Page 87 of The Fate of Black Hearts

“Oh. Okay. I didn’t know they traveled in groups.”

“They don’t. Everything about it reeked of a distraction.”

“From what?” Evie asked.

Roman shrugged.

“Where are we on locating the last of the programmed lycan soldiers?” she asked. They’d tracked down everyone involved in a secret non-governmental plot to brainwash nonhumans to be programmed soldiers sold as mercenaries—except for one lycan.

“That’s what you want to start with?” Roman said. “That’s human business and it doesn’t impact us right now.” He put his hands flat on the table. “We’re talking about Dom.”

“Okay.” Exhaustion stormed through her. She sat down, which she never did when leading a meeting like this. She clasped her hands on the table in front of her and stared at them. “He cast a forget spell. Last night it was broken.”

“No shit,” Roman said. “He erased himself from all of us for years. What kind of fuckwaffle does that?”

“He did it to keep us safe.”

“From whom?” Roman lifted a dagger as if about to ram it into the table.

“Roman!” Evie snapped. “Put it down.Gently. If you damage my table with it, I’ll shove it somewhere that’ll hurt like hell and remind you not to destroy mythings.”

Roman rested the dagger on the table and mouthed,Sorry.

Flynn snickered.

Evie shot him a glare.

Flynn compressed his lips to prevent smiling, but his eyes still laughed.

“What’s this about Lyra being in danger?” Ky asked.

“Dom doesn’t know that she exists.” She couldn’t look at any of them. “There’s a prophecy about his child that says something about it causing massive destruction or world ending madness. The Mage Conclave has kept him virtually imprisoned and have done everything possible to prevent that child’s existence.”

“What would Dom do if he finds out about Lyra?” Roman fisted the blade again. “Would he kill her?”

She swallowed a bigI don’t know and braved looking at them.“It’s impossible to hide her from him.”

“Would. He. Kill. Her?” Roman asked again.

“I’m not…” She dropped her head. “I can’t imagine it, unless he’s changed.”

“I could kill him,” Roman offered. He sighed and shook his head. “He’s too powerful. I don’t think we could do it even if we all worked together.”

She met Efrem’s gaze. Earlier today, he’d informed her killing a mage might not be possible unless there was intervention from someone with god-like power. A mage could be contained or imprisoned, though. Her heart hurt at the thought ofthrowing Dom into a prison again. Hadn’t he suffered enough?

“We’re not killing him.” The thought of one of her sons trying to hurt her mate closed down her lungs. She sucked in air and bent over, coughing.

Efrem appeared next to her, whispering, “Are you okay?”

She met Efrem’s gaze. “I couldn’t… We can’t try to hurt him. Please, no.”

Roman’s brows pushed inward. “Why are you like this? Is this about Lyra’s safety? If he plans to kill her, then we will eliminate him first. We’ll figure it out. Mom?”

She held up a hand. Her wheezing continued. She couldn’t imagine Dom dead. She wanted to die first. Then she wouldn’t have to know he’d left her for good. She pressed a hand into her chest where the pain had settled.

“Mom! How can you feel anything for him after he cast that spell?” Roman asked.

Everyone around the table seemed to have turned to stone. Flynn’s lollypop dangled from his mouth. With a thud, it fell onto the table.