She tilted her head and glanced down at her body. So, I died from that weird, alter condition I had.
You did. But what do you remember?
He rounded the bed and drew near her. She was tall like Kiara.
Not much. A lot of odd dreams, mostly pleasant. You look well, though very sad. How long was I like this? She waved her hand toward the bed.
Eight years.
It’s so odd. It feels as though we arrived only a short while ago, just a few days. She glanced at the bed again. But the way I look, like a skeleton. That couldn’t have happened to me in only a matter of days. She turned to face him more fully. You’ve been through hell, haven’t you?
He wasn’t about to give her a recounting of his life as a wolf, a Border Patrol officer and as an alpha to his pack. Instead, he spoke only of her. I missed having you by my side.
She grew very still and seemed to be listening. She then turned in a complete circle. Her lips parted and for a long time she didn’t speak.
When she turned back to him, she said, I’m beginning to have all the pieces filled in. I’m seeing the past eight years of my life. I’m seeing your struggles as well and how alone you’ve been. You visited me, didn’t you?
Every week.
That must have been hard. It’s strange to no longer be living. There’s no pain on this side. Yet I can feel your suffering. You’ve been incredibly lonely, until very recently.
Her eyes appeared to open wider. I see her. You’ve fallen in love again. Oh, and she’s beautiful, but very different from me. Her name is Kiara. That’s such a pretty name. Will you marry her?
It seemed so strange to finally be talking to Tonya like they used to, yet she was dead. I don’t know. I want to, but life here, in Five Bridges, is complicated as hell.
I’m getting that. She appeared to put her hand to her mouth. Oh, no. Oh, dear God, no. He used me. Repeatedly.
Who used you?
A man who would visit sometimes. He had blond hair to his shoulders and dark eyes. She jerked then shuddered. Her eyes went wide. She reached out to touch him, but her hand glided through his body like air. Warren, he would take over my body, but I didn’t know what he was doing. I fought him, though. I pushed him out of me each time.
A horror began to grow within Warren, profound and terrifying. Glissane had used his wife, inhabited her body, said things to him that weren’t true. He’d also said things to Kiara. Glissane had sent her away.
She put a ghostly hand to her chest. I’ll be right back, but don’t leave.
He’d barely had time to process what she said when she reappeared. She drew close and looked him over for a moment. She held a ghostly hand to his face. I loved being your wife before all this madness started. But I must say good-bye. Thank you for visiting me when I was barely here the entire time.
I loved you so much, Tonya.
I know, my darling. But now, the woman who has done so much for Savage and for the wolves you serve, is dying. He’s killing her, the bad man who took over my body. Go to her and save her. But Warren, don’t hold back, not anymore, not with anything. You’ll need every power you possess to save her and to save yourself. Now go.
Warren didn’t move, however. He couldn’t. He hadn’t had enough time with her, but Kiara needed him.
She smiled. Don’t be an idiot. I’m dead. Good-bye.
With that, his wife faded, offered a serious dip of her chin, wolf-style, then was gone.
He knew in his heart, he’d never see her again.
He was moving before he’d formed the thought. He flew through the building, then once outside shot into the air. He’d never levitated faster or with more purpose than now.
He took his wife’s advice and summoned everything he was not just as a wolf but as a transformed warlock. He felt his storm rising and now understood how completely these strange rumblings of thunder and lightning were wizard qualities.
He kept his wolf close as well, but as much as he could, he brought the two alter creatures together. Kiara had given him this, abilities beyond anything he could have imagined before she’d come into his life.
He didn’t have to search for the refuge. His body knew exactly where it was. He homed in and as he drew near, waved a hand. The spell parted, and he dove for the front door. Getting the rest of the distance to her apartment was an acrobatic move that involved lying flat in the air and zooming across the threshold, down the stairs, along the foyer and straight to Kiara’s security spell outside her front door.
Again, he lifted his hand and the spell gave way.