Page 121 of A Trial of Two Worlds
“Zola,” Shaw pleaded, yet she still refused to turn toward him. Shaw’s jaw tightened as his fists clenched, shaking with frustration. “I should go with you.”
“I’ve handled myself just fine for well over six hundred years, shifter. I don’t need you to tag along. You’ll only slow me down.”
Before Shaw could begin his protest, Zola faded into the shadows and jumped away.
“Gods a-fucking-bove,” Shaw cursed, glaring up at the rays of the rising sun peeking out beyond the mountains. He turned and kicked a post, dislodging it from the ground as it splintered and shattered under the force of his frustrations. The pegasi were startled, neighing and bucking with unease, scattering toward the far side of their holding.
Shifters.I sighed, patting Daxton’s arm as I approached the paddock.
“Hey, Shaw,” I said, cautiously stepping closer.
I didn’t dare reach out my mind to invade or link with his. I’d only seen him frustrated like this a handful of times, and I knew better than to push him once he reached this limit of his self-control. But it didn’t stop me from asking, “What’s going on?”
Shaw’s shoulders began to shake, his frustration transforming into rage. I could sense his animal’s presence, buried just beneath the surface, ready and eager to shift and release his pent-up irritations from his human form.
“It’s… It’s not the right time,” Shaw said through gritted teeth.
Bullshit. I was not buying that for one second.
“Like hell it isn’t,” I said, confronting him.
Daxton shifted uneasily, his eyes locking onto my beta, ready to step in at a moment’s notice if Shaw’s temper got the better of him.
“If it’s bothering you enough to shatter that post, then it matters enough to talk about it.”
“I don’t—”
“I know you don’t like to talk about your feelings, but it’s me. You can tell me. At the very least, you can show me.”
The bond linking us as alpha and beta was new, but the magic connecting me to Shaw and to each pack member in Solace was old and very powerful.
“Show you?”Shaw asked.
“Yes, let me in. Let me help you. Your magicand your animal are spiraling.”
I could feel the threads of Shaw’s consciousness brushing against my mind, opening the doorway into his thoughts and emotions that were driving his animal into a frenzy.
Immediately, I felt his rage and frustration, and surprisingly, a deep sense of longing and sorrow swirling around a centralized thought. I focused on the eye of the storm whipping through his consciousness and gasped when the image of none other than Zola appeared before my eyes.
“Wait? What does this mean, Shaw?” I asked, needing to hear him say it.
“It means I no longer have any questions,” Shaw said, his gaze wandering to where we last saw Zola.
I cocked my head to the side, trying to grasp the gravity of what Shaw was implying. “All right, elaborate a little more, please.” I needed to be sure. I needed to hear him say it aloud.
“Skylar,” Daxton said, stepping forward, Shaw’s attention turning to meet his gaze. “Skylar,” Daxton repeated as he gave Shaw a nod and sighed, placing a hand on Shaw’s shoulder in silent support.
“Oh Gods,” I groaned, firmly slapping my palm to my face. “Are you certain?” I asked, peeking through my fingers.
“Like I said, it’s not the time or place to discuss this,” Shaw answered. “But yes.”
I gazed at my friend, understanding what was happening. His animal’s roars of confusion and driving instinct to follow and protect her all made sense. The emotions spiraling inside Shaw’s mind was, ironically, rational. Controlled even.
Shaw and Zola.
Gods above. Shaw felt the call of the mate bond.
It was why he leaped into danger and selflessly protected her against the fallen, and why there was awkward tension between them last night.
