Lanie


    | woke up suddenly, my heart pounding out of my chest.


    Xander and Zane were still on either side of me, fast asleep.


    We''d all copsed in exhaustion after hours of desperate, passionate love-making.


    It was a satisfying, uplicated whirlwind of a night.....


    So why did | feel so off?


    And then it hit me.


    My mother and Gabri were waiting downstairs.


    Today was the day the spell would be cast.


    This moment might be thest time | ever saw Xander and Zane.


    For a second, | considered waking them, kissing them, going for one more quick round, but it would only make things more


    complicated.


    And maybe they wouldn''t let me leave...


    | crept up off the floor and tiptoed out of their quarters and into my own, dressing quickly and rushing


    downstairs.


    My mother and Gabri ushered me out of the mansion and into a car without a word.


    No one else knew what we were doing and if we were caught leaving, there was no good excuse.


    | ced my hand on the window as we drove away, wondering if I''d ever be back there again.


    “Why are we in human territory?” | asked a little whileter, suddenly realizing we''d just crossed the border


    into the nearest human city


    “Witches aren’t wee in ours anymore,” Gabri exined. “They need to hide in in sight.”


    She parked in front of what looked like a regr human doctor''s office.


    I''d never been to one myself. We only had pack healers, but I''d heard of them and seen photos.


    Now that | thought about it, I’d never actually spent time in human territory before, there wasn’t any need


    “How do you know about this ce?” | asked


    Gabri waved her hand in the air. “Don’t worry about it, Lanie. | promise they''ll take care of you here.”


    ufortable-looking seat.


    The room was cold and sterile, and | had the overwhelming desire to shift right there and run all the way back to the Constantine


    mansion.


    Gabri and my mother had only been sitting with me for a second when an older woman called my name. We all followed her


    to a back room.


    More white tiles, papery surfaces, and a strong chemical smell in the air.


    | couldn''t wait to get the f uck out of here.


    Once the door shut behind us, the doctor gave me a warm smile and extended her hand. | shook it warily.


    “lm Isolde,” she said.


    Her hair was long and straight and streaked with gray. Her face wrinkled slightly when she smiled, but something told me she


    was a lot older than she looked.


    “Lanie,” | said in a shaky voice.


    “No need to be nervous, Lanie,” she reassured me. “The spell involves ingesting a potion, so I’m just going to run a few tests to


    see exactly what measure of ingredients will work best for you.”


    “| didn’t realize this was so scientific,” | said as she stuck a needle into my arm and drew blood.


    The p rick of the needle was surprising, but not particrly painful,


    Shifters had thick skin.


    “It wasn’t very scientific back in my day,” my mother said darkly.


    Gabri patted her on the arm. “Isolde is very careful with her magic, Julia.”


    “Yes,” Isolde said. “As such, | would rmend Lanie’s mates take a simr potion. It can easily be slipped into food or drink,


    and it will help break any bonds between you that might prevent your memories from disappating. It’s a way to make sure the


    spell really sticks.”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    “| can get them to they take it,” Gabri offered.


    She seemed eager, perhaps too eager.


    Erasing Xander’s and Zane’s memories of me would erase their memory of vampires, too, wouldn’t it? Was


    that what Gabri wanted? To go back to the old ways?


    you.”


    Isolde slipped out of the room to run the tests, and | turned to Gabri.


    I


    “Does this mean the next time | see Xander and Zane, they won''t remember me, either?”


    The thought made my stomach turn over.


    “Yes,” Gabri gave me a sad smile. “It’s best if you stay away until the potion has done its job for all of


    Isolde entered the room again, a strange look on her face.


    “Isn''t that right, Isolde?” my mother asked. “Lanie’s better off staying away from her mates until the spell is confirmed to have


    worked


    Isolde looked up at my mother and her eyes were full of worry.


    | felt a lump forming in my throat.


    Something was wrong.


    “lm not so concerned with that now,” Isolde said in a somber tone.


    “What I’m more worried about is the fact that Lanie is pregnant.”