Chapter 351: Chapter 351

Zane “Grey! No, you can’t!” The shout tore out of me before | could think twice. | was already running toward him, both hands out to grab the torch away before he could actually set fire to Charlotte.

She had her mouth open wide, but it looked like she was too shocked even to scream. | knew that Lanie was making him do it, but | was still pretty da mned shocked, myself. | dove at him just before he touched the torch to his mate’s sleeve.

In the same moment, Malachi intoned in a strong, cold tone, “Stop!”

Immediately, Greyson backed away. | thanked the Goddess he hadn’t set his mate aflame. | couldn’t stop my forward motion, so | ended up grabbing the torch out of his hand. | couldn't figure out how to extinguish it, but | kept it held far away from my body. |

kept my eye on Greyson, not sure if he was going to try anything else.

Greyson turned to Malachi. “Stop what?”

Charlotte let out a strangled, sobbing noise, and | heard another sound, too. It sounded like a gasp, but when I turned to see who else might be watching all of this play out, | only saw the empty doorway. If someone was watching us from there, they were long gone.

Lanie put her arm around Charlotte’s shoulders. Her expression was twisted and stricken. “I’m so sorry!”

But she didn’t sound sorry. Not exactly. She sounded gleeful and proud.

Mason and Xander had their heads together, muttering. | joined them, still holding the torch. | wasn’t sure what the f uck to do with it, but | knew | didn’t want it anywhere near Greyson just in case.

“Careful with that,” Xander bit out.

“You're not afraid she'll be able to make me try to hurt you with it, are you?” | shot at him through our mind link. | definitely didn’t want Lanie to hear me say it, but | also wasn’t sure if my shield was strong enough to keep her out.

She was still comforting Charlotte and didn’t even toss a glance our way, so | hoped it was okay. My heart had been pounding, but now it started to slow to its normal rhythm.

Mason looked like he wanted to punch a hole straight through something “What the f uck was that? He was actually going to light her on fire.”

It was hard to pulse out some Beta energy for him with my own emotions still in an uproar, but | did my best. | concentrated, sending some out to Xander as well. The two Alphas were visibly upset, looking like they wanted to pace or shift into their wolves.

“Malachi wanted Lanie to compel someone to do something they would never willingly do. | guess this proves she can,” Xander replied with an equally grim expression try, but it’s not like we didn’t already know that she’s powerful.”

“Powerful is one thing,” Xander thought. “But she was willing to let her friend get hurt as part of her test.”

We all turned to look at our mate and Charlotte. The two women were....laughing? And hugging. Charlotte reached out her hand to bring Greyson into the hug. He looked as confused as | felt.

“She doesn’t look like she’s upset about it,” | said aloud, but under my breath.

Malachi had moved closer to us without any of us three noticing. F ucking vamps and their sneak mode.

Mason and Xander didn’t jump, but | could tell they were as surprised by his sudden appearance as | was.

“My granddaughter did well, don’t you think?” Malachi said. He was practically preening.

Xander scowled. “This is b ullsh it, Malachi. | don’t want my mate-”

“Our mate,” Mason cut in.

Xander gave his brother a narrow-eyed glared but nodded. “We don’t want her actively hurting people.”

“She didn’t hurt anyone,” Malachi pointed out. Like he didn’t give two s hits about what Xander or Mason wanted. “If you’re worried about her capacity to cause harm, I’m afraid it’s really out of your hands. Wouldn’t you rather she be able to control her talents than be controlled by them?”

| knew | would, but | was still dealing with the shock of seeing the man I'd thought was becoming my friend about to set his mate on fire. Even knowing he wasn’t doing it out of his own desire didn’t do much to erase the memory of his blank face holding up that torch, If Lanie could make someone almost kill the person they loved beyond any other, what could she make someone do to a person they didn’t care about at all?