Xena''s POV


    "You can shift back now. I brought you clothes," Ryder said.


    His voice was like a lifeline pulling me back. Una retreated into the depths of my mind, sparing me from the agony we''d been enduring. When dry earth tickled my nose and made me sneeze, I knew I was human again.


    God, the pain was unbearable, like my skin was being peeled awayyer byyer.


    "It hurts," I whimpered as Ryder slipped a shirt over my head. I felt shorts being pulled up my legs, and every brush of fabric against my hypersensitive skin felt like-tiny des slicing through me. My nerves were raw, exposed, screaming with each touch.


    "I''m sorry. I can''t believe you did this without me present. You knew it would be painful. It makes me angry that you went through this because of me." His voice was thick with guilt and self-reproach his green eyes darkened with concern.


    "Your father sprung it on me. Can I sleep now?” I managed to say. ck spots were dancing across my vision, expanding like ink in water Exhaustion crashed over me in waves, and I felt myself sinking, consciousness being swallowed by darkness.


    "Yes, sleep, my love. I''ll take care of you." I heard him whisper against my ear, felt the gentle press of his lips against my forehead, and then nothing but ckness.


    Ryder''s POV


    I sat beside Xena, watching her chest rise and fall with each shallow breath. Fury coursed through my veins, hot and potent, allowing my wolf instincts to take over until my wolf saw his mate. Only then did he begin to calm. When he realized she was in pain, his anger morphed into guilt.


    I hadn''t realized until now how many times her inability to mind-link with anyone had been a disadvantage, but my father making her do this without me present made my blood boil.


    William had left me his phone before he took off. I needed to call Logan, tell him what had happened. I hated adding to his burden, but he was our best ally right


    now.


    Finding Logan''s number, I hit call. The phone rang only twice before he answered.


    "William?"


    "No, it''s me," I sighed, running a hand through my hair.


    "Ryder? What''s going on? Where''s your phone?" Logan immediately sounded on alert.


    "My phone is probably smashed somewhere. I honestly don''t know. Listen, I don''t have good news


    "Is Xena okay?" Logan''s tone grew tense.


    "Yes, she''s fine." Standing up, I began pacing back and forth, unable to stay still. "What is it?" Logan ressed.


    "We finally cracked that phone..." I paused, the weight of what we''d discovered sitting heavy on my chest.


    ...and?" Logan prompted after a moment of silence.


    Chapter 191.


    “It''s bad. The phone had connections to the same building in the city but worse, there were photos taken from my territory days


    ago."


    "What?" Logan shouted, and I had to pull the phone away from my car.


    "Xena thinks, based on the angles, that the photos were taken from distance at a height. She believes drones were flying overhead taking video, then screenshots were sent to the phone."


    "Why would these photos be sent to the phone?" Logan asked, his voice charged with anger.


    "Probably so the Rogues could identify her," I admitted, the words tasting like defeat on my tongue.


    Saying it aloud filled me with self-loathing. As her protector, I should have anticipated these dangers, should have been more vignt. But I failed, and now she was in danger, and it was all my fallt.


    "Is there a n for this situation?" Logan asked.


    "We don''t have one yet. I lost control and just now calmed down," I admitted.


    "Is that why she gave up


    her link?"


    "Yes. More than once, her inability to mind-link with anyone here for help or otherwise has been an issue."


    "I''m guessing she''s passed out now?"


    "Yes."


    "How the fuck do we stop a goddamn drone?" Logan''s frustration mirrored my


    own.


    "Don''t know. Xena thinks they''d have to be within a mile or two to control it. Send scouts out, they can find anyone. Once found,


    I shoot it down."


    Our options were so limited, like we were backed into a corner. The drone could monitor our every move from the sky while we could only react, and that helplessness filled me with rage.


    "She won''t stay indoors forever. We''ve already shut down her shop. We can''t open the bar either before this is all over," Logan


    muttered, thinking out loud.


    "It''s gettingte. This is going to be a long week," I sighed, looking over at Xena''s sleeping form.


    A buzzing sound caught my attention. Looking up, I saw a small bee flying around above my head, then suddenly it exploded right in front of my face.


    "What the hell?" Smoke entered my nostrils, stinging and acrid.


    That''s not a regr bee, it''s some kind of device! My brain screamed danger, but


    it was toote-the poison smoke had already


    entered my system.


    I immediately fumbled in my clothing for a small ck device and swallowed it. Ryder? Logan''s voice sounded distant now.


    "Shit, Logan, help- The world began to spin, and then everything went ck.