Cora picks up the third call and I narrow my eyes at her even though she can’t see me. I can tell she was screening my calls and only picked up because I’d never, ever triple-call her unless something had happened.

“Ella?” I hear her worried voice say, “what’s wrong?”

“Where are you, Cora,” I demand, letting my tone tell her not to fight me.

“What -”

“Where. Are. You.”

“I’m I’m at the clinic -” she says. “What’s happening?”

“We’re sending a car for you at the clinic, now,” I say, glancing at Sinclair, who nods to me to let me know he’s on it. “Get in it immediately, Cora. Don’t speak to anyone else. Don’t ask any questions.”

“Ella,” she hesitates, her voice wavering. “I can’t-

“This is not a request, Cora,” I growl. “They came for him. They tried to take Rafe. We are sending, a car for you, and you are getting in it.”

I hear a sharp intake of breath from her side of the line, and then a moment of hesitation, and then she agrees. “All right,” she says, and I can almost see her nodding anxiously. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

I exhale a deep breath of relief and nod. “Okay. I love you, Cora,” I say, my voice wavering a little.

“I love you too,” she replies, with I don’t know what regret? In her voice?

But before I can ask more, she hangs up.

“The car is five minutes from her,” Sinclair murmurs, squeezing my hand again. “We’ll get her. It

will be fine.”

resting my head back against

then no one says another word for the rest of

into the

surprised when the car slows down and Sinclair sits

way that lets me know that we’ve arrived

anywhere.

past five minutes have been a very uncomfortable ride and Rafe let

it…where?” I ask, looking around at the

the buttons usually reserved for a garage door opener. And then my mouth drops open as, in front of us, the earth just…opens, sliding upwards like the jaws of some

wide as I

cool,” Sinclair corrects, shooting me a little

and start to drive down a steep incline into the earth. “But if you’re claustrophobic

turning to the window to hide his smirk,

and looks around in wonder at the sudden change of color, “so imagine what I would have done if

anything else as the car drives a long way down the tunnel before the passage opens out into a wide space, like a large underground car park. There are a few more cars already down here, but the light layer of dust on them suggests that they haven’t

another inhale of breath, feeling suddenly quite safe, if just for the moment. I hadn’t realized that I was waiting for that but, perhaps a little bit of me was expecting another blindside on the ride. It is good, honestly,

next free space and Sinclair and I quickly unbuckle our seatbelts and prepare to get out of the car. The

the move.

all underground?” I

safety. Though there are some living quarters that peek

we deem it safe

carrier with me as I back out

follow my mate and our two guards through the entry that

see that the entire structure is very military As

that the walls, floor, and ceiling of all of them and

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