Shit. Brett and Max couldn’t follow a speed boat and I couldn’t see. As the boat took off, I was jerked back into my seat. I had to be taken though, the image of Tara screaming was burned into my head. I had to do something even if it meant no one was following to save me.

‘Kai, I’m sorry. I had to,’ I told him hoping he would forgive me.

I felt his energy wash over me. ‘What? Where are you?’

‘Downtown Portland. I think I’m heading east on the Willamette. The vampires have me. I went willingly. I’m going to end this.’

I had never felt so much rage from Kai in my entire life. ‘God dammit, Aurora! You will be the death of me. Keep talking to me. Who else is with you? I’m coming.’

He was hours away, there was nothing he could do. ‘Call Max. I need to pay attention. I still have Sylvia’s necklace on.’

The vampires ripped my purse away from me and I heard a splash as they tossed it into the river. They didn’t bother tying me up so I assumed they knew I wanted to be taken, that I would help my friends.

I reminded myself that I wasn’t alone, the Devi was inside of me. We would end this together, I was strong enough.

‘Max is in a kayak. He has you in his line of sight. Jump out of the boat and swim to him,’ Kai told me frantically.

I swallowed hard. ‘No. This is my chance and I’m taking it.’

‘Aurora, you jump out of that boat right now!’ His scream inside my head made me flinch.

‘No, Kai! Then what? We continue to wait around and hope Layla will show up?’

Kai was numb, his energy frantic. He couldn’t believe this was happening. ‘Sometimes I wish I never met you.’

The declaration put a sob in my throat.

‘I’ve never loved anything more than I love you. I need you but you don’t need me,’ Kai said in a deadpan voice. Oh my God. No!

‘That’s not true, I need you. But I can’t be free of this until my purpose is done. I wish you would understand and support me. I have another freaking soul occupying my body! A vampire queen making babies with my blood and shooting human teens with heroin. I have to do something!’ I told him.

The boat was slowing.

‘You think I give a shit about your purpose if it takes you from me? No! I won’t support that. Please, Aurora, jump out of the boat.’ He was blinded by love, could I blame him? I was doing this for us, so we could get past this and be together, raise a family.

I sighed. No one really understood what it was like to live your life except you. ‘You made Devon a promise. That Avery would grow up in a better world. I’m giving him that promise. I love you, I do need you, and I’m sorry.’

I went into my mind’s eye and buried our mate bond. I felt him try to saturate my body with Alpha power but I was ready. I pushed it off as mist leaked from my skin. I could feel him trying to control me like he did in the car on the way to my mother’s. God damn he was powerful, but with the mate bond buried and me ready, he didn’t stand a chance.

The boat lurched as it was docked and I heard the whirl of helicopter blades in the distance. This was it, no going back from this decision. The vampires lifted me up by the arm pits and walked me closer to the helicopter sound. If they put me in that helicopter, Kai might never find me. Pushing down my nerves, I let them drag me. The vision of Tara screaming, hundreds of silver needles sticking into her skin, urged me to go with them.

I still had the protective necklace, so Sylvia would be able to find me. If I ran now and jumped in the river, I could swim to Max; my hands weren’t tied. If I went with the vampires, I risked myself but I could save ten female werewolves, kill Layla and get Prudence. I quickly weighed the options and made up my mind. I didn’t resist as the vampires hauled me up into the helicopter.

As the helicopter took off, I could feel Kai raging through the mate bond. All of a sudden, the mate bond was unearthed inside of me; I felt it pulse and go strong.

‘Don’t EVER do that again,’ Kai roared. How the hell did he do that? Maybe Alphas were more powerful than I had originally thought. My small time as an Alpha had seemed more of a burden but now I saw that I may not have given it a fair chance.

“Hello, dear,” Prudence screamed over the whirling blades.

‘I need to concentrate. I’m in a helicopter with Prudence. Don’t talk to me. I have to focus,’ I told him.

‘Fine, but when I get you back get home, I’m locking you in the basement forever,’ Kai declared.

I wanted to say ‘If I get home, this will all be over.’

“Hello, Prudence,” I said sweetly. I didn’t want to play my final hand just yet. I had her full name; she was as good as dead. I needed to allow them to take me to the girls, to Layla. Someone zip-tied my hands together behind my back.

We flew in silence for about twenty-five minutes and then Prudence leaned close to me. My head was still covered but I sensed her. She inhaled deeply, then all of a sudden, she reached into my shirt and ripped off my protective necklace.

“No!” I screamed, thrashing.

“Stop!” she shouted, pinning me down. The door opened and I could feel the cold air hit my face. I could only guess she threw my necklace out the window. Shit. Game over. I was on my own.

‘Kai, we’ve been flying twenty-five minutes and Prudence found my shaman pouch and tossed it out. Have Sylvia find it.’

‘I’m going crazy right now, Aurora! How could you do this to me?’ he said in agony.