They crept by night—without carriagesor a big entourage.

Everyone was spaced out to cover moreground and to not be spotted as easily.

"Just link me, darling. Don't speakout loud."

Caleb told his mate who was alreadythinking the same thing.

Stella wasn't about to get themcaught—especially while she was with child.

"We're...I feel them," Stellalinked, "My sisters are in trouble."

"Are you sure?" Caleb snarled, "Areyou very, VERY sure?"

"Yes," Stella said, "I feel theirpain."

There was no way someone had told oftheir plight—they were not dumb enough to give them away.

Penelope and Katie had kept in contactwith them, but it was very little.

"We're going to win...we have to.."

"Just keep your wits about you,mate.." Caleb said, "That's the key.."

It was hard for Stella to do so. Shekept thinking about her father, her mother—Caleb's family and thepoor child that was killed for him.

"Don't.." Caleb hushed her as theylinked, "Beating yourself up over this isn't going to bring thatpoor child back, my beloved."

Stella wanted to sob-- she wanted tounderstand why this was happening to them.

"It'll be over soon," Sarai said,"I promise."

"She knows.." Stella linked, "Shecan see things."

Caleb knew that, too, but he was hopingSarai and Sven would be safe.

"Watch out!!" Sven dodged whatlooked to be an arrow, but he couldn't tell, "Oh my gods!!"

Sarai pushed him out of the way as theyhid behind a large tree, waiting for the next item to come at them.

"Shit.." Caleb said as he crawledon top of Stella, "Are you hit?"

"What is this?"

"Magical weaponry—not justenchanting," Sarai whispered, "Stay low.."

"They knew we were coming.." Stellalinked to her mate, "Do you,-"

"It was either Penelope or Katie.."

Stella didn't want to believe it, butwhat else could it have been? Who would have benefited from this?

"Your parents.."

"What?!" Caleb snarled, "Myparents are dead.."

"No, you're not understanding,"Sven said, "THOSE parents. They've been tailing us."

Sven motioned at some shadows off inthe distance as Caleb's guardians came into view, "Who knew?"

"I have a traitor!" Lonnie was seentossing another centaur into a tree behind them, "Nathaniel, youson of a bitch!"

Chaos ensued.

"Caleb, what the hell ishappening?!!"

Caleb didn't answer.

He shifted back into wolf form just asStella did, her heart pounding wildly.

He looked around to see most of his mendown, but they weren't dead—they were entranced.

"Shit...hags...they got the hags towork with them."

Sven chuckled, "It doesn't matter.The fae know how to take down these dirty damsels."

Stella felt Astrid move inside of herand a sense of foreboding washed over her.

"Caleb.."

Before she knew it, something struckher in the shoulder and she yelped, shifting back into her flesh formas the arrow's lethal venom seeped into her veins.

Caleb's eyes widened in horror as hismate's eyes closed and her body convulsed before stiffening,

"STELLA!!!"