As we left the small room, I looked for Myel in the hall; he wasn’t moving fast, glancing back. But Pointy-ears headed in the opposite direction.
“This way!” Pointy-ears said, exasperated.
Before I turned to follow, Myel mouthed something that looked likeI’ll find you. Either that orelephant shoe. Pretty sure it was the first one.
But as he turned away and I turned to follow Pointy-ears, I suddenly felt so very alone, with no idea where I was or what was going on.
MYELAS
This is bad.
Like, royally fucked up in the worst way, bad.
The sparks between me and Izzy had been more than just static. I was certain of it, since it had been agony to leave her side. A pull thrummed through me, a heat, a need to be close to her, protect her. I’d only ever heard of it happening to others, but all the signs pointed to one simple fact…
I’d mate-bonded to Izzy.
A woman I barely knew.
A woman who knew nothing of this world but was trapped here, with barely enough anima to survive. If only the orb had stopped at red, then she’d have been free to return to the human realm. Though…
That would have resulted in both of us probably going mad with desire for each other, unable to be together. So… yeah. She was damned either way.
Damned as soon as we’d touched.
Like I’d said. This was bad.
Even worse was the law which forbade my kind from mating with anyone outside of my order, like Izzy.
Damned and double-damned.
Royally fucked-up bad.
As much as every fibre of my being demanded I go back and help Izzy, I couldn’t, not yet. That would be too suspicious. I’d have to find her again later, once she was alone. For now, I needed advice, so I hurried across campus to the shifter barracks.
A fast walk turned to a jog, then an all-out run, sprinting across the river and around Pyric Hall, past the maintenance buildings and up into the sprawling complex where I’d lived since I was twelve.
Luckily, Safir, my mentor, was in his room when I barged in, out of breath.
The old tiger shifter raised a single brow, then beckoned me in.
I closed the door behind me then crossed to sit in the chair on the opposite side of the small square table that served as his desk. As respected as he was, he was granted little in the way of luxuries.
I kept my voice low, knowing it was a death sentence if anyone overheard what I was about to say.
“I just mate-bonded with a nymph they brought back from the human realm!” I didn’t know why I felt compelled to go on, but I did. “Her name is Izzy, and she must be so scared and confused. I need to help her, but?—”
“Izzy?” Safir said, voice sharp. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“From where?”
Had Svokol mentioned the city his attendant, Rook had visited? Yes, it was…?
“Providence?”
“Fucking hell!” Safir swore.
