Chapter 20

MATEO

Try as I might, I couldn’t seem to get into Catalina’s head. The thought unnerved me. What if she needed my help? What if something was wrong with the baby?

What if she wasn’t ~safe~? I struggled to understand why she would agree to a plan like this. Was she that desperate to get our powers fixed?

I wouldn’t care if they never got fixed, as long as I knew she was safe. “Worrying won’t help,” Lucien sighed from the chair he was slumped in. He had one leg hanging over the side and his head hanging off the other end.

I knew it was killing him to sit here and do nothing. Kol and Sebastian had gone out to the courtyard not too long ago, and Lucifer was who knows where. This left Lucien, Nick, and me in the living room.

I tried again to contact Cat before answering him. “I can’t help but worry. We’re putting our faith in Kol to get her home safely.”

I knew the demon would never harm a hair on Cat’s head. But it didn’t dismiss the fact that he was a little unhinged. His plan could take a turn for the worse at any moment. And I had no doubt if that happened, he’d kill any human between him and Catalina.

“And she’s pregnant,” I added. The words brought a smile to my lips. My Cat was carrying my child. I never gave much thought about my future outside of studies.

Never planned on when I’d have a family. Though the timing wasn’t the best right now, I didn’t regret the life we created. And I couldn’t wait to meet him or her.

Lucien growled. Old habits die hard, I guess. “We should go get her now. What are we really waiting for?”

Nick looked up from his phone at that comment. “I know this isn’t an ideal situation, but this may be a good opportunity.”

We waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. Lucien’s patience snapped. “For what, half-breed!?”

Nick smirked, letting me know he did that on purpose. “She’s no longer hidden; whoever is looking for her should come. We’ll know who we’re up against.”

“Or they’ll end up killing her.”

I flinched at Lucien’s words. “Catalina is strong enough to take care of herself.”

A look of worry flashed across Nick’s face. “Nick? What is it?”

He shot a worried look at Lucien, and I knew we weren’t going to like what he said. “I should have mentioned this a long time ago, but I didn’t expect us to be in this situation. I knew she was safe here.”

He mumbled more stuff to himself. “Spit it out!” Lucien snapped once again. This time I agreed with him.

“When I scanned her to see if she was pregnant, I also noticed something else.” He shook his head, as if getting rid of an unwanted thought. “Her powers were dimmed—almost non-existent.”

He looked us straight in the eyes. “I think the baby is blocking her powers.”

~Mateo!~ I jumped at the sound of her voice in my head, coated in panic. ~Cat! Love, are you okay?~

~No, no I’m not.~

KOL

“All right, first things first. You need to relax yourself.” I circled Sebastian as he stood stiffly in the center of the courtyard. For someone who’s been around for centuries, he lived with a stick up his ass.

I didn’t think he knew the meaning of the word relax. “I am relaxed,” he growled out. Yeah, very relaxed.

“Clear your mind, empty it of anything that’s worrying you.” I tried to read his mind, curious about what he was thinking. But I hit a brick wall. His mind was locked down tighter than a nun’s pussy.

I’d tried before to read it but failed then too. Lucky for me, I liked a challenge. I waited to see if he’d follow my instructions. But he still stood there stiffly.

I guessed I should just move on to the next step. “Okay, now try to teleport over there.” I pointed to a row of bushes across the yard. He cut me the nastiest glare in the history of glares.

“That’s it? That’s your training? Just point and expect me to do it? You don’t think I’ve ~tried~ that technique?” Like I said, stick up the ass. I shrugged. “It’s how I learned.”

His eyes flashed, and I could pretty much guess what he was thinking right now. It likely had something to do with my head rolling, for starters. Instead of lashing out, he started heading back to the house.

“If you don’t learn, then we can’t save her,” he said. He stopped, considering my words. Turning back, he walked over to me slowly, still stiff as a board. “We shall continue.”

I couldn’t help but grin in triumph. It took us almost one hundred tries before he finally got it. I was exhausted beyond measure. This was the most work I’d ever done, and I’m an assassin.

“Easy as teaching a baby to walk,” I said. He snorted at my joke, trailing behind me on the way back to the house. ~Get here now!~ the ex-lycan shouted in my head.

Sebastian disappeared. I took it he got the message as well. I groaned. Traveling the mundane way was so exhausting. By the time I reached the house, I could hear shouting from inside.

“I knew we shouldn’t have waited!” There was a crashing sound, followed by a very colorful word. I stepped into the living room seconds later. All eyes turned to me.

I had a funny feeling they were talking about me. Lucien stormed up to me, a look of barely concealed rage in his eyes. “We’re done with this bonding shit, and we’re getting my pup out of there right now.”

Ignoring him, I looked at the others. They all had matching looks of worry, frustration, and a hint of fear. “Did I miss something?” Just earlier, everyone was on board with the plan.

What happened between then and now? Nick broke the tense silence. For once, I was glad it wasn’t the ex-lycan currently glaring a hole into the side of my head.

I was tempted to punch him in the face and see how many of his human bones I could break with one hit. All of them, I bet. The thought brought a smile to my face.

“One of the gods found her. She’s not sure which one, but she can feel their presence,” he said. “It doesn’t matter which one—they’re too close,” the vampire started pacing around the room, a look of agitation on his face.

“Maybe I can just teleport in and get her now.”

Lucien broke his glare at that. “You know how to do it now? Then what are we waiting for?”

I cringed at their hopeful expressions. What I had to say next was going to ruin their mood even further.

“He’ll only make it a certain distance. He’s not ready for travel that far.”

What did they expect? We’d only been practicing for a day. It took me years to get that shit down. Years to stop appearing in the middle of nowhere, scaring the hell out of people.

The doors opened before anyone could respond. Lucifer walked in, face blank of any emotions.

“The car is outside—we’re leaving now.”

CATALINA

I sat with my back against the wall, watching everyone around me. They were here; I could feel them. The goosebumps on my flesh, the hairs on the back of my neck at attention.

Something was wrong. I wasn’t safe, and my body knew it.

My roommate and two other females sat two tables over. They were glaring at me so hard I was surprised my head hadn’t exploded. What were they waiting for?

If they planned to attack me, why not just do it now and get it over with? I needed to get out of here and into solitary confinement as soon as possible.

A tray slamming onto the table made me jump. I looked up, making eye contact with a very rough-looking brunette.

“Can I help you?” I wasn’t in the mood for any mundane shit right now. There was literally a ~god~ here trying to kill me.

She grinned, showing slightly yellowed teeth. “No, but I can help you.”

She invited herself to my table, taking a seat. I frowned at the intrusion.

“You’re trying to get into solitary confinement,” she stated.

My eyes widened. Immediately, I went on guard. How would she know that? Who was she?

“Who are you?”

She tapped the side of her head. “Mind reader among humans. I’m the only supernatural in here.”

She eyed me. “Besides you, of course.”

My eyes darted around the room. How had I missed her? Mind reading was usually linked to witches.

“What do you want?” Could she be working with the god? Why else would she single me out?

I called on my powers, feeling a low hum through my body. Not the shock wave I was expecting.

“Relax.” She cocked her head, studying me. “For my services, I only wish to know what you are.”

I growled, not trusting her in the slightest. “I don’t need your help. Get away from me.”

The threat in my words was clear, but she didn’t move.

Her eyes flashed a soft green, reminding me of my Nick. Could she be Fae?

“Your magical signature is something I’ve never seen before.” She reached out as if to touch me, and I leaned away.

“So many colors. Especially here.” She poked my stomach before I could stop her.

“Listen, you need to fuck—” I fell back in shock, slipping from the bench and onto the floor.

The girl stood over me, shaking out her hand. A grin of delight spread across her face.

Did this bitch just punch me? Oh, she was dead.