.
“Is there anyone you hope is okay in your coven?”
He sighed. “I don’t wish them ill, but I don’t give a shit about any of them. They told me I was foolish to assume the worst. Things were changing for the better.” He paced away. “How long do you think they’ll be?”
Tremaine glanced at his watch. “I doubt long. Give them time.”
“How much time?” Mark asked, though there wasn’t much bite.
“Till they get back,” Druciela suggested. “Relax.”
“I’m trying.”
“When she gets back with Robert, Druciela can go to Brightwater Bay. I’ll take you and Gina to someone who might be able to give us more answers.”
“About?”
“Badb and the doppelgangers.”
“Why do you make it sound as if they go together?” Mark asked.
Druciela leaned forward. “That’s what I’d like to know.”
Tremaine picked up his phone. “Toryn, maybe Morrigan can explain later. You’ll need to do your part. But I do know the doppelgangers definitely need to be found and stopped.”
Mark couldn’t concentrate for shit beyond that point. He’d stare out the window a few minutes, pace, pretend to drink his coffee. The longer she was gone, the worse the worry became.
The last thing his nerves needed was her disappearing after being gone two days. His wolf was uneasy having her away, even if Mark knew it was only for a short time.
There was a pop and he spun to find Gina moving to him. She wore a look of rage on her face, one that got him hard in an instant. He closed the distance and captured her face, his tongue delving into her mouth as she thrust her fingers into his hair, holding him to her as they devoured each other.
Robert cleared his throat. Mark growled as he leaned back, then turned to Robert. “At least warn me before taking her out of here.”
Robert held eye contact. “So you could protest? No, I did what needed to be done to get information we needed. And I’m lucky Gina didn’t tear her apart, because she wanted to after digging into Kindra’s mind.”
He glanced back at Gina. There was a vicious glint in her eyes. “She’s a fool. One who threw you away because she was too stupid to see what she had. She let someone fuck with her head and turn her away from you.”
“What?” Mark asked, the air leaving his lungs.
Preston chuckled but kept quiet.
Robert nodded slowly. “She was weak-willed from the beginning. She loved you, but her parents warped her perception of you. Then Gerard came into the picture, twisting her thoughts further. I don’t even think she knows what she wants anymore.”
“She can’t have Mark,” Gina hissed.
He turned and pulled her into his arms. Threading his fingers into her hair, he captured her gaze. “No one will ever replace you.”
She pushed out a breath. “You have a son, Mark.”
He held on tighter. “That doesn’t change a damned thing. I’m glad he lived after I tried to kill her, but if he threatens you or anyone else in Edenton, then it doesn’t matter. He’s grown up believing Gerard is his father, and if he’s loyal to that thing, well, there’s not a damned thing I can do about that.”
Robert cleared his throat. “I’m not sure what Valen would decide. He’s definitely loyal to his mother, but he doesn’t seem to trust Gerard. He seems to be deteriorating the same as Gerard. But I believe Kindra will choose whatever way her son does. So if we can convince him you’re his father, maybe we can stop the process.”
Tremaine nodded. “There is a way. There are only two cases I found where that happened. If we can get him away from the rest of them, we may be able to alter his course. Otherwise, he becomes one of those things, draining lives to stay alive.”
“If we can save him, we should,” Mark said. “Even if that means getting Kindra away from them. I just won’t have her in my home.”
“There’s more, Kindra is on her way to becoming one. I think her being away from the doppelgangers for two weeks removed some of the taint.” Robert rubbed his chin. “I’m not sure, but something is changing inside her, and she seems to understand and wants to stop it, but I’m not sure she has the resolve to do it.”
Robert focused on Mark again. “I want to go into your memories to figure out more of the puzzle. It seems your parents were preparing you to either take over the coven or save it.”
Mark snorted. “You can try, but the coven has always kept me in the dark. My parents included,” Mark answered.
“Still, you probably picked up more information than you realize,” Robert explained. “I can likely find it in your subconscious memory.”
“Go for it,” Mark answered.
Druciela hopped up. “I’ll let you get to that. I’m going to drive over, and I’ll call if I have questions. Let me know if you find something that could help me.”
“You have my word,” Mark answered.
Druciela ducked out the door.
Robert touched Mark’s shoulder. “Sit, please.”
Mark took a seat on the couch.
“Can I go in?” Gina asked.
A smile spread on Mark’s lips. “I have nothing to hide from you.”
Robert let out a breath. “Maybe not, but you will need to deal with the memories we uncover. I have a feeling you may have buried something important, possibly difficult to process.”
“Let her in. If she can manage not to kill Kindra after being in her head, it will make it easier to discuss what you uncover.”
Robert glanced at Gina and back. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. Otherwise, I may stay in denial. So let her jump in and have her there to keep me from that stupid shit.”
Gina sat down beside Mark.
“You’re completely sure?” Robert shook his head, clearly unconvinced.
“Yes,” Mark assured.
He closed his eyes. Robert and Gina touched his forehead.
Mark was thrust so far into his past he was just an infant in a cradle.
Mama and Dada stood there, quietly talking. Their words were soothing, lulling his young self to sleep. But he stood there as an adult with Robert on one side and Gina on the other, looking at them.
Mama murmured, “He’s the one who will save our coven. You’ve seen the prophecies.”
“Will he want that?” Dada asked.
“As long as we can keep him from the Churnskis’ girl. They’ll brainwash her into pushing things where they shouldn’t go.”
“He doesn’t have to be a saint to become the high priest.”
“No, but we don’t want him corrupted by a drive for power either. Anders is our sweet angel.”
Mark flinched at the name Anders. Then again, he was uncomfortable listening to the conversation. And still, he couldn’t exactly walk away when they needed the information.
And it was news to him that his parents wanted him to become high priest.
Dad shook his head. “The vision showed him with Kindra.”
“The vision also showed the downfall of the coven before he found a way to save them.”
“Didn’t show him as the high priest. It showed him as something else.”
“I choose to believe he can save our people as a witch.” Mom reached out toward him as a baby, and his little hand wrapped around her finger. “He doesn’t have to lose his magic, which would allow him to lead.”
Dad wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her shoulder. “Darling, we can only do our best to prepare him. Whether or not he becomes our leader.”
She sighed. “I want my boy happy, but Kindra will be his downfall.”
“And sometimes we have to make our own mistakes to learn from them,” Dad answered. “You’re right, though. The Churnskis are a problem.”
“Wish we could take him away and come back when it was time,” she muttered.
“Me too, but you and I both know the coven will never accept him if we do that,” Dad answered.
Mark muttered, “They never really did.”
Robert moved them forward. Gina took his hand, looking up at him with a sad smile. “You okay?”
He nodded.
“Your parents knew you were powerful.”
“Or was it all wishful thinking?” Mark asked.
Robert’s eyes twinkled as he shook his head. “Not wishful thinking. They’re talking about prophecy. I remember the prophecy.”
“Prophecy?” Mark asked.
“We stored it in archives. I can find it for you,” Robert offered.
“How?”
“We found it when searching the town for survivors, while Tremaine got you out of there.”
Gina looked from Robert, to Preston. “But you didn’t find anyone.”
Preston shook his head. “No. But we found evidence of the doppelgangers’ victims. Only we had hoped it was the doppelgangers who had died, while the witches had fled. The bodies we found were like those described when you first saw them.”
“And no one checked since then?” she demanded.
“I went back a few times over a year. There was no trace. We didn’t know much about doppelgangers, so no, we never went back.” Robert shook his head and shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Mark ran a hand through his hair.
Robert nodded in front of him. A scene unfolded before him. He was a teenager, sitting on his bed, studying a book on balance and magic.
Kindra climbed through the window and moved to the bed. “What are you reading?”
He smiled up at her. “About balance.”
“Boring,” she sing-songed, taking the book and setting it on the bedside table. She knelt before him, trailing her fingers down his chest.
His brow arched. “I was reading that, Kindra.”
She trailed one finger over his fly, causing his dick to respond.
He caught her hand. “My parents are downstairs.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I’ll be quiet. I just need you. Don’t you love me?”
He sighed. “We shouldn’t.” His resolve continued to fade. Footsteps started up the stairs and he relaxed. “Go, unless you want me in trouble for your games.”
She darted off the bed and climbed out the window. He felt her close and he closed his eyes.
Mom entered and looked at the window with a sigh. She hurried over, shut it, and spelled the window.
“I wish she would leave you alone, Anders,” Mom snapped.
He rolled his eyes. “Why do you hate her so much?”
“Her parents are pushing you two together. Do you even like her?”
He rubbed at his face. “Yes.”
Mark knew he’d wanted Kindra. She did things to make him want her. And he was just a kid. She had seduced him. He understood that now.
“Why?”
He turned red as he looked down. “Mom, she…I just feel it.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “She’s manipulating you, Anders. She wants you to believe she loves you, so she touches you, kisses you. I don’t even want to think what else she does to make you think it’s love.”
“I feel so much for her, though. Why can’t you believe she feels anything for me?”
“Oh, darling, I’m sure you make her feel good, and she wants what you can give her.”
“That doesn’t make any sense, Mom.”
She sat down at the foot of the bed. “Your choices are important to your future. And I can’t tell you not to have feelings for someone. That’s not how it works. I can only tell you to be careful and make sure what you feel is real, and not just your dick interested in her.”
“Mom!” he exclaimed and let out a nervous laugh.
She shrugged. “It’s a fact of life, but I’ll let your father talk to you about that. Right now, you need to read that book, and we can discuss it in the morning. The window won’t open until tomorrow. I know she’ll complain, but I’m protecting you, Anders.”
He nodded.
Mom moved closer and gave him a hug. “I love you. You know that, right?”
“Of course. I love you too. Don’t be so hard on Kindra. It’s not her fault her parents are crazy.”
She smiled sadly. “You’re right, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t influenced her or her motivations.”
“You’ve told me a million times. I don’t know what you expect me to say.”
“Don’t give your heart away until you know she’s the one.”
“And how do I know?”
“That’s not as easy. Because sometimes, especially when you’re young, and these feelings are new, you think it’s right when it’s not.” She blew out a breath. “Study tonight. You can figure all that out tomorrow.”
“Of course.” He offered her a smile and took the book.
“Don’t mess with that window.”
“I didn’t invite her in. She came in on her own.”
“I know.” Shaking her head, she left him there.
Anders focused back on the book.
Mark sighed. “I was so stupid back then. I thought she loved me. I was so wrong.”
Gina sighed. “She did love you. That part I know, but her parents twisted her head around when it became clear you wouldn’t become the high priest. Then Gerard got into her head.”
“She still loves you,” Robert explained.
“How? How the hell does that work? She tried to kill me for him!” Mark insisted.
Robert shook his head. “He promised to become you, only better. She let him into her head, and he twisted things around. She loves you, and half the time she thinks he is you. Her head is so screwed up, she didn’t realize what she was doing. And now, she’s starting to waiver. Like Gerard’s hold is dissipating on her.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s starting to change, I think,” Robert answered.
“If the change has started, can we save Valen?”
“I don’t know. We’ll find out. In the meantime, follow me.” Robert led them to the year after the wedding. The night he was called out to the accident. His parents were trapped in a car under a semi-truck. Both the car and truck were burned out. Two burnt corpses were trapped inside. And he could feel their magic.
Mark watched the younger version of himself rushing forward, while several witches held him back. His younger version was lost in grief, but Mark caught Kindra’s parents whispering.
Kindra’s mother was first to speak. “Anders should have been with them. Instead our daughter is trapped with the man they ruined.”
Her father sighed. “This will make it easier for the little people to come in and take over. Only thing lost is time. Kindra will still rise to the top.”
Mark blinked, turning to Robert. “What the fuck?”
“I think they set it up,” he answered. “I saw a lot more in Kindra’s head. They were the ones behind the accident, and the ones who brought the doppelgangers to Brightwater Bay.”
“Are they still alive? Tavis and Martha Churnski?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out,” Robert assured. “But I think that proves your parents did something to either protect you or tried to warn you.”
“And you can’t find anything else in my damned head?” Mark snapped.
“I’m trying, but you were out of the house, and the chances of you catching the rest of the conversation is small. I think I know who to go to. There is a woman in Kindra’s memory. Cora. Her husband is one of the doppelgangers. I think she may know more about it all. And she seems unwilling to be part of the mess, but they force her to stay.”
“Cora is still alive?”
“Yes, but the one who took over her husband is dying. She’s in danger. I don’t believe any of the doppelgangers trust her because she never tied herself to them like Kindra did.”
“I can try talking to her. We were friends. If any of my coven would understand my choices, she would.” He rubbed at his face. “She had to watch her husband deteriorate, and unlike my wife, she tried to get the high priest and priestess to step in, but I am almost certain another pair of doppelgangers took their place.”
Robert spun them through memories so fast Mark thought he might puke. Then they were out of his head, him sitting in the chair, Gina turned toward him. “You okay?”
He sighed. “I was a dumb kid.”
She shook her head. “She was really dumb. You were always a gorgeous guy. And sweet. I wish I knew you back then. Maybe I could have swayed you from her.”
He grinned. “My parents wouldn’t have liked you. They only wanted me with a witch.” He rolled his eyes. “Only, they didn’t like any of the witches I liked.”
“There was someone besides Kindra?”
“No. I mean, crushes, but Kindra was persistent, and I was stupid. I fell for her, thinking she really loved me. And now, looking back. Shit.”
Tremaine spoke up. “Hey, we all make mistakes. You were a kid. It happens. You know the difference now, right?”
“I do. And this bond is so much more than anything I’ve had before,” Mark answered.
Gina kissed him before sitting back.
Preston dropped into a chair. “So what did you learn?”
Robert ran down what they gathered from Mark’s head. Mark sat on the edge of the couch, Gina beside him. And his mind kept cycling back to Kindra’s parents. They wanted him dead too. Did they bring the little people? Were they still alive? Would Robert let him slaughter the bastards? Or was it better to let it all go?
“Mark. You okay?” Robert asked.
“Just trying to sort out my thoughts. I spent so long burying shit in my past, I forgot there might be something to worry about back there.”
“The coven left this plane. This isn’t on you. Why would you go back to a place where you thought you killed the problem?” Tremaine asked.
Gina squeezed Mark’s hand. “You couldn’t have known. Now you want to stop them. If we can save anyone, you will now.”
Robert nodded. “We will. So relax, and I’ll see what I can find out about who is still alive in the coven and who isn’t.”
“That’s a start.”
“I’ll ask Toryn. He may already know. His company does have information on most Others in the country. Besides, we need to talk to Toryn, if not Morrigan.”
“Why?” Mark asked.
Gina dropped her gaze, suddenly getting distant.
Mark caught her chin and brought her gaze up. “What’s going on?”
“We need answers,” she said.
He watched her a moment. “Just tell me what we’re dealing with now.”
“I, uh…I’m not sure what it means. Can we get someone who might first?”
“What’s going on?” Mark asked.
Robert pushed out a breath.
Preston pinched the bridge of his nose. “Mark, trust me when I say you need someone who’s going to explain this better, because I can see your reaction going very badly as more of it comes out.”
Mark was on his feet, now worried. “What the hell is going on?”
“It’s complicated, Mark. You’ll have answers soon.” Preston pulled his phone out and glanced at it. “In fact, we can go to Toryn’s office now. He’s in, and he already has Morrigan there.”
“I don’t understand,” Mark griped.
Gina touched his face, drawing his gaze to her. “Neither do I, but we will.”
Robert touched them, and they were in Seattle, in a high-rise office with an impressive view.
Toryn lifted his gaze and smiled as he stood. “Let me introduce you to Morrigan. Mom, this is Mark, his mate Gina, who has Badb inside her, and you’ve met Robert, Preston, and Tremaine.”
She smiled. “A pleasure to meet you.” Her head tilted in Mark’s direction. “Why are you so upset?”
“I want to know what’s going on,” he answered simply, heat in his voice. “I’m tired of being in the dark.”
* * * *
Gina patted his arm, but her eyes were locked on Morrigan. She sensed the familiarity. It wasn’t her own, but Badb, who remained silent.
Morrigan smiled at Mark before turning her attention back to Gina. Then she covered Gina’s stomach. A growl tore free of Mark’s lips.
“Relax,” Toryn murmured. “She senses her sister.”
“Her sister?” Mark balked.
“Badb, yes, my sister. Her soul managed to survive what a group of doppelgangers did to her family. She killed the one who tried to take her form and magic, but another killed her physical body. Her soul escaped.”
“And is now in me,” Gina answered.
She smiled. “With a new body.”
“What?” Mark asked. “Don’t tell me she’s going to take Gina over.”
Morrigan shook her head. “No, my sister would never do that to another soul. She simply slipped into the hole that was torn into Gina’s soul when someone ripped her magic out.”
Gina nodded slowly. “That’s what happened when I was little.”
“Yes, but my sister healed the scars. You are whole again, and are now carrying a child, though not your own. You will give birth to Badb. And later, you will be able to carry more children.”
“But I’m a werewolf,” Gina refuted. She felt the truth but was couldn’t wrap her head around it. “We don’t carry babies.”
“You feel it, don’t you? The child?” Morrigan asked.
“I don’t understand how it’s possible,” she whispered.
Mark stood there blinking.
Morrigan lifted Gina’s chin. “You’re so much more than you thought. You descended from my sister’s bloodline. Only your father got himself in trouble with the wrong family. Henroyld sent his goons to tear out the part of you and him that made you Fae.”
“I can’t let her go through the awakening!” Mark blurted out.
Toryn rubbed at his face, walking away.
Morrigan laughed and shook her head. “She won’t have to. There are ways around that. And my sister mended what was broken and shared her magic with Gina. Making her fully Fae, and not quite werewolf in the sense you knew before.”
“I’m not a werewolf? I still feel my beast,” she argued. Though she felt something more than that inside. Was it her magic? She didn’t know.
“You haven’t lost your wolf. She’s more a part of you than ever before, and the wolf is no longer ruled by the moon, and you can have children.”
“How?” Gina whispered.
Morrigan smiled. “Badb fused both pieces of you together. Anything is possible for you now.” She turned to Mark. “And if you wanted to be what you once were, you could be. Badb has the power to make you a witch again.”
“No. I’m happy as a wolf. I like the life I’ve made for myself.”
Badb murmured, I really do like your mate. He’s good for you.
Gina smiled. The idea of someone inside her didn’t bother her as much as before. She was whole again, more whole than she could remember. And all she had to do was make it through pregnancy with an ancient Faery inside her.
Her smile crumbled. And she wouldn’t be worried, except they had a group of doppelgangers to worry about.
“So, she’s having a baby, but it’s not ours,” Mark said.
“No, but if my visions are right, you will have your own soon after. This pregnancy is what heals your mate. It won’t last long. By tomorrow, you’ll notice the bump. I don’t know how fast the pregnancy will be, but I can assure you, everything will be all right.”
“I hope so,” Mark answered. “I don’t want to lose Gina, especially when a group of doppelgangers want me and probably the rest of Edenton, if they can find us.”
“Don’t worry so much. These doppelgangers have been a problem for so long, I will be happy to destroy them myself,” Morrigan explained.
“You’ll help?” Preston asked.
She nodded. “Of course. My grandson lives in Edenton, as well as my great granddaughter.”
Preston blinked. “How do you know what Dacia’s having?”
She tapped her temple. “I’ve seen your little girl. Don’t worry, you’ll have a boy soon enough. And well, they won’t be your only children.”
Mark blinked.
“Mom, you shouldn’t have told them that,” Toryn said.
Preston smirked. “I’m glad she did.”
Morrigan turned back to Mark and Gina, taking their hands. “You will have children of your own with Gina, Mark. Relax and accept the gift my sister offers.”
“Didn’t think we had a choice,” he muttered. “I’m sorry. You can’t blame me for worrying when you’re telling me everything I’ve come to expect is no longer an issue.”
“Of course not.” Morrigan lifted a shoulder. “Still, I promise you everything will be fine.”
Toryn sighed. “Everything I’ve seen leads me to believe she’s right. Though sharing the future is not a good idea.”
“All depends,” Morrigan answered.
Gina sat down, overwhelmed by thoughts. Pregnant. She even knew the moment it happened but didn’t believe it was possible. Badb wasn’t hers, though. No, she was descended from Badb. What did that make her? Just a surrogate?
Mark knelt before her. “You all right?” he asked.
“Yeah. Sorry. Never thought I’d have a baby.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, clearly disappointed.
She captured his face. “Oh, don’t think that. I want a baby. I want your baby. I just—I’ve dreamed of our children. I just thought it was dreams.”
“She has the gift,” Morrigan murmured.
Toryn ran a hand through his hair. “Or curse, depends on how you look at it.”
Gina glanced at him. “What are you talking about?”
Morrigan smiled softly. “You see the future.”
She snorted. “I wouldn’t call it the future, just hints, maybe.”
“Practice makes perfect, though if you don’t want too many details, don’t practice.” Taking a seat, Morrigan shrugged.
“How long will it take for Badb to grow up?” Gina asked.
Morrigan tipped her head from side to side. “That all depends. I imagine relatively fast. But your unique circumstances made her gaining a physical form possible. Before you couldn’t create a viable baby on your own. Now you’ll be able to. Her magic is now yours as well. And no, that doesn’t mean you’ll be tied to her after giving birth. It simply means, you’ll have gained her abilities.”
She touched her stomach. “But this makes it so I can have my own child?” she asked softly.
“Yes,” Morrigan assured. “And children, not child.”
I promise you, all will be well, Badb added.
She took Mark’s hand but looked at Morrigan. “What can you tell us about these doppelgangers? One of them took Mark’s form, while he was still a witch.”
“And he wants Mark again,” Robert answered.
Morrigan leaned forward. “The doppelgangers are an old Fae. They can take on the shape of anyone they choose by taking that person’s life force. They prefer Others because they last longer in the same form, without having to go back to their natural state. Small, weak bodies, failing magic. If they go too long without a new face they wither and die.”
“They don’t have children?” Mark asked.
“No, but if they bond themselves to a pregnant woman, the child does become a doppelganger. So does the mother. There are ways to stop the change, but it’s painful.”
“So we could save my son?” There was no feeling in his voice. Then his eyes narrowed. “But what do we do about Kindra? Because I’m sure killing his mother would turn him against me in a heartbeat?”
Robert ran a hand down his lapel. “Right now, the half of her wanting to reverse the change is stronger than the side wanting to cling to Gerard, if judging by her memories and thoughts is accurate. Right now, she wants to find you, but she isn’t sure what to do. I planted the seeds I could to push her farther from Gerard, though.”
Mark flinched.
Morrigan nodded. “Gerard is the same doppelganger who took Badb’s husband’s form. His mate at the time had taken Badb’s or attempted to. Everything went wrong. She died before I could get there to help.”
“But her spirit escaped?” Toryn asked.
“Yes, she did. Sometimes, we can exist without form. There are a few who have managed. Though I only know of one other case where they managed to find a way to come back into the world, as Badb will.”
Mark rubbed at his head.
Morrigan redirected. “I’ll tell you everything I know about killing the creatures. But your wife may need to die as well as your son.”
Mark sighed. “She hasn’t been that in a very long time, and I’ve never met the boy. She told me he was Gerard’s.”
“She believed he was, at least part of her. She’s conflicted,” Robert provided.
Mark rubbed at his neck. “Fine, if she can live, we can find her a new coven, because I sure as hell don’t want anything to do with her.”
“We can figure that out,” Robert assured.