“Clarissa,” I whisper her na
me. “Are you alright?”
“You came,” she says weakly. “Even though...I said I never wanted...to see you again.”
“Of course,” I tell her, smiling. “We know you didn’t mean it.”
Sebastian joins my side and moments later, Theo arrives.
Reluctantly, I hand her to him. “Take her. And bring her to safety.”
Theo nods, cradling Clarissa in his huge arms. She looks positively tiny against him. A small frail thing.
She’d kill me if she ever heard me think that. I’m glad that reading me is not her particular skillset.
“I think not.” Syllas presses a button and in the next instant, the doors to the room fall shut, an alarm blaring. “No one is leaving this facility, least of all, Eve.”
“Who are you?” Sebastian asks through gritted teeth.
“You must be Sebastian,” Syllas says, that grin still on his face. “And the Bear here must be Theo.”
Sebastian’s eyes grow wide in surprise that lasts only an instant, and then narrow, face settling into a frown. He knows. He knows there was a spy.
“Um, Sebastian,” Theo speaks. “What’s going on with these Cats?”
I glance around.
I did notice the Cats in the room earlier, all of them completely immobile. Now, though, they’re starting to move, ears and tails twitching, lips curling.
“Why don’t you ask Clarissa?” Syllas points to her.
It’s got to be a ploy but we fall for it anyway. Sebastian and I both glance at her.
“Oh, right. She can no longer answer, can she?” Syllas clicks his tongue disapprovingly. “The poor girl used up all her limited energy, physical and mental, although she did use them amazingly.”
“What do you mean?” Sebastian demands.
Syllas touches his chin. “Oh, just that dear Clarissa here underwent a physical transformation.”
What?
“That’s right. While she did not transform into an animal completely, she did transform, claws and fur and tail and all. And as if that was not enough, she also commanded everyone here to stop, using sheer mental ability.”
I blink. She did?
“I’m guessing it was something like the mental telepathy Wolves share, except she was somehow able to take it to a different level.” Syllas turns to Sebastian. “You know how alphas can command the pack. She did that, even though we weren’t her pack.” He sounds proud, like he’s got a piece of that particular accomplishment.
“And yet, you seem to be immune,” I observe quietly.
His grin widens. “Well, I have a stronger will than most.”
“Then why are they moving now?” Theo asks.
“I’m guessing it’s because she’s slipping away,” Syllas answers. “The moment she loses consciousness, everyone will be back to normal.”
He glances at the men behind him who are also stirring back to life.
“Impossible,” Sebastian mutters, fists clenched.