Emma pursed her lips. “That’s true. Perhaps it’s time you shared what that really means, Adare.” She gestured to the medical records. “Not one of those doctors knew she was a Key, or even what a Key is. Neither do I. There’s no way we can create a good medical plan without all of the facts.”

Adare kept his gaze on Grace but spoke to Emma. “Could anybody else have survived that coma for two years?”

“No,” Faith answered before Emma could. “It was a medical mystery, along with the fact that Grace’s body didn’t atrophy in the slightest, and her breathing and heart functions remained in the healthy range for nearly two years, until she started to decline rapidly and almost died.”

“That’s when we mated,” Adare said quietly. “The fact that she’s a Key kept her alive much longer than normal.” He finally released Grace’s gaze and looked directly at Emma. “I can’t tell you much, but you’ve studied your three prophets, right?”

Grace leaned up. “I’ve heard of the prophets but don’t know much about them.”

Emma picked up a pen and twirled it between her fingers. “There are three prophets, supposedly determined by fate, and they’re kind of the spiritual leaders of the Realm. They have a marking down their necks and backs, and when one dies, another takes his or her place.” Her nostrils flared. “They’re psychic and powerful, and we have no idea how they’re chosen, to be honest.”

Grace tugged the front of her shirt down to reveal the perfect mark of a key set between her heart and clavicle. “I have this birthmark, but I don’t believe in fate and all of that.”

“Why?” Adare asked. “Obviously there’s an entire world you didn’t know existed and can’t explain, so why not fate? Do you really think this path, any path, is arbitrary?” His gaze burned as he looked at the birthmark. “How do you explain your surviving the coma? Becoming immortal? Seeing things in other people nobody else sees?”

She couldn’t explain any of it. “What’s your point?” She went with irritation instead of uncertainty.

“My point is that we know for certain what happens to you as a human. You go into a coma and eventually die.” He stood, looking powerful and determined. “Taking the virus to negate the mating bond will only land you back in a coma. Your dying is not an option.”

Because they needed her as a Key? She swallowed, her stomach now doing flip-flops. “Listen, Adare—”

“No. I’m done listening, since all you do is lie.” The anger in his eyes would scare a charging grizzly bear. “We don’t know what would happen if you mated, but I believe that being a Key will save you. It’s the only thing that will.”