Whispers from the Void

The shattering wave of fear hit me like a physical blow, tearing me from the height of pleasure straight into gut-wrenching terror. One moment, I was lost in Kaelen's arms, our bodies still trembling with shared release, and the next—

"Ro," I gasped, the name tearing from my throat as his panic flooded my mind.

Kaelen's arms tightened around me. His face, still flushed from our outdoor encounter, hardened into sharp lines of concern. "Something's wrong."

The afterglow of our four-way bond connection with Jaxon and Rhys evaporated instantly. I felt Jaxon's consciousness snap to alertness like a whip cracking, his pleasure transforming into protective rage.

"What the fuck is happening?" Jaxon's voice crashed through our mental link.

Kaelen didn't waste time answering. His eyes flashed blue as he expanded our connection, reaching beyond our immediate group.

Then I heard it—Ronan's voice, thin with terror: "—not real, it's not real..."