“Georgina still hasn’t called back?” Cade asked from the driver’s seat. Levi had fought Toby off when he tried to get in the back seat with us. He’d settled for sitting sideways in the passenger seat so he could watch me. I must have dozed off when Levi called his grandmother, because I couldn’t recall the conversation.
Levi gently stroked my stomach through my sweater. “She said it could take a few hours to make contact.”
“Does she realize how serious the situation is?” Toby still hadn’t turned around.
“Of course, she does. She promised she’d be ready for us when we got there.”
I sighed loudly.
“Are you still awake, Allie?” Cade asked. “You should probably try to get some sleep.”
Having three grown men worrying about me wore me out. Sleep would probably be a welcome distraction. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the feel of Levi’s hand.
I spent the entire ride fading in and out of consciousness. One great thing about Pterons is that they don’t need to sleep much, so we drove through the night. The sun shone through the window when we pulled into Georgina’s drive.
“Where is she?” Georgina yelled loudly enough that I could hear her through the closed window.
She pulled open the car door before Levi could open it himself. “Take her inside, now.”
Levi stepped out of the car without setting me down. “Did you find someone who can help?”
“Of course I did, Leviathan. Quit wasting your breath on such pointless questions.” Despite my state, I had to smile. I’d never heard anyone talk to Levi that way. I’d also never heard anyone call him by his full name other than at formal events.
Georgina didn’t bother to acknowledge the other guys. It didn’t surprise me at all. A servant held the door open, and Levi carried me inside to a sitting room down the hall from the screened in porch.
“Is this the girl?” A tiny old woman asked when Levi walked us into the room.
Georgina nodded. “Yes. This is the next queen. Do whatever it takes.”
A cold hand touched my arm as the old woman examined my hand. “How long has this ring been on?”
“Since August, Mayanne.” Georgina didn’t give Levi a chance to answer.
“Your grandson is the one who bungled the bond?”
“Bungled it—” Levi started to say before Georgina cut him off.
“Yes, she’s my grandson’s mate. What I care about is fixing it.”
“It can’t be fixed,” Mayanne said flatly.
“What? Why are we wasting our time here if she can’t help?” Toby yelled.
The old woman glared at Toby. “Calm yourself, boy. It can’t be fixed, but it can be undone. First we need to get her strength back.”
“How do we do that?” Levi still cradled me against his body. I held on to consciousness by running my fingers down his chest. “And who are you?”
“My name’s Mayanne. I knew your great-grandmother Carol well.”
Levi shifted me slightly. “Are you a witch?”
“Yes,” she said resolutely.
“Can we trust her?” Levi asked Georgina.
“Absolutely.”
Levi sighed. “We don’t have any other choice…”
“No, you don’t.” Mayanne grabbed a large tote bag. “I need to make a drink. Georgina, please assist me in the kitchen.”
“Very well.”
The two women left the room.
“A drink? You don’t think she means liquor, do you?” Toby asked no one in particular.
Cade laughed dryly. “I’d hope it’s more than that. Besides, how would that get her strength back? It would just make her more tired.” He crossed his arms and turned to Levi. “You could sit down you know. You don’t have to play the hero and hold her all day.”
“It’s not like she’s heavy. I prefer standing.” Levi didn’t sound like himself, and that worried me. He was always the one who stayed strong.
I snuggled my head into his shirt. Staying awake was probably more work than Levi was using to hold me.
Georgina and Mayanne returned before I could drift off again.
“Drink this.” A cold glass was pressed against my lips.
“Wha?” I tried to ask.
“Don’t waste your energy. Just drink it.” Mayanne was surprisingly forceful for such a small woman. Still, I wasn’t going to drink something without knowing what it was.
I shook my head.
“Just drink it, babe. It’s going to make you better.” Levi put his hand on top of mine.
“I never said it would make her better. I said it would make her strong enough to get through what she has to get through.”
“It’s safe, Allie.” Georgina appeared next to me.
I nodded. For one reason or another, I really trusted her. I opened my mouth and let the cold, bitter drink spill down my throat. There was something familiar about the taste.
Mayanne must have read my expression. “It’s pomegranate juice. That’s what you’re tasting.”
“Pomegranate juice? That’s your great idea?” Toby fumed.
Mayanne smiled, and her whole face lit up. “Natural antioxidants have a lot of healing properties.”
Georgina laughed. “There’s more than pomegranate juice in there, but that’s all Allie needs to know about.”
I wanted to regurgitate the drink. What was I drinking?
“It may take up to an hour.”
“Were you being serious? Is it really that dangerous?” Levi finally sat down. I clung to him.
He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Even if you let go, I’m not putting you down.”
I smiled, but the next words out of Mayanne’s mouth wiped that smile away immediately. “An improper bond is lethal.”
Levi hung his head. “I’m such an idiot.”
“Glad you finally admit it.” Toby was back to his pacing again.
“How does it work? You said there was something we could do.” Levi sounded calmer. More resolute.
“The one who made the improper bond has to undo it. You have to repeat the same sequence of events that led to Allie receiving the ring, and you have to ask for it back.”
“Ask for it back?” His voice shook. My chest ached.
Mayanne nodded. “Yes. That’s essential. You need to take the ring back, and you have to do it in exactly the same way you gave it to her. Same place, same time, same clothes.”