Anne wiped at her eyes. "Then we probably have, you're usually right when it comes to these things."
Meryn looked over at Rheia. "It was something you said that started a niggle in my brain."
Rheia gave a sad smile. "A niggle huh?"
Vivi turned to Meryn. "If you think of anything, no matter how small please let me know. I won't make the mistake of underestimating you again."
"Thanks." Meryn said then her eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute, you underestimated me?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Heifer."
Vivi blew her nose in the hanky Hal provided. "I simply adore you too Gizmo."
Meryn was about to respond when Stefan's frantic voice came through Eva's walkie-talkie. "Eva! Please come quick and bring the doctors. The kids are crashing!"
Everyone stared at each other for a moment in horror before they stood and catapulted into action. Serenity and Micah were right behind Ellie and Rheia as they ran for the tunnel. The distance between Level One and the hospital never seemed so long before.
When they ran into the hospital parents were wailing and holding still bodies in their arms. The hospital machines beeped and shrilled out warnings and alerts. But all Serenity saw were her two best friends in standing in the middle of the room. Back to back they held out their hands sending threads of magic to each child.
"No!" she screamed, when she realized what they were doing. They were trying to use their own lives to anchor the children and buy them time, but at a dreadful cost. A cost she would not allow them to pay.
"Serenity, what's going on?" Micah asked, spinning her around to face him.
She knew what she had to do, but her heart protested leaving her mate. She reached up and cupped his cheek and time seemed to stand still.
"I am grateful for those stolen moments that Fate gave to us the night of our claiming. She gave us an entire lifetime in one night, and you know what, it was worth it," she whispered. "I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me."
She used her magic to send a pulse into him dazing him for a moment. Her magic had always been stronger than her friends. She placed her hand on their shoulders and shoved them apart sending them flying to the floor. She took their place at the apex they created and lovingly began to gather the threads to the core of her magic.
She knew nothing about science or labs or markers, but she did know magic. She knew the body's inborn sense to fight and live. She called on that instinct now as she sent her own power down the threads to the tiny bodies struggling to cling to life.
You will live. You will live and grow and laugh and love. And someday if you're very lucky Fate will give you mate as wonderful as mine. It isn't time for you to go.
Slowly the world around her faded as she concentrated on holding on to those precious threads.
/> *****
Micah blinked, then blinked again. When his eyes focused he turned to see Laelia and Radclyffe staring up at Serenity. Laelia had her fist in her mouth as she sobbed and Radclyffe clutched at his chest.
The last thing he remembered was the look of sorrow on his mate's face. The way she begged for his forgiveness. Micah felt like someone had punched him in the stomach.
"Adriel!" he yelled, calling out for the one brother who always knew what to do.
"I am here," Adriel said, wrapping an arm around his upper chest.
"I have to stop her! Help me!" he begged, he struggled to step forward, but another set of hands held him back.
"Kendrick said she is too far into the spell, if we pull her out we'll lose them all," Declan explained quickly, supporting him from his other side.
"None of your nightmares came true! It's not fair!" he pushed at their hands. "Give her back!" he pleaded.
Where once there had been wails and crying, the room was eerily silent as he struggled against his unit brothers. The parents wept for him, knowing that his mate somehow gave their children a chance. She sacrificed herself to give Vivi more time to find a cure for the children.
Kendrick stepped into his field of vision blocking his view of his mate. "Forgive me," he whispered, echoing Serenity's last words to him.
"No!" he raged as Kendrick's hand touched his forehead and darkness claimed him.
CHAPTER TWELVE
When Micah opened his eyes, he felt like he was waking up in a fog. He looked around. Why was he in one of Magnus' guest rooms? Meryn's anxiously watched him, her green eyes wide.