9. Miranda

Awave of panic crashed over me. It was all for Ethan. He didn’t understand who Lucius was or what he was capable of.

That was my fault.

I should have told him earlier tonight. I should have filled him in. But I hadn’t.

“First, I want to ask you,” Lucius said, his gaze boring over Ethan’s shoulder, straight into my eyes. My panther crept closer to the surface, ready to take him on. “Have you considered leaving your tribe and joining me? I could always use a witch—even a half breed like you.”

“Not happening, buddy,” I scoffed.

His eyes narrowed at my defiance, his disdain palpable, and then his attention shifted back to Ethan. “Maybe this will make you reconsider,” he seethed.

Cold dread settled in my core.

Ethan released a groan, his expression twisting into one of pain, and my world spun on its axis. His body stiffened as though invisible strings pulled him into an unnatural posture, and I knew exactly what had happened.

Lucius was reaching into his mind, taking control.

When Ethan’s hands cradled his head, the confusion and agony on his face became heartbreaking. What Lucius was doing to him was a sinister violation, one I’d heard described by Daxton in detail how horrible it felt. But seeing it in action, seeing Ethan waging a battle he had no understanding of, ignited something fierce within me.

My panther rushed forward, a surge of protectiveness pulsing through her. I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t—stand by and watch while Ethan suffered and lost himself to Lucius’s control because of me. My panther roared fiercely in an echo of agreement, demanding action, demanding that we save him.

That was all that mattered.

As the amulet came off, a chilling sense of vulnerability washed over me. I was exposed and defenseless against Lucius’s ability, but there was no time for second thoughts, no time for fear. I had to save Ethan.

I had to stop his pain.

“Take this,” I whispered, draping the amulet around his neck and securing it in place.

His body jolted and then relaxed. The lines of torment twisting his face smoothed. The amulet’s magic was now his.

He had a shield.

Almost immediately, my brain itched. Lucius was already attempting to sneak in. His attention was focused on me now, but my panther expected as much and so did I. She paced inside me, no fear ripping from her, just a restlessness I knew would only be settled once we’d fought him and won.

“What did you just do?” Ethan demanded, his confusion cutting through my thoughts. He panted beside me, struggling to catch his breath. “What’s this thing around my neck?”

I could barely focus on his questions, because the sensation in my mind was growing stronger. Even though I didn’t want to, I ignored him. Now wasn’t the time for explanations, not when Lucius was making his move against me.

The first real push from Lucius felt like a nudge, testing the waters now that I had no amulet to protect me from his ability. It was annoying more than anything, causing my panther to pace faster. She begged to be released, and I didn’t tell her no.

It was time to fight.

Allowing her closer to the surface, my eyes brightening as a warning for Lucius. “Stay out of my head. Fight me. Without your ability,” I called out to him.

“This was for protection from him,” Ethan said, putting two and two together. “So, he can’t get into your head. You should have kept it. You’re not safe without it.” He moved to take it off, but I spun to face him.

“Don’t. Keep it on. Promise me,” I pleaded.

He didn’t say a word, but the look in his eye let me know that if it came down to it, he’d take it off to save me, which meant I needed to end Lucius before anything like that could happen.

My panther pushed closer to the surface, and this time, I stepped aside fully to release her. We were both ready to defend what was ours—our mind, our tribe, and our man—no matter the cost.