The very machine they had used to try to steal her magic had broken every binding put in place to restrict her magic. She was able to use it against them now; she would make them pay.

Under her feet, she felt the earth begin to shift and undulate like a rising wave. She coaxed it, called to it like a beloved child. Cobblestones flew in the air as large mud hands reached up and grabbed the ferals, their once terrifying advance stopped dead in its tracks.

Amelia. Sweetheart, you have to stop. A familiar voice said in her mind.

No, I don't want to.

I know you don't want to, but you have to. If you don't stop, you'll hurt someone, and I know you don't want that.

Yes, I do, Athair! I want to hurt them all! I want them dead!

Calm down and let me help you pull your magic in. Something has removed every protection I put in place for you.

No!

Amelia Violet Ironwood, you will do as I say. The voice was firm, uncompromising.

They killed Keelan!

She screamed and her earth magic began to tighten and twist the bodies it held in its mud hands.

Seconds later, a tremendous surge of magic flowed through her. Fire erupted out of the mud, incinerating the ferals almost instantly. She let her hand drop. Kendrick's fire magic had drained her of power. She knew he had somehow inadvertently used her to channel his own magic to destroy the ones that had killed his little brother.

She stood alone in the square. The ferals were now macabre statues of ash. A small body slammed into her back, and she felt arms wrap around her waist.

"Amelia, Amelia, Amelia! Don't leave me alone! You're the only family I have," Meryn begged, soaking her back with tears.

"There's too much pain, Meryn, everyone's pain." Amelia let her head drop forward. She didn't have the strength to go on any more. What would be the point?

"Give me five minutes. I'll go and knock all those fuckers in Council Manor out so you don't feel their pain," Meryn pleaded.

"Share your pain, my love."

Amelia looked up and saw her mate walking toward her. The early morning sun was rising behind him and seemed to set his hair ablaze, giving him a golden halo. Around him, the Alpha Unit entered the square. Aiden gently pulled Meryn away from her. Darian cupped her face with both hands and looked down.

"If there's too much pain, let me share it. If you find it too hard to take a step forward, I'll carry you. You didn't let me give up; I'm returning the favor." He leaned down and gently kissed each eyelid.

Just being near him made the horror of the night fade away, like the stars fading with the rising of the sun. She sighed. "I'm so tired."

"Then let's go home." Her mate's voice was the last thing she heard before she closed her eyes and let the darkness sweep her away.

*****

Amelia slept until late afternoon and was shocked to see that she was still in Council Manor when she woke. She looked around from the cot where she lay, trying to find Darian, but he was nowhere in sight. She got up and folded the gray wool blanket, leaving it on the cot. She glanced around the crowded ballroom before she spotted a familiar face.

She saw Sascha helping a couple with their children and jogged over to him.

"Where is everyone? Why are we still here?"

Sascha growled as the small family walked away. "Aiden has been in with the Council since this morning, and none of the unit members are leaving here without him. They haven't even let him get any rest.

"Meryn and Beth woke up about an hour ago and have been helping to get the last of the families reassured and back to their homes. Rheia has been at Keelan's side since she woke up. The last I heard, Gavriel finally hit his limit, and he and the Alpha Unit barged into the council session to get Aiden. They should be coming out soon." Sascha nodded his head toward the heavy wooden doors.

"Thanks, guess I better go find Meryn."

"Hey, Amelia," Sascha called.

"Yes?"

"We're all real sorry about Keelan. He... he was like a kid brother to all of us. I'd do anything to have him up and electrocuting me again." Sascha turned his head, his eyes filling up with tears.

"Thank you," she said simply and walked away to find her baby sister-cousin.

After a few minutes, she felt tendrils of her empathy begin to flare to life. All around her, people's emotions were riding high. Taking advantage of nearly depleted magic, Amelia took a deep breath and easily shoved her empathy back into the mental box where she normally kept it. She didn't know what to do about her earth magic, but considering she had destroyed the city square, she didn't think it would cause problems any time soon. She looked out at the setting sun. She was beginning to think they would never be able to go home.

She walked around until she found Meryn and headed over to where she, Beth, Penny and Rheia stood around the gurney where Keelan lay. Meryn wept quietly as she brushed Keelan's hair back from his face. Ryuu stood behind her, a comforting hand on her shoulder. Penny looked on with sad eyes, reaching out occasionally to pat Keelan on the cheek.

"I can keep him alive, but I don't know for how long. A body isn't meant to live without a soul," Adam explained. They all nodded.

"We'll take care of him," Meryn promised fiercely.

The large wooden doors creaked open, and with faces like thunderclouds, Aiden, Gavriel, and the rest of the Alpha Unit walked up to the small group.

"We're leaving. Adam, can you arrange for transport to get Keelan back to Alpha Estate? He is not, I repeat not to be transferred to the medical quarters here in Council Manor for study." Aiden growled out the words, his upper canines peeking out from his lips.