Page 183 of The Case of the Missing Love Stone

Scarlet’s attention shifts to the white thread around the clearing. Her grandmother’s warning moves through my memory. “What happens if the thread breaks?” I ask.

Scarlet studies the pattern. “It opens the circle.”

“Does that stop the mist?”

“No. But the old rite required an opening toward the water.”

Roman follows the thread to a knot tied beside our tree. He draws his knife.

Sullivan sees the movement. “Don’t.”

Roman freezes.

The pistol turns toward Scarlet. Every part of me goes cold.

Sullivan smiles when he sees what that does to me. “She is the one who keeps ruining the results.”

Scarlet’s fear floods the air beneath sage and rain.

My alpha roars against my restraint.

Sullivan points the gun directly at her chest. “You recovered too quickly at the greenhouse. We needed a full omega response on an emerging bond.”

I move in front of her, and he fires.

The impact slams into my vest and knocks me back against Scarlet. Pain flashes across my chest. She screams my name.

Roman cuts the thread, and the ring falls open. Wind rushes through the gap and drives the mist sideways.

Maribel coughs.

Myrtle drags the charm from her neck and throws it into the water.

Tom’s deputies fire.

Sullivan ducks, dropping the Love Stone into the basin as he runs for the generator.

Scarlet tears away from Roman. “Stop him!”

I catch her wrist too late. She runs toward the basin.

My alpha loses every civilized thought.

Sullivan kicks the generator cable loose, and the floodlights die. Swamp darkness crashes over the clearing.

Maribel screams.

Gunfire cracks from the far side.

The fans wind down, but the chemical mist hangs close to the ground.

“Scarlet!”

“I’m here!” Her voice comes from near the basin.

I reach her as Sullivan rises out of the dark. His hand closes around her hair. The pistol presses beneath her jaw.

My entire world narrows to Scarlet’s eyes: wide, terrified, still focused.