Lucas wasn't kidding. Riding on Justin's back was a major workout. Justin was a fucking Tasmanian devil, moving like the wind through the trees.

The forest rushed passed so fast that it made me even sicker. Between my ebbing migraine and the immense dizziness, I had a hard time keeping my eyes open while I did my best to stay on Justin's back.

We're almost there. You good? Justin asked mid-stride after he'd been running full throttle for at least thirty minutes.

Yeah. I'm okay. I said through our link right before I actually started slipping. I struggled to grab ahold of his fur and readjusted myself. I fisted two new handfuls of his fur coat, pulling hard. I'm sorry. I'm trying not to hurt you.

Justin laughed in my mind. You can't hurt me, Angel. All you have to worry about is not falling off. Is the Whistler still summoning you?

Maybe, but it isn't strong anymore. It's like an irritating buzz. Kinda like a fly. After Tyler told me what would happen, I fought him off.

While I held on for dear life, Justin leaped over a fallen tree. I don't exactly like the way Tyler told you, but he was right.

Chills snaked down my spine as I imagined what might happen if the Whistler got his hands on me. So, Tyler wasn't lying about random guys raping me?

Justin let out a growl as his back vibrated against my stomach. No. He was telling you the truth, but the bond can only gain permanence once you truly love your mate. Sex is just a component of the mating. Love is everything to a mate bond.

So, wait. Back up. These guys expect to rape me until I finally fall in love with them, and they fall in love with me? That would take forever, if it ever happened at all. That's fucked up. I said through our link.

It really is, but I won't ever let that happen to you, so don't worry about that. You're my life, Angel. I won't ever allow any male to put their hands on you unless you want it. Justin leaped across a small ravine, jostling my hold on him. He slowed, giving me time to get a better grip. You good?

Yeah. I almost fell off. This is gonna take some getting used to. I clamped my thighs tight and leaned down as he took off again. So, I know I asked this before, but you never gave me an answer. Was I really your first kiss?

Fuck. I wish Tyler knew how to keep his big mouth shut. Justin growled. But yeah... you're my first... everything.

I am? That's awesome. I released a laugh but stopped when I realized I was probably hurting Justin's feelings.

Yeah. Awesome. His words weren't happy at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could feel his shame.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Believe it or not. It was the best kiss I've ever had. I laughed aloud. I can't wait until we do other things.

Justin slowed to a trot as he sniffed the air. You're just saying that. I'm sure all the other dudes you've been with have a lot more experience than me. You don't have to make me feel better about my amateur ass.

I lightly smacked his back. Are you accusing me of lying, my Prince? If so, I'm gonna beat your butt later.

Beat my butt, huh? Justin laughed in my mind. I'm kinda looking forward to that along with a lot of other things as well.

Every inch of my body burned as I thought about what it would be like to run my fingers over his bare skin once we had some real alone time.

I can hear you. Justin's low voice whispered seductively in my mind.

What? Shuddering, I remembered he could read my mind when we were near one another, no matter if I intended for him to hear me or not.

Pine needles crunched under his paws as Justin slowed to a walk, examining the dark trees ahead. Damn, Angel. I shouldn't have said that. Do you want me to stay out of your mind? Truthfully, I don't mean to do it all the time, I just like how you think.

It's fine. I chuckled nervously. Did you guys hear my thoughts earlier too?

One of his ears twitched. I don't know about Tyler and Lucas, but I wanted to make sure you weren't planning to make a run for it.

I groaned. That's embarrassing as fuck.

Don't be embarrassed, Angel. I didn't mean to make you feel ashamed. Your thoughts are entertaining, and I love listening in. Justin continued sniffing the air as he walked forward slowly.

At the idea of my thoughts broadcasting themselves like a television show, I tensed, sitting up straight. I need to learn how to block you guys.

I think you're already beginning to learn. You stopped the Whistler, didn't you? Justin stopped walking and waited for my answer.

No. I mean, I don't know. I listened for any call from the Whistler, but only Justin was in my mind. He's gone. I did that?

Yep. That takes some work. And you did it all on your own. I knew you'd figure it out, but I didn't think it would be so quick. You never cease to amaze me. I wobbled and flexed my leg muscles as Justin knelt. Every move he made was considerate of my position on his back. Marlena's cottage is just through those trees. Can you get down?

Yeah. Carefully, I slipped off his back and fixed my ruffled clothing. Are you gonna change back?

Not yet, unless you want to walk up to her house with a naked guy. Justin huffed as he stood and shook his head gracefully. Come on. Just walk beside me.

I forgot about that. It must be difficult to always have clothes nearby when you shift back. Isn't that a problem for you? Unable to put more than a few inches between us, I smoothed my palm over his front leg, following his lead.

You have no idea. Being naked is just part of our life. It'll be part of yours, too, once you shift. Justin nuzzled my head lightly with his nose.

Laughing, I spoke aloud this time. "That's crazy. I don't shift into anything."

Yeah, you do. You just haven't done it yet. Justin said confidently through our link.

That's not possible. Just the idea irritated me as I tried to figure out how shifting was even a possibility.

Justin nudged my shoulder. Your father was the largest white wolf of the Guardians. You're one too. He was the king and high Alpha above all the Guardians, and he mated with an—

"One more step and I'll blow your heads off." A beautiful middle-aged woman stepped out of the shadows, and she was pissed. Her long black hair glistened in the moonlight around her dark-skinned face. She cocked back the hammer of a rather large gun as she glared pointedly at Justin. Her firearm looked like one of those old-timey guns in western movies.

I froze next to Justin. My hands went up, showing her I had no weapons. "We're not armed."

It's Marlena. Tell her who I am. I don't want to use my powers on her if I don't have to. Justin said in my head.

I pointed to the gigantic wolf at my side. "This is Prince Justin of the Moon Guardians, and I'm Ember Pearl. We need your help. You're Marlena, right?"

"Trespassers are not permitted to ask questions. And you do have a weapon. Him." She jutted the barrel of the gun toward Justin and I stepped in front of him, protecting him. "What do you want with me, Moon Guardian? I've broken no laws."

A rustling behind me made me tense until I felt Justin's hand on my shoulder. He'd shifted back to his normal form.

"Marlena Corinthia of the Sun Guardians, we come in peace and in dire need. You know you have a duty to your Clan to protect your bloodline. This is your niece, daughter of Malik Helios. It has just been revealed that Ember is the Bringer." Justin's voice was powerful and full of authority as his hand squeezed my shoulder. I wanted to turn into him, but I knew if I did, he would be naked, and I didn't want to make him uncomfortable.

"The Bringer?" Marlena took a step back, shaking her head. "I have no niece, and the Bringer Prophecy has not come to pass. Why the lies, Prince?"

I sighed. Glancing at Justin, I kept my eyes only on his face. She may be right. I'm not getting that 'wow, you're my aunt' sensation.

Justin shook his head before his gaze landed back on Marlena. "This female is your blood. And she is the daughter of your brother, Malik, and his mate, Harmony."

Marlena's dark face appeared to go pale as I tried to figure out how I could be related to her. We literally looked nothing alike. "That can't be. Malik and Harmony burned to death, and they never had a child."

She might have a point, Justin. My dad's name wasn't Malik. It was Daniel. I said through our link.

Remember what I said about your father? He's a master of compulsion, and he was obviously trying to hide you, Angel. Justin moved closer, pressing his chest to my back. It wasn't freezing out here, but it wasn't exactly beach weather, and Justin was naked as jaybird trying to negotiate with this woman.

"Look. I don't know who you are, but I'm not gonna hurt you, and Justin isn't either. Do you have a blanket or some clothes he can wear until we figure this out?"

"Why would I help you?" Marlena scowled at us like we were here to burn her to ashes.

I scoffed and gestured to the woods. "What the fuck is your problem, lady? Do you think we came out here, to the middle of bum-fuck nowhere, to hurt you? Gimme a break. I'm tired, and I'm in a shitty mood. Can you just let my boyfriend get some clothes on so he doesn't freeze to death out here?"

"Your boyfriend?" Justin whispered the question into my ear as he looped his arms around my shoulders and neck. He stepped into me, closing the distance between my back and his front.

Goosebumps swept over my entire body as I leaned back into his chest, and spoke to him in my head. Well, that's what you are, aren't you? I mean... this is a lifetime commitment and all.

You bet your ass I am. Justin said in my head and I could feel his exhilaration. But I plan to be a lot more than just your boyfriend one day.

One step at a time, my Prince. I grinned through our connection.

"Well... I suppose you have a valid point." Marlena's arm fell, letting the gun fall to her side as she contemplated her next move. "But, tell me, how is this Moon Guardian your boyfriend? How can that be? You can't be the Bringer. She would never allow a Castor to mate with her. They're not pure, and his Clan is an enemy of the Sun Guardians."

Before I could ask what she meant or what a Castor was, Justin stiffened behind me. I reached up and squeezed his elbow, hoping he would keep his cool.

"Did you know my dad or not, lady?" I released a long sigh, ending it with an impatient groan. "We're tired as hell, and we don't want to stand out here all night debating with your judgemental ass. Are you gonna help us or not?"

"If your father is indeed Malik, then yes, I knew him well. He was my half brother and protector for many years until he mated with that..." Marlena's lip curled as her face twisted in disgust before she spat on the pine needles at her feet. "Angel."

My mother was an Angel? I stared at her repulsed expression as I tried to understand how the Angels could be so bad? I'd always thought Angels were amazing. At least that's what humans believed. This new reality was fucking weird.

"Blood is law, Sun Guardian. Touch the girl if you must. You'll feel your blood running through her veins. She is your kin. I'm sure of it." Justin spoke with so much power, it was hard to stay on my feet. Something in his words made me want to fall to my knees and do exactly as he commanded.

Marlena trembled slightly under his command as she moved forward slowly. Extending her arm, I shrank back into Justin, unsure if I wanted her to touch me.

It's okay. I've got you. Justin said in my mind. I'll see and feel what you do. I'm not leaving you alone in the dark ever again.

"I don't like it when people touch me," I whispered aloud as I winced in fear of what might happen.

Marlena's hand froze in the air, inches above my arm as her head quirked to the side. She analyzed my expression carefully. "Malik had the same problem. He was a Crossling, and his kind are rare. No others exist from what we know."

I searched her dark eyes, hoping for more, but she didn't embellish. "Am I supposed to know what that means? Just touch me and get it over with."

Justin's arms flexed around me as he drew as close to me as possible. "She won't harm you, Ember. Will you, Marlena?"

Marlena's gaze flicked to Justin, and I sensed a tiny bit of compassion emanate off her. "Are you sure? Malik had many horrible experiences in his days. That's why he stayed covered from head to toe."

Justin's jaw clenched next to my cheek. "You're not helping. You need the truth, don't you? Touch my mate, Sun Guardian. We need your help, and we must hurry."

Marlena's hand fell, the anger behind her eyes softening. Her gaze connected with mine as she took in my face for the first time. "Yes. I see it now. You have your father's eyes and nose, not to mention, his disrespectful tongue. I will not touch you until you're ready. Come inside and get near the fire."

Justin released a shaky, relieved breath in my ear. "Thank the Gods. I didn't want you to have to go through that. I'm sorry. I didn't know how else to convince her."

"It's okay. I'm happy I get a pass for now. Come on." I followed Marlena as Justin stayed behind me.

Glancing around the darkness, I couldn't see her house anywhere. We were just walking through more of the endless forest. Suddenly, a thick, oily mist smacked me in the face like a baseball bat, and it whipped me into an energy tornado.

"Fuck!" I tumbled to my knees, grabbing my head as it spun every which way. The forest began flickering in and out with pixelating blocks of darkened color, shoving and forcing their way into existence. My eyes slammed shut when it felt like someone was using a sledgehammer on my skull.

"Shit." Justin crouched behind me, cradling me in his arms. "I got you. Come here."

"What is it?" Marlena yelled back at us.

Justin jogged forward, jostling my frail head, which only made the pounding worse.

I screamed, unable to let my head go. It felt like it was going to combust.

Finally, Justin slowed his jog to a walk. "She was never taught how to transfer the energy properly. She's never even shifted. She knows nothing of the Nine or how anything in our existence works."

"Malik would never have done such a thing," Marlena shouted in disbelief.

"Well, he did, and it enrages me greatly, but with all that's happened, I don't think he had a choice. According to Ember, Malik's very much alive and he's been missing for years. He disappeared just like the Alpha of the Fire Clan. Malik left her with the humans. Alone." The way Justin said 'alone' made it sound like it was the worse thing that could've ever happened. "Her human caretaker has been forcing her to take a medication for a non-existing condition since her first shift began to manifest. From what I can tell, it made her weaker and forced her to take on more Crossling energy than she realized. She's been suffering badly. The medication caused her to become numb to the truth. She's not even at half her strength."

"My Gods," Marlena's dark brown eyes were wide with shock, and her hand was covering her mouth when I tried to open my eyes, but I had to close them again. "The mating call will certainly kill her. I'm surprised she still breathes. Bring the poor child inside."

Justin's arms tensed around me as he walked up a small flight of stairs. "Thank you, Marlena. I know we don't have a good relationship or any relationship at all, for that matter. Still, you need to know that she's my mate, which makes us family. I beg of you. Please don't hold me responsible for anything that transpired between our Clans in the past. I had nothing to do with it."

"I was just taken by surprise is all. Either way, I cannot hold you responsible for something your Clan did when you were just a child, Prince. You are the same age as she is, are you not?"

"Yes, I was born the same day as her," Justin replied.

Marlena's voice was already across the room. "You said she was the Bringer. How do you know?"

"She arrived yesterday, and I knew right away. Her talents are telling, and as I stated, she's only at half her strength. I believe once she reaches full strength, her status will be undeniable. The mating call has already begun, and she has two more mates. The four of us were all born on the same day."

"Good Gods! How many more do you think there are?" Marlena's shocked tone was so loud, I flinched. "Sit down here. I will contact a Stitcher to stifle her call."

"Thank you. That's exactly what we need." Justin readjusted me in his arms as he sat. "Honestly, I hope it's just the three of us. I don't think I can handle sharing her with anyone else. Her other mates will be here before dawn, and they're trustworthy. They're covering our tracks now, and they're my best friends. I've known them all my life."

"What Clans are they from?" Drawers slid open and slammed shut as she spoke. "And please don't say the Fire Clan."

"Well... one is Lucas Straton," Justin audibly swallowed.

"A son of Earth Clan Alpha. We can work with that. The Earth Clan is in our debt." Another drawer slammed. "And the third?"

Justin shifted me in his arms as my pounding head began to ease. "Tyler Noble of the—"

"Fire Clan!" Marlena exclaimed as she slammed a cabinet. "His kind are not permitted here!"

I moaned in response. My ears were extremely sensitive, and her shouting was not helping.

"Calm down, Marlena. He's her fated mate, and we mean you no harm. Our bloodlines are no longer important. Ember is our Clan now." Justin released a breath, and it skimmed over my lips. "Are you okay, Angel?"

Marlena laughed mockingly. "You call her Angel? I'm sure she'll find that repulsive when she finds out what they've done to her kind."

"She's their kind too." Justin bellowed with more power than I'd ever heard from him. "She's more than any of us will ever be. Ember's nothing like them. She's pure, and she stands up for those who deserve it. Being near her is the greatest gift in this life. She is the true Bringer, Marlena. Do you know what that means?"

"Yes," Marlena whispered in a trembling voice. "It means we're all dead."