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I didn't rest for long, long enough to get my strength back up. Enough so I could think straight and use my body to its full capacity. I had to if we're going to run for hours upon hours to find Kassian, to fight and kill anyone who may stand in our way.

Knowing that I won't hesitate for a second to rip out anyones throat who steps across me, to try and stop me from finding my mate. I'll turn their insides out and use their intestines to strangle them with. I will do anything for him.

My night was filled with dreams of him, of us, like everything was normal. But it's not. It's far from normal and feeling that void in my heart only makes me want to search for him every second of the day.

We had covered most of the map, ticking off the designated areas to be searched in every angle and direction possible. The further we go out, the more I lose a tiny bit of hope. How could they have moved away so fast and none of us pick up a trace of them?

But I knew that I was leading the pack, ordering them what to do. I couldn't lose my bearings now. I had to keep strong, show that I know what I'm doing. If I give up, they will too and they're my hope in finding him.

Yet when the sun starts setting again, we're no closer than we were two days ago. Nella and Mace order me to meet them before getting to the pack house, stopping me from going overboard like I tried to do last night. Telling me that the pack back at the house will take over.

I dismiss the pack even though I didn't want to but I had to give them a break. They'd resent me if I worked them to the bone and didn't give a shit about their own wellbeing. Nella and Mace soon approach in their wolf forms, their fur slightly messy from their search along with muddy paws.

Anything? Nella asks through mindlink.

My head shakes. Nothing. It's like he vanished into thin air. I'm freaking the fuck out Nella, what else can I fucking do?! I don't know what else we could possibly do.

What about Everett and Fran? Mace questions.

Still nothing. It's like we're chasing ghosts and doing fucking nothing substantial!

Hey. She steps forward and nudges her head into mine comfortingly. Mace steps behind her and edges his way into our conversation. It's only been a couple of days, okay? We still have some land left to search, I'm sure the other witches have picked up something or a scent today. They can't be that clean with their work.

But what if they don't Nella? My voice is harsh and Mace blinks at the tone. We should have at least one lead now but we have nothing. Kassian would be so fucking disappointed that we've done nothing so far!

We haven't done nothing, Cleo. Mace's voice snaps and we both turn to him. We've done everything we can do. That's not nothing. We're trying our hardest and you need to accept that, what we're doing isn't for nothing.

Mace is right. Nella nods instantly. We will find him. I promise, as a pack we will find him. Please just keep calm, focus on your breathing, on him rather than losing it and getting upset. We need you to guide us, we need your strength. The pack needs to see your strength, it'll only make them stronger.

We're running out of ideas! I shout frustratedly. Feeling the need to pace and grind my paws into the dirt, searching through my mind for something new but I'm lost. Completely lost in the thoughts of dread and failure. How much longer can we go searching for nothing?

My vision clouded with panic and despair.

Nella snaps her jaw at me to get my attention, like she knows exactly what I'm thinking. I huff out a tough breath and fixate my eyes onto hers. I have an idea.

Go on.

Remember when we went to visit Ludo and Diamond?

Yes.

Diamond gave me that book, do you remember? The witch book to help us do the spell for the Guidant's Locket?

Get to the point Nella. I'm irritated just because I don't want to waste a second more.

When Diamond used her magic to find where Pandora was through the curse, I remember reading that witches can channel magic through people if they have a special bond. A bond I presume they mean a matebond, I can try and use my magic to locate Kassian's whereabouts.

My mouth falls open and before I know it I'm nodding, vigorously. Let's try it.

Cleo, I don't want to get your hopes up. I don't know if it will work or if I can do it.

Well we have to try, how will we know if we don't try?

Okay. She nods.

We charge back towards the pack house and shift back into our human forms, putting on our clothes. I give Mace the power to take charge of the pack whilst we're out trying to channel Nella's magic.

"Let's go to the stone gazebo," Nella beckons her head into the trees. "We'll be alone and away from distractions."

I nod once and follow her. We reach the monument in silence, parts of the stone have cracked and decayed but it still stands strong. Nella steps inside and she releases a soft breath before turning to me.

"This is probably going to hurt you," she warns me. "Like last time."

"I don't care," my voice cuts over her. "I don't care about the pain, if it gets Kassian back then that's all I care about. No matter if it kills me from the inside out."

"But I don't want to do anything wrong, I don't want to push you to your limits."

I give her a look and she places her hands on her hips. "We have to do this, for Kassian. I don't care if it leaves me brain dead, we need to do something now."

"If it gets too much, please tell me to stop." Her voice echoes off the stone.

My teeth dig into my bottom lip but I don't respond.

"Cleo!" She snaps at me, her eyes narrowing in a deathly glare.

"Okay," I hold my hands up in defence. "But I'm going to keep going until I think I'm on the brink of death."

Nella's face twists into a unsure expression but she doesn't protest. "Okay," she offers me an unsure smile. "Kneel down in the middle and give me a chance to just feel the magic, I'm not sure that it will work."

"I believed in your magic when we put a spell on the Guidant's Locket, it worked. So I believe in anything you do, Nella. You are one of a kind." I gaze my eyes over hers and lower to the floor.

She swallows harshly. "Pleased you have so much faith in me. I'm only just remembering what the fuck was in that book."

"We'd be nothing without trust. You're my best friend Nella and I know you can do this."

Her eyes blink quickly, like she's pushing back tears. "That's the encouragement I need." She whispers meaningfully. "Thank you."

I rest my knees firmly onto the floor and Nella stands a few feet in front of me, holding her hands up towards me. She exhales a short breath and then sucks another back in, I could almost hear her heart beat inside my ears.

"Close your eyes." She tells me and I obey. "I'm sorry if it hurts you."

"I'm not. Just do it."

My world is surrounded in darkness, listening to Nella's harsh breathing. For a few moments I feel nothing and then I feel a glowing sensation in my chest. It doesn't hurt, that's what alarms me first.

Nella grunts like she's struggling but she continues, not letting anything defeat her.

Then the glowing increases, it feels like a presence. Slightly invasive but I let it in, opening my heart, my soul and everything I own to Nella's powers. It feels safe, her powers are safe and I make myself vulnerable for her.

Images of Kassian flash through my mind, I whimper at the sight of him. Watching as he laughs, that smile that could set my whole world on fire with one flash. My heart clenches, my mind unable to stop the memories flooding through my vision behind my eyes.

Nella accessing the bond through my body, forcing myself to accept these torturous images of him. They start off somewhat blurry and get clearer as her powers increase.

Tears stroll down my cheeks and I sob, shaking my head over and over. Wanting these images to leave my mind but they don't, they increase. "Nel–" my throat clenches. "Nella."

"I think I'm close," she says strongly. "Can you hold on?"

I squeeze my eyes shut and nod, I would have to hold on. Even if seeing him in my mind hurt more than I could imagine. Leaving me breathless and desperate to have him in my arms again.

My heart begins to twinge, the pictures now clear in my mind. Images of him I've kept somewhere in the back of my mind, from when I've taken one glance at him and wanted that memory to stay with me forever.

Nella releases a struggling breath and I want to open my eyes but I keep them shut, not wanting to destroy whatever she has created. Then all of the images exit my brain, leaving me nothing but darkness.

My eyebrows narrow and I search around behind my eyelids for something but then it's nothing.

Maybe it didn't work. Fuck, I had got my hopes too high.

The glowing sensation is still there but I wasn't sure what to expect.

Then a flicker of a picture covers my mind and I gasp. "Keep going," I shout out to Nella.

Nella increases her magic and I can feel it in the pit of my stomach, making me want to vomit all over the stone floor but I keep it together.

"Cleo, I can't see anything," Nella pants out frustratedly.

The image gets clearer and I can only say one thing. "I can see him!"

"What?" Her voice is confused. "You can?"

"He's–" I struggle with my words, my lips becoming drier by the second. "Increase the power, the image keeps disappearing. Fuck, Nella. I can almost see him!"

She growls loudly and suddenly my world explodes, my heart cracks and I release an almighty scream. An overwhelming sense of pain rushes into my body and I double over onto the cold floor in agony, panting and panting.

Unable to catch my breath as the image becomes stronger, clearer.

I try my hardest to ignore the pain and the taste of blood that invades my mouth. Watching every moment to try and pick apart where he could be, any signal for us to find him. I clench my teeth and push away the pressure inside my head, focusing on what I can see.

My eyes sting with what I thought was tears but turns out to be blood, the liquid stinging my skin as they leak from my crevice. Shaking my body against the ground, moving in uncomfortable positions.

I flash back to the memory of Diamond invading my mind, that was painful but this is harrowing. My soul felt like it was being picked apart and all that was left was my skeleton, nothing else on my body to show for.

The image of Kassian grows stronger in my mind and I shudder at his condition, screaming out in pain at the sight of his injuries, his uncertainty.

He's in so much fucking danger and we have to save him. Now.

. . .

Read the rest of the story, epilogues, extended chapters and exclusive chapters over on Patreon!

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Link is also in bio!

Hello my loves. Eeeeeek, what did we think of this chapter?

Cleo is trying so hard to get Kassian back and using Nella's powers to try and see him!

Next chapter is in Kassian's POV, it honestly hurts me so much because he doesn't deserve this pain!

I've also already started writing a new book called REIGN. As you've guessed it, I've decided to give Everett a book. If you like soft/gentle Alpha's who are a menace in the bedroom then this book is going to be for you! First 4 chapters are on Patreon already but will post on here as soon as TEC book is complete!

Love you all, Sav x

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