“To come get you, doll.” Kat frowned. “Believe me, it’s no fun but Sylvan seemed to think I was the one to come. I guess I have to say I agree with him even though that doesn’t exactly make you my favorite person right now.”
“I’m sorry,” Becca said stiffly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Sorry that you had to come all this way but I’m not going back to the Mother Ship.”
Kat lowered herself down into the couch with a relieved sigh and then looked up at Becca.
“Why not?”
“I…can’t say.” Becca had decided not to tell anyone—not even her friends about the strange visitation she’d had from Mother Superior and the warning she had received. It sounded too crazy to anyone who hadn’t actually seen what she had. Much better to just keep her distance and try to forget about Truth and Far and everyone on the Mother Ship…which would be much easier to do if she wasn’t experiencing bouts of weakness and sharp, stabbing pains in her head which Kat had warned her were the hallmark of a partial bond. Still, Becca was strong and she was determined to tough it out.
“Come on, doll—you can tell me,” Kat wheedled. “Does it have to do with your guys?”
Becca tried to swallow a lump in her throat as the image of Truth and Far rose in her mind’s eye. She couldn’t help remembering the last time they’d all been together—the hurt look in their eyes when she’d sent them away. The—
No, she told herself firmly. No, don’t do this to yourself. Don’t think of them. This is hard enough as it is without torturing yourself.
“Becca?” Kat asked and she realized she’d taken too long to answer.
“I’m really sorry, Kat but I can’t tell you.” Becca’s voice wavered but she lifted her chin, determined to stand firm.
“All right.” Kat sighed and started to heave herself to her feet. “Hey, give me a hand, will you?”
Becca helped her up. “Do you need the restroom?”
“Huh? Oh, no—I’m going. Back to the Mother Ship, I mean,” Kat said as though it was no big deal.
“That’s it? You’re giving up just like that?” Becca demanded.
Kat shrugged. “Well, you seem to have your mind all made up. I only told Sylvan I’d try to bring you back—not that I’d hogtie you and drag you up to the Mother Ship by force.” She gestured at herself. “I’m in no shape for that as you can see.”
“I guess…” Becca was surprised at the feeling of disappointment that flooded her. Though she’d been determined to cut herself off from her friends aboard the Mother Ship, the truth was that she missed them all desperately. Her grandmother was nice but she was also distant and surprisingly busy for a senior citizen. Her days were filled with bingo, quilting club, and her bowling league. She didn’t really seem to have time to sit down and talk which was what Becca was dying to do—not that she could tell anyone what was actually going on. But still…
Another spike of pain lanced through her head. Becca put a hand to her temple and winced before she could stop herself.
Kat looked at her knowingly.
“Partial bond getting to you, is it?”
“No,” Becca lied. “I’m…I feel fine.”
Kat shook her head. “Don’t feed me that. I know what you’re going through because I’ve been there myself. Being apart from your guys is killing you in every possible way. It hurts emotionally, mentally, and especially physically but you can’t let yourself go back to them because the three of you had a fight and you’re too proud.”
“It’s not that at all,” Becca objected. “I mean, the fight part, isn’t. Although I’m sure Truth would have a few choice things to say to me by now.” She sighed and the sigh turned into a groan when another pain lanced through her. “But I’m not going back,” she insisted when it faded to a dull ache. “I can’t.”
“I don’t believe you don’t want to go back,” Kat said. “If you really wanted to be free of Truth and Far, you would have had a priestess break your bond before you left the Mother Ship.”
“I tried,” Becca protested. “But the one I talked to wouldn’t do it. She said we had to get the unmated males thing resolved first.” She frowned. “Which it should be by now so technically…”
“Actually, it’s not,” Kat said flatly. “Which is why I came down here to get you.”
“It’s not?” Becca frowned. “But the amulet—”
“Isn’t working. Maybe the priestess knew there was going to be trouble and that’s why she wouldn’t break your bond,” Kat said.
“Maybe…” Becca said hesitantly.
“Maybe nothing. Apparently they need you up there to help activate it or something.”
“What? Why me?”
“Because you and Truth and Far are the ones that found it.”
“Garron’s the one who actually dug it up,” Becca pointed out desperately.
“Yes but he was following your coordinates, wasn’t he? Didn’t the three of you do something to locate it in the first place?”
Thinking of exactly what they had done to locate the amulet made Becca’s face hot.
“Well…yes,” she admitted at last.
“Okay, then. That’s why we need you.”
Becca shook her head. “If it involves seeing Truth and Far, I’m sorry but I can’t go. I can’t see them.”
“But honey, you need to see them.” Kat sighed. “Especially Far.”
“What?” An uneasy finger of dread began to creep down her spine. “What are you talking about?”
“Becca, I didn’t want to tell you this. I was trying to act casual, to get you to come back on your own. But…” Kat reached for her. In her friend's firm grip, Becca could feel that her hands were trembling—her whole body was shaking, in fact, with the sudden fear that gripped her heart and wouldn’t let go.
“Just tell me,” she whispered through numb lips. “Tell me what’s going on with Far.”
Kat took a deep breath. “The poison he got into his system on Pax…apparently he got the antidote too late.”
“He…what?” Becca’s heart felt like someone had dipped it in icy water. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying he’s dying, honey. And the partial bond you guys share is probably the only thing that’s keeping him alive—that’s what Sylvan thinks, anyway. But it won’t work forever.”
“No!” Another sharp pain lanced through her head but Becca didn’t even care. She took a step back, pulling her hands out of Kat’s. “No, I…I can’t believe it!”
“I’m afraid it’s true.” Kat looked so sad Becca thought she might start crying. “So you need to come with me, honey. You need to see him before…before the end.”
“I…I…” Becca couldn’t make any coherent words come out of her mouth but her thoughts were going round and round in a helpless loop.
How could this happen? How when I kept my end of the bargain? I haven’t seen them since I left the shuttle when we got back to the Mother Ship. I haven’t even talked to them! It’s not fair…not fair…
“Life isn’t fair, honey,” Kat said gently and Becca realized that she’d spoken the words aloud. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you but you’ll hate yourself if you don’t come back and see Far—I know you will.”
“All right,” Becca said numbly. “I guess…I’ll come.”
She didn’t know what else to do.
Chapter Forty-four
“Far? Are you okay? Where is he? Where’s Far?” Becca dashed into the suite almost before the door slid open wide enough to admit her.
“He’s in the sleeping chamber,” Truth growled. He had his arms crossed over his broad chest and he was glaring at her in a very unfriendly way. “But why should you care?”
“Of course she cares, Truth—don’t be an ass,” Kat, who had come with her, said sharply.
“Apologies, Lady Kat, but her behavior for the past week says otherwise,” he snapped. “I do not know many females who ‘care’ so much for their mates that they run off and
leave them without so much as a goodbye or a forwarding address.”
“But that’s exactly why Becca did what she did—because she cares,” Kat said quietly. “Look, sit down a minute and let’s talk. I don’t know why Becca ran away but I do know she thought that by running she could save you two in some way.”
“What? But that makes no sense.”
“To me either,” Kat said. “I couldn’t get much out of her on the shuttle up here but I know that’s why she left. Not to spite you, not because she doesn’t love you—because she felt she had to for some reason.”
Becca heard Kat’s soft voice explaining everything to Truth and she was more grateful than she could say. She still hadn’t been able to tell her friend about the vision but Kat had seemed to understand her partial explanation of why she had left in the first place. She was doing her best to make Truth understand as well although he didn’t sound like he believed her. Becca was sorry for the pain she’d caused the dark twin but right now his brother was her main priority.
“Far?” she called as she went into the bedroom with its huge bed built for three. “Fa—?
His name died on her lips when she saw him lying in the center of the bed, propped up on a mound of pillows. All the way up in the shuttle she had been hoping against hope that Kat was exaggerating the light twin’s condition but one look at him told her it wasn’t so.
Far’s pale skin had a grayish cast and there were dark, bruise-like shadows beneath his eyes. His body was still big and strong looking but it was so still now that for a moment Becca was honestly afraid she was too late and he was already gone. Then she saw his broad chest rise and fall in a shallow breath and she had a flash of hope.
“Far?” she said softly, reaching out to touch his foot, buried under a mound of covers. “Far, honey, can you hear me?”
The lovely black eyes that reminded her of pools of midnight fluttered open.
“Mi’now? Is that you or is this just…just another dream?”
“It’s me.” Becca climbed onto the bed, being careful not to jostle him, and curled up at his side. “Hi,” she said softly. “How are you?”
“Oh, pretty good.” Far tried to smile but she could see the effort it was costing him. “Better now that you’re here.”
“I’m so sorry I took off like that with no explanation,” Becca said. “I…I thought I was helping you. Keeping you both safe. But…” She stifled a sob. “But it seems like the opposite might be true.”
“Never mind,” Far said, shaking his head. “I don’t care why you left. I only care that you came back. I love you, mi’now. I have from the moment I met you.”
Becca felt the tears pricking at her eyes and she didn’t try to stop them from falling.
“I love you too,” she admitted. “I love you and Truth both.” It was the first time she had said it out loud—that she had really admitted it—and it felt right. Right but also, tragically too late.
“You have a strange way of showing your love.”
Truth was suddenly in the doorway, his broad shoulders nearly filling the narrow space.
“I know,” Becca said, looking up at him.
“The Lady Kat tried to explain before she left but I still don’t understand why you found it necessary to abandon the Mother Ship and go running back to Earth.” He was frowning at her, his black brows drawn low over his pale gray eyes.
“I know you don’t,” Becca whispered. “And I wish I could explain but, well… I can’t. Please, Truth…” She reached out a hand to him. “Can’t you please just forgive me?”
“I don’t know,” he growled, but he did come forward and sit on the side of the bed. “That depends on why you came back. I suppose you’re here to help activate the amulet.”
“I don’t give a damn about the amulet,” Becca said fiercely. “I came because Kat told me…told me about Far.”
“Oh?” The dark twin raised an eyebrow at her. “So you’re refusing to help activate it?”
“What? I don’t know,” Becca said impatiently. “I don’t even know what’s involved in activating it. I just want to spend time with you and Far before…I just wanted to spend some time with you guys,” she ended lamely.
“It’s all right, Becca, you can said it,” Far said softly. “Before I die.” He smiled. “Although, I feel strangely better since you walked into the room. Just having you near makes me stronger.”
Truth frowned at his twin. “Strong enough to activate the amulet?”
Far shrugged. “I don’t know. We could find out, I guess. If our lady will participate.”
“What?” Becca looked from one to the other of them. “What are you two talking about?”
“See for yourself.” Truth got off the bed and left the room. When he came back, he was carrying the metal amulet box. He opened it up and prepared to put it in Becca’s lap but she scooted away quickly.
“Get that thing away from me! What are you trying to do?” Far was already dying and the last thing she needed right now was another guilt vision from Mother Superior.
Truth looked surprised. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to touch it—just look.” Carefully, he lifted the velvety lining along with the amulet out of the box. Then he held the box in front of her so she could see the now-empty bottom.
“I don’t understand,” Becca said blankly. “What am I supposed to be—oh!” For though the box had been blank a moment before, now glowing, curving script was appearing on it as though it was being written by some invisible hand in fiery ink. “What is that?” she asked in a whisper.
“Read it,” Truth commanded.
“But it’s some language I’ve never seen before. I can’t read…” Becca trailed off because she found that she could read it somehow.
“If end you would the demons’ spell
And cleanse those whom evil does indwell
This amulet then activate
By those of the triumvirate
A drop of blood from each and all
Upon the amulet let fall
Only then will power within
Come forth that cleansing may begin
But ware the danger you may find
For if those of the true OneMind
Be not fully meshed within
The Evil will begin again.”
Becca finished and looked up from the burning words at last. “Does this mean what I think it means?” she asked in a low voice.
“I’m afraid so,” Truth answered. “It needs a drop of blood from each of us to activate it—but only if our OneMind is fully ‘meshed’ whatever that means.”
“I think we all know what that means.” Far sat up in bed, frowning. “It means bonded. We cannot activate the amulet until we’re fully bonded.”
“Oh, but we can’t!” Becca protested. “I mean…”
“Why not?” Truth asked harshly. “Are you afraid you’ll be stuck with us forever? Don’t be, Rebecca. Death severs a bond quite neatly so you won’t have long to wait until you’re free again.”
“Don’t say that!” Before she could stop herself, Becca leaned forward and slapped him hard across the face.
“Well…” Truth put a hand to his cheek and raised an eyebrow sardonically. “Maybe you do care after all.”
“Of course I care!” Becca stormed. “And I want everyone to stop talking about dying—that’s not going to happen. I won’t let it happen.”
“I don’t see how you can stop it, Becca,” Far said mildly. “But if you wish, we can shelve the topic of my imminent demise.”
“Thank you yes, let’s do that.” She took a deep breath, trying to regain control. “Okay, about the amulet…”
“Yes, what about the amulet?” Truth growled. “Do you want to help activate it or not?”
Becca thought about it—really thought about the issue. It seemed she’d had so many reasons not to form a permanent bond with her men. Fear of what her parents would say…fear that she would suffer the same loss she’d had with Ken
neth…and most recently, fear that they would both die if she didn’t stay away from them.
It all seemed silly or irrelevant now. She loved her parents and her family but it was Truth and Far she wanted to be with—they were the two people she loved most in the world, the men whose bed she wanted to share, whose children she wanted to bear. And her attempt at saving them by leaving them alone had failed—it seemed she was destined to suffer the same loss again no matter what she did.
It might hurt a little less if she wasn’t completely bonded to them but Becca didn’t care about the pain anymore—she just wanted to spend as much time with her men as she could. And if they could activate the amulet and save the unmated males aboard the ship in the process, so much the better.
Truth and Far had been silent, allowing her time to think but now Far said gently, “Becca?”
“I want this,” she said slowly, looking at both of them. “I want both of you right here, right now. If…” She looked at Truth. “If you’ll forgive me for leaving you. I don’t want to have angry sex—this should be loving if it’s going to be…” Her eyes flickered to Far who was watching her quietly. “I mean, I just want it to be nice.”
“What do you say, Brother?” Far asked when Becca finished her little speech. “Can we forgive Becca for leaving?”
Truth scowled for a moment. “I’ll try. It’s simply that…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
“No, talk about it,” Becca urged. “Tell us what you feel.”
“Fine—I will.” He turned to her. “You taught me how to care for my brother, Rebecca. And then when things got hard you left. I’ve never…had this kind of relationship before and I didn’t know what to do when you were gone.”
“Becca didn’t know I was still sick when she left,” Far reminded him. “And you’ve been doing fine, Brother. You’re a surprisingly good nurse.”
Truth scowled down at his hands. “I try. It’s difficult to know what to do. I’ve never wanted to be close to another male before and now we are bound together. I just…don’t know what will happen…”