Absolutely not, Kade projects, his mental voice a sharp, protective spike through the mate bond. Isla, if we plug him in, the network will try to assimilate him. It will try to overwrite his mind.
It will try, I project back, my mental voice fierce, unyielding. But it doesn't understand love. It doesn't understand the mate bond. We will anchor him. We will hold the line inside his head.
I look at Kade, my physical eyes locking onto his green gaze. We do it together. Or we don't do it at all.
He stares at me for a long, agonizing moment. Then, slowly, he nods. Together.
I find Asher and Elara in the newly planted oak grove behind the Administration Wing.
Asher is sitting on the grass, his knees pulled up to his chest. He is staring at his right hand—the hand that had turned into a crys
