me in shock, like she didn’t actually believe this would work. “Holy crap. Is it really you?”
I swoop down to pluck her up off the couch and twirl her around before setting her on her feet and kissing her thoroughly. When I pull away, I cup her face in my hands and grin like a lunatic. “You did it. I knew you could do it.”
I kiss her again, then step away to look around the room. I can tell it isn’t exactly like the mating cabin—there are small details she replaced with other, easier things. But the place looks and feels solid, and my body feels substantial here, even though it isn’t really my body at all.
Turning back around to face her, I grin widely. “We should go back and try again with the others. See if you can get us all here.”
“But I’m not even sure what I did differently—”
“I know,” I cut in, excitement racing through me. “It was me. When I felt you, I had to let you take me. I think maybe you’re just not quite strong enough to pull one of us with you if we aren’t willing to go. If we aren’t actively supporting the attempt. With practice, I think you’ll be able to do it without our help.”
She returns us both to our bodies in the backyard, and we waste no time leaping up to race into the house. Dare, Trystan, and Ridge are sitting around the coffee table in the living room with battle plans spread across the surface as they hash out details for the upcoming fight.
I let Sable deliver the news of her success, grinning as she adds, “And now we want to test to see if I can carry all of you in with me.”
We join them around the coffee table, settling in close together. I explain what they’ll feel when she reaches for them, and how they need to basically let go of their physical forms and give themselves over to her essence. Then Sable closes her eyes and dives into the astral realm. A moment later, she tugs me after her.
The process is easier this time, and I’m not sure if it’s because I know what to expect and am better prepared to help her, or if she’s already growing more skilled at this. Either way, the fact that we repeated it is a good sign. It means it definitely wasn’t a one-time fluke.
I sit beside her on the couch in the pseudo mating cabin. Worry darkens her eyes, and I rest a hand on her knee, turning a little to face her.
“You can do this,” I tell her, well aware that I’ve repeated that phrase a dozen times since we started this mission. But I’ve meant it every single time. “Concentrate. They know what to do, and they’re ready for you. Bring the rest of our family here.”
Sable nods and wipes her palms on her pants, then closes her eyes.
One by one, she drags Dare, Trystan, and Ridge into the cabin until we’re all gathered together in the astral realm, brought here by the bond we share.
“Damn. This is fucking epic.” Trystan practically tips his head back and howls, excitement filling his voice. “We can rip Cleo apart.”
“Assuming I can do this again and take you somewhere I didn’t create,” Sable points out wryly.
“We’ll keep practicing,” I assure her. “Until you feel totally confident with it.”
“What I feel right now is tired,” she says with a wan smile. “Let’s go back. I need a break.”
I feel a subtle release in energy, and then I snap back into my consciousness on my living room floor.
Ridge lifts his hands and looks down at them, clearly impressed. “Mind-boggling. Well done, little wolf.”
A rose glow rises in her cheeks, and she shrugs. Then suddenly, her voice echoes in my head. I can’t believe that actually worked.
I jerk, surprised. The other three alphas each react the same way, their gazes snapping to Sable.
“Did you guys hear that?” I ask over the beat of my heart in my ears.
Dare nods. “Mind speak.”
And we’re not in wolf form, I add, thinking the thought as loudly as possible.
Their gazes move from Sable to me, indicating that they all heard me.
My mate’s eyes widen. “Did you just… talk in my head?”
“I did. And you talked in ours,” I tell her. Excitement and shock are buzzing through my veins, and I shake my head in amazement.
Ridge rubs his hand over the dark scruff on his jaw,