I moved around the island, kneeing Atlas' wolf form out of the way so I could stand by Kiema. Setting my hand on her shoulder, I tried to relax and will my tiger out.Nothing happened. Although I hadn't really expected it to, it was still a disappointment when it didn't work.Ten/Saint smiled at me. "Think of your tiger. He will be located somewhere in your body. Typically, I've been told, spirit animals feel either like a cozy cage or like a deep pit. You've always known this was in your body, you've just never had a way to access it. When your tiger pulled from your physical form the first time, it would have felt like a void of some kind. Made you itchy or uncomfortable even if you might not have recognized it as such at the time."I knew exactly what he was talking about. And he was right, I'd felt it my entire life. It felt like sticky gossamer threads that encased my whole being."Okay. I got it.""Close your eyes."I did so. I swear I could feel my tiger looking back

I ripped Ten through whatever magic continuum we were in and landed us back in Xander's room.Ransom had Kiema's limp body cradled in his arms. The look in his dark blue eyes slayed me. I was just glad he was carrying our Kiema. If his hands had been free, I'm pretty sure I'd be dead. Or at least badly damaged."Your floor. Now." He stepped past me, his face hard, closed off."Oooo, Saint's about to catch it," Asher said as if we were back in high school and I got called to the principal's office.I pushed him as I followed after my brother and mate. I couldn't help the drop in my belly. Maybe Asher wasn't so far off the mark, because I felt like I was on my way to the principal's office.I climbed the stairs, unwilling to wait for the elevator to drop Ransom and Kiema off before coming back down to get me. Pushing through the stairwell door to my fifth-floor home, I took a deep breath. I still don't know what happened in Kiema's spiritual landscape, but I was about to catch

"Again, you pansy-assed healer. Kiema can dance rings around you," Lukas sneered as I attempted to shift from wolf to man and back again as quickly as possible.I snarled at him, the sound carrying from human to wolf form. I leapt at him. As soon as he touched his hand to my fur, I fell to the ground, a gasping, wheezing human once more."Fucker," I said, my face smashed into the mat of the workout area in our labs."Now my feelings are hurt, mate." He nudged me with his foot.Quick as a snake, I grabbed his foot and tugged him down, wrestled him under my body. Unprepared for the physical attack, he was slow to react. I had him in a headlock before he could gasp for his next breath."What was that, Lukas? Sorry, I can't hear you." I wrenched my arm closer against his throat.A garbled noise was his only reply. He scratched frantically at my arms.I pushed the pain away like they were small annoying bugs biting at my flesh. "Bitch, that doesn't even hurt."He gurgled.

"What the fuck?" I asked, my arm sliding around Kiema's shoulders."I'm not sure I heard you right. I'm going to join some gods and/or goddesses who want to destroy humanity?" She leaned forward, her body almost vibrating.Ten/Saint nodded. "That is what the book seems to be saying.""Is that what Anda could have meant in the spirit landscape? About Kiema being bigger and more powerful than we knew or understood?" Xander asked, his expression pinched."And what would make me decide to join these deities?" Kiema asked before Ten/Saint could answer Xander. "Were they there when I was being beaten or tortured? When my life was nothing but a shell for my parents' use? They can go fuck themselves. I'm not helping them do anything."She sat back, arms crossed over her heaving chest.We all sat there, silent in the aftermath of her rage."Ki-Ki's out, I'm out," Asher said as he echoed her posture."I agree with Kiema and Asher. However, we still need to know what the book says

I felt it when she disappeared. Like a string that went from her heart to mine had been cut with a sharp pair of scissors. She was gone.Pushing through the guys, I rushed through the doors between the infirmary and the small conference room."Kiema!" I yelled, even knowing she wouldn't be there.The sound of running feet and other yells began before the last syllable of her name left my mouth."Where is she? What happened?" Ransom asked as he pushed by me."Where did she go? Did someone take her?" Saint asked.Ten pushed to the surface. He grabbed me by the shoulders. "What has happened to our Mate, guardian?"I shook him off. "I don't know. I wouldn't be standing around here with a thumb up my ass if I knew where she was, now would I? Back off, Ten."Saint's eyes reappeared. "How did you know she was gone?""I don't know, man. She just was." I explained the sensation.Everyone looked at each other."Tracker. Pull it up," Taryk said.I pulled my phone from my p