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swearing that one day, when it would be safe, he’d make it up to Clay. But the years passed in an eternal wait, and before he knew it, Klaus had been completely engulfed by his fears. His connection to Clay grew more and more tenuous. Could Ross heal that?
    Taking a deep breath, he began to speak again. “Some things are very difficult for Wolfram to shoulder alone. He is a very strong man, but the weight of a nation is hard to carry. I wanted to be by his side, to help him. But then you showed up, Clay, and my world changed. I was so torn. I didn’t know what to do. I’d have chosen you, but around that time, my visions got worse. I began to see you in them as well, and I feared for your life.”
    Klaus paused, allowing his mates to take in the information. “And this happened ten years ago?” Ross asked.
    Klaus nodded silently. Ross looked away from them, rubbing his arms as if he felt cold. “Ten years ago, Joseph found me,” he murmured.
    So Klaus had been right. Their abilities were somehow connected.
    The practicalities of it lost their importance though, when faced with the obvious pain gracing Ross’s delicate features. What tortures had Joseph subjected Ross to?

    Star-Crossed Mates
    33
    Something inside Klaus urged him to comfort Ross, but he didn’t think any such initiative would be welcome. Ross plopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I interrupted you. Go on.”
    It was a clear diversionary tactic, but Klaus let it go. He opened his mouth to finish his explanation, but he didn’t get the chance. The feel of his approaching enemies invaded his senses. Instantly, both his mates became alarmed as well.
    “What’s going on?” Ross asked.
    “The hunters,” Clay replied. “We need to get out of here.”
    Klaus was already mapping a way out for them. They grabbed the meager belongings of the fugitives and the precious serum that might have saved Ross’s life. Together, they left the small room and headed out to the fire escape.
    Behind them, he sensed their pursuers trying to scan the area, but thankfully, he held the advantage of superior spiritual abilities. He should have no trouble in wiping their traces.
    Indeed, they managed to lose the hunters with relative ease, but the close call put things into perspective. “I have to go back,” he told his mates. “There’s a manhunt on for you two, and I’m more useful there.”
    “We should establish a time and place where we can meet again,”
    Ross suggested.
    The offer surprised Klaus, but he recovered quickly. He didn’t fool himself. There were high possibilities he might get caught. For that reason, they couldn’t risk setting a clear date. “Call me in three days. We should find a more definite solution by then.”
    On impulse, he hugged them both. “Take care, all right?”
    “You, too,” Clay answered. “We still have a conversation to finish.”
    “Perhaps you shouldn’t return to them,” Ross mumbled. “I just have a bad feeling, and I can’t shake it.”

    34
    Scarlet Hyacinth
    Klaus forced himself to break the embrace. “There’s no other way. Now run. “
    As his two mates disappeared into the night, Klaus considered his next move. It wouldn’t be easy, but no matter what, he needed to help his mates.
    The trip back to the Magistrate’s Den lasted far too long for his comfort, but not because Klaus particularly wanted to go there. In fact, for the first time ever, Klaus no longer felt like returning to the Den. For so long, it had been his home, but now he dreaded the very sight of it.
    Still, no one commented upon his arrival. No one even blinked at him having been gone or asked any uncomfortable questions. All of them were used to him taking up various missions or private requests for the Magistrate. Either way, no one considered him capable of ever straying from the so-called righteous path, from being the Magistrate’s ever-faithful watchdog.
    But then again, he