Blackw

t the shield of my insanity. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, utterl

o my mind. It was Ryker. His mind-link was no longer a lover's

is the mean

o the shadows of my consciousness. It was content to w

d. *Ryker? Is that you? Oh, Ryker, I've missed you so much. They've locked me in. They won't l

like it was scorching my synapses. *The auction. Take it down.

h the barest trace of his Alpha's Command, the

own will. I fought it. I poured every ounce of my soul's st

cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. To Miles, watching from the doorway, it m

ed with pain and confusion. *Why? What did I do wrong? I just want

n the unimpeachable cloak of the victim. What could he say? He *had* betr

Before he could recover, I heard the chime of Miles's communicator. He answered it, and t

border patrol. Rowan Blackwood has jus

instantly eclipsed by a surge of alarm and pure, undiluted animosity for another. Rowan

ing Luna. An external threat-a power-hungry, popular ch

redictable, and sanity-draining problem he had, so that he would h

want to hear another word about you, or from you, until I have dealt with Rowan. Stay in your room. Be quiet. If you cau

his cruelty and my tragic state. Then, the link was severed. H

Command, even a weak one, had shredded my nerv

, and a sliver of pity. He opened his mouth to order me to cancel

pered to the empty air. "He pro

ha's orders were to keep me quiet until the Rowan situation was h

efeat. He turned and left, the guards following him, t

My eyes, no longer vacant, shar

ayer. A pawn, destined to fail. But in this new game, on thi

edatory smile finally touching my lips. 'Welcome home, cousi