Chapter 290: Chapter 289

Xander “I'm fine,” Lanie insisted. “Love, | promise you. | was just a little bit dizzy for a few seconds. I’m fine”

The moment she’d tumbled forward, | had her in my arms. Now we sat on the porch steps with her in my lap. | was still naked.

Mason had thrown on a pair of jeans, his chest and feet still bare. Zane sat next to me, a comforting hand on my back.

“| didn’t even faint,” Lanie declared, pushing at my chest. “It was just a rush of...something. I’m not sure what it was, but I’m fine now. You all felt it?”

“Yes,” Mason put in.

“| did,” Zane added.

| cradled her closer to me, staring deep into her eyes. “We all did. So you better tell me what the f uck is actually going on with you, or...

“Or what?” she demanded with a quirk of her eyebrow. “Will you...sp ank me?”

“This is no time for jokes,” | warned her, but her Luna light pulsed out around her, joined by Zane’s Betal energy.

It was almost like | couldn’t stand against the two of them. My irritation eased away. | was still upset, but not enraged.

ht sight of M | caught of Mason's expression, looking a little confused. Then admiring. He shook his head but didn’t say anything.

Lanie pushed against me again. “You need to get dressed. I'll tell you everything.”

Quickly, | pulled on a pair of jeans, a flannel, and my boots. The four of us gathered again on the front porch. My mother hovered inside, peeking out the windows until | turned and gave her a look. Then she backed off, but | knew she was as worried as | was.

This has nothing to do with homeschooling, right?” confronted my Luna, and she shook her head “No, love. And I’m sorry | was hiding the truth from you while | worked on all of this.” Lanie took a deep breath and shared a glance with Zane.

“Hea sounded.

already knows?” Mason asked in a low voice that sounded. hell, | couldn't tell how my brother Zane moved forward to put a hand on Mason’s shoulder, but my brother stepped neatly away from it before the touch landed. He stayed focused on Lanie and took her hands in his to kiss the knuckles, one at a time, on each hand.

“You're all my mates, equally.” Lanie replied in an even tone. “So yes, Zane knows.”

zel Zane’s Beta strength tougioune genitly back to....well, not neutral, but definitely not infuriated. It was ustrating. | wanted to shout and pound my fists, but he was keeping me as calm as he could.

When | shot a look at mybrother who was pacing the porch as Lanie told us everything she’d been up t nd discovered, | could see Mascosanneer practically vibrating around him. With each pulse of Zone’s energy oward him, he flinched, and his intactangoner, until finally, Mason sagged against the porch railing with hiss ack toward us.

“I'm going with you, | told y una with mocow She nodded. “Yes. Not because you’regioernanding it, though.”

| frowned, and she took my hand tedinkoupenogers “Mason needs Zane right now,” she whisper-thoughtcone. He’s raw frorn his meeting with Asher, and the vo of them need to learn how to accept what cecounters the other. You and | will go to the human city.”

“I'm not staying wherever the f uck that source add you | had to stay, | warned her through the link. “F uck lat noise. I’m not “You'll have to,” she cut in. Her eyes bore into name as dengers tightened. This isn’t about your ego.”

“No. It's about keeping you safe.”

“It's about the safety of our daughter, Lanie shot back. We need to find out what this source, this arkLuna, can tell me about hybrids. Because war is coming, Endocrinether we like it or not, and we need to e prepared. So that means, also whether or not you like it, that tweingya cocollow those instructions. | will not sk my daughter.”

Goddess, she was powerful. | didn’t agree with her, but | knew there was no way | was going to be able to tand against her.

All of this is f ucked,” | said aloud.

But we have no choice,” Lanie added quietly.

Her gaze flicked over my shoulder to my brother, leaning on the railing. Zano sconto eren’t saying anything out loud, but | could catch a hint of them communicating through priva me, when Zane put a hand on Mason's shoulder, my brother didn’t shrug it away.

When do we have to leave?” | asked my Luna.

vive to meet the source at midnight,” she confirmed with a glance at her watch Whichhmmenns we ave to leave right now”