~ SASHA ~

"Zev said the same thing to me,

" Sasha breathed, more for the Chimera than Nick, but he leaped on the statement.

"That's what I'm telling you! Zev knows—and he knows I'm not lying about this! Let me ask him. Let him tell you that I'm telling the truth!

" Nick stabbed his thumb at his own chest. But Ernie shuffled on his feet behind Sasha, and Nick flinched and took a step back before he caught himself.

He had to stop, to catch his breath, to catch himself. But he did it. Then he looked at her again.

"I'm not lying.

"

Sasha looked around at all gathered.

Even if he's not lying about this, he's a liar and a manipulator in general, she reminded herself.

But Lhars and Yhet, even the creatures looked nervous.

Nick didn't sound like he was lying. And Zev had told her that Nick was his father. And that he took a personal interest in the survival of the Chimera…

Even if it was for his personal pride, that didn't mean he was lying now.

But did that mean she should listen? She and Zev had agreed it was too early to try to cut off the humans. They wanted to bring the females back first. And they couldn't do that if they were blocking the gateway and fighting a war for survival.

But they'd never save the females if they kept getting sucked back into these plots.

Sasha's idea was crazy… and it just might work. And it also just might kill Zev.

So… which was the greater risk?

The pressure of it all, the impossible decision, weighed on her. There was no way she could let Nick see Zev, know that Zev was injured. It made him too vulnerable—it made all of them vulnerable.

No. She had to fix this.

"I need a minute,

" she said. All the males around her blinked—most of all Nick, who's eyes widened and he looked like she'd just said she was feeding him to Ernie. But she couldn't… she couldn't do this without talking to Zev, and she couldn't risk any of them realizing… If her eyes went blank the way Lhars' did when he was sending over a distance, it was going to give this whole thing away.

So she took a step away. Yhet tried to catch her arm.

"Sasha,

" he rumbled. But she shook her head.

"I'm not going anywhere. I just need a moment to think. Just… just give me a minute.

"

She walked off the trail and into the trees, feeling all their eyes on her back, but as soon as she was on the other side of the trees, she knelt and covered her face.

Zev. Zev, I need you.

I'm coming—

No, Zev, I need your advice and I need you to be calm and think this through.

What is it? What's going on?

Sasha bit her lip and prayed he wouldn't injure himself.

Nick doesn't know that you're not Alpha. He's asking for you. He says the team—the organization—needs to be convinced that you're on board, that the Alpha is on board. Otherwise they're going to steal the ones they want and kill everyone else. He's… I don't think he's lying Zev.

There was a hesitation. She could feel him thinking, his heart racing, put a hand to her own heart that was beating too quickly too.

I don't think he's lying either, Zev said quietly, his voice brimming with tension. I'll get some help, and I'll come—

No, Zev… listen to me.

He went deathly still and with her eyes closed, Sasha could feel him… as if he were right beside her. In her head she imagined putting her hand to his chest and felt him place his over hers.

Sasha… his voice was so stilted, so afraid.

I have to go, Zev, she whispered in his head. I'm Alpha. And I'm human. They can't ignore me. You said so yourself. I have to go.

SASHA, NO!

Zev, be calm. You're going to be needed here.

SASHA, NO, NOT WITH NICK. YOU CAN'T!

I have to, Zev. I know this is scary. And I don't want to leave you. But I think he's telling the truth. And I think he's right that we're not ready to face the hell they can bring in a few hours. I have to go, Zev.

SASHA—

Listen to me—he said it will only be a day or two, okay? If it's more than that, you all figure something out and get over there and get me. In the meantime, we can talk like this okay?

NO SASHA, THE LINK WONT WORK ACROSS THE GATEWAY, YOU HAVE TO—

I can't, Zev. And I think… I think in a little while when things have calmed down, you're going to realize you would have done exactly the same thing. I'm just… I'm just mimicking you.

SASHA, PLEASE—

I love you, Zev. You know that. You know that. Don't panic. Lead.

SASHA, STOP, YOU CAN'T—

Be calm and lead. I'll see you in a couple days, okay?

Then she sent him a picture of them the way they'd always been, with her standing and him behind her, curled around her… that perfect fit.

Then, when he screamed her name again, she cut off the link and stood up, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

She had to get Nick out of there before Zev figured out a way to get to them.

When she strode back to the Chimera, they were all watching. She prayed her eyes weren't too red.

She ignored Nick, stalking straight to Lhars.

"You need to go back and calm your brother. When he finds this out, he's going to lose his mind, and I need him here and safe.

"

Lhars frowned.

"Finds what out, exactly?

"

For an answer, she turned to Nick.

"If the Alpha comes with you, negotiates willingly with the organization, the rest of us will be safe?

"

Nick nodded once.

"So if the Alpha comes with you… no one else has to leave?

"

Lhars startled, and Yhet rumbled a growl. But she ignored them both.

Nick says

"Exactly.

"

She nods.

"Okay, then. Our friends here are all going to accompany you and stay at the gateway and make sure no one else comes through when you leave.

"

Nick nodded quickly.

"Sure. As long as I have Zev over there, everyone else will be fine.

"

Sasha smiled.

"Well, then, let's go.

"

Nick frowned.

"We need Zev… is he here? Did he—

" He started to turn to where she'd gone into the trees, but Sasha shook her head.

"No, you don't need Zev. You said you need the Alpha.

"

Nick's eyes went wide and he turned quickly to Lhars.

"You took Alpha?

"

Lhars shook his head.

"I did, Nick,

" Sasha said quietly.

"I'm the one you want. Everyone else is following my orders—including Zev. So if you've got negotiating to do, it's me you want.

"

She said the words with such conviction, every Chimera present bowed or saluted.

Nick stared at her, stunned.

But Sasha could barely hold his gaze, because despite her attempts to shut Zev off so he couldn't interrupt her, he was fighting, scratching at her resolve. And as the Chimera around her submitted, giving truth to her statement, it was Zev's voice, cracking with desperation, frantic with emotion, echoing in her head.

No… Sasha… Please… YOU CAN'T DO THIS!