Chapter 61

Agnes

Elijah and I skidded around the corner to the living room and came screeching to a halt the moment we saw the horrific scene that was waiting for us.

The dollhouse now lay in ruins, its roof cracked straight down the middle. And none other than Olivia stood above it, her fists still raised.

My eyes immediately snapped to Thea, who was huddled in the corner, wide-eyed and pressed so tightly against the wall she looked ready to disappear into it.

“What did you do to my daughter?!”

The words tore out of my throat before I could think. I crossed the room in seconds, dropping to my knees and pulling Thea against me. Her small hands gripped the fabric of my shirt, and she buried her face into my shoulder. I felt her shaking against me, and pure rage washed over me.

The type of rage that only a mother could feel.

Perhaps Thea wasn’t my biological daughter, but if Olivia had hurt her in any way, physically or otherwise, I would kill her. And if the dark, stormy look in Elijah’s eyes was any indication, he would gladly let me do it.

“Agnes—” Olivia started, her voice wavering, but I cut her off with a glare.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I snapped, my voice shaking with a fury I could barely control. “She’s terrified!”

Elijah was already moving. He strode up to Olivia, towering over her with his hands clenched into fists at his sides. I wondered for a moment if he might hit her, but I knew that he would restrain himself better than I ever could.

“Get out,” was all he said, his voice dark and dangerous. He reached for Olivia’s arm, ready to haul her toward the door, but Thea whimpered and pointed toward the wreckage.

“There!” Thea’s voice wavered as she clutched my arm tighter. “It’s— it’s still there!”

Elijah and I both stopped and followed her gaze. And then I saw it.

Crawling over the shattered remains of the dollhouse was an enormous spider, its bloated black and yellow body glinting in the light. Its legs skittered across the broken wooden panels, inching dangerously closer to Thea’s discarded doll.

A venomous spider. All it took was one look for me to realize that, and the hairs on the back of my neck and my arms immediately raised on instinct. Gasping, I swept Thea up into my arms and stood, moving toward the door to get away from it.

“Damn it,” Elijah muttered. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and crushed the spider under his boot. A sickening crunch echoed through the room, making me wince. I could feel Thea flinch against me, burying her face in my shoulder again.

Olivia let out a long breath and turned to face Elijah and me. She brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face and then placed her hands on her hips. “See?” she bit out. “Why must you always assume I’m trying to hurt my little girl?”

I opened my mouth to say something, maybe something about how it wasn’t exactly like she had a veritable track record of maternal kindness for us to go off of, but something about the way she swayed slightly caught my attention.

She reached up to touch her hair again, and her hand lingered near her temple. Her fingers ghosting over her hairline before sliding back down to her side. As her sleeve shifted with the motion, the mark was on full display.

There were two faint red puncture marks just above her wrist.

“Elijah,” I said, nudging him slightly. “Her hand.”

His gaze snapped to Olivia’s wrist. His brow furrowed.

“What is that?” he demanded, stepping closer to her.

Olivia followed his gaze and frowned, turning her palm up to examine it. “I—I didn’t even notice.”

But even as she spoke, her movements became sluggish. Her hand dropped to her side, and the next thing I knew, her knees buckled.

Elijah surged forward and caught her before she hit the ground.

“Agnes!” His voice was urgent, his grip tightening around Olivia as she slumped into him. “Get baking soda. Now.”

“What?” I blinked. “Baking soda?”

“The spider venom,” he barked. “Baking soda and water can neutralize it if she drinks the solution. Go mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a cup of water, now.”

I hesitated for a split second, staring open-mouthed at Olivia—which was a split second too long, apparently. Elijah shot me a look I couldn’t decipher, one that burned through my hesitation. I set Thea down and sprinted toward the kitchen.

The cabinets clattered as I yanked them open, scrambling to find the box of baking soda tucked away near the flour. My hands were shaking so badly that I nearly dropped it twice before managing to get a glass of water filled and stir in the powder.

When I returned to the living room, Olivia was draped across Elijah’s lap. One of his hands cradled her head, the other gently tracing circles along her back.

“Elijah…” Her voice was barely audible. Her eyes fluttered open just enough for her gaze to lock onto his, and her hand weakly clung to his forearm. “Please don’t let go, darling… Please…”

My steps faltered.

I felt like I was intruding on something I shouldn’t have been. The way he held her—so carefully, so protectively—was a version of Elijah I rarely saw, and I hated how much it made my chest ache.

I knew I shouldn’t be feeling like this. Olivia had been bitten by a venomous spider, and she was sick.

And yet, something about it made me uneasy. Although I couldn’t quite seem to place my finger on it.

Still, I hurried over and handed the glass to Elijah. He coaxed the glass to her lips, gently tipping it forward as Olivia sipped the mixture. Her eyes remained half-closed, but there was something soft in her expression. A look I had never seen her direct at anyone but Elijah.

As she drank, her free hand drifted over his arm, stroking it softly.

“I knew you would still take care of me,” she whispered, slurring her words. Her voice was soft and tender, and it wouldn’t have taken a genius to realize what was happening.

I looked away. I didn’t want to watch this.

But there was no mistaking it: the faint glow of their mating marks. Both of them.

The soft, golden light pulsed beneath their skin—Elijah’s along his throat, and Olivia’s just above her shoulder. The glow was faint, but unmistakable. The mate bond responding. Reawakening.

I gripped the hem of my sweater, my knuckles turning white as I fought to steady my breathing.

“Elijah—” I started, but I didn’t get the chance to finish.

Because in the next second, Olivia’s eyes fluttered fully open. Her gaze shifted, meeting mine for the briefest of moments over Elijah’s shoulder.

She smiled.

It was barely there. A flicker. A flash of teeth, a tilt of her head. So quick I almost thought I imagined it.

But I didn’t.

I watched it happen.

Then, just as fast, she shifted her gaze back to Elijah, her expression softening once again.

“Elijah…” Olivia’s voice trailed off as her hand slid around the back of his neck.

His lips parted slightly, and for a moment, I thought he might pull away. But instead, his gaze softened, and he leaned closer.

And just like that, they kissed. Deeply. Passionately. Hands wandering, eyes closing, breaths mingling.

And all I could do was stand there, frozen, and watch it happen.