Zander's POV
"Thirty seconds," Morgana said softly, watching us like a cat playing with mice.
My heart hammered against my chest as I stared at little Mira. She looked so real, so innocent, so living. Just like my baby brother had looked before the rogues tore him apart.
"Zander," Kira whispered beside me. "What do we do?"
I could feel her pain through our mate link. The frantic love for her sister. The heavy guilt of failing to save her ten years ago. The impossible hope that maybe, just maybe, she could have her family back.
It was the same pain I'd carried for twenty years.
"Kira?" Mira's small voice shook with fear. "Why won't you answer me? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, baby," Kira choked out. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"Then why does everyone look so scared?" Mira took a step toward us, and I saw Kira's determination crumbling. "I missed you so much. The nice lady said you were going to get me, but you never came."
Fifteen seconds left.
