That took a moment to sink in.
Fucking Light Above!
“Bonded?” I scoffed in confusion. “How?”
“Myel was one of the ones sent to bring me to this world. As soon as we touched… fate took over.”
Heavens!
That changedeverything…Thiswas why she’d always be with someone else, why I’d have to share her. It was fate, no escaping it. If I wanted to be with her, I’d have to accept him… more, I’d have toprotecthim: a man I could barely stand to look at.
I didn’t know all the details of a mate bond, but I knew enough. If he died, she’d likely die as well. And this shifter would be put to death if they were found out. It would alsogive Saldrea more than enough leverage to dump Izzy in some dark hole for what little remained of her life.
Fucking, fucked up… FUCK!
I wanted to yell, but shouting at Izzy for something that wasn’t her fault wouldn’t help.
Tilting my head to the evening sky, I let out a barbaric scream, but it did little to lessen my furious frustration.
“Vyns?” Izzy asked softly. “Promise me you won’t?—”
“Tell Saldrea? Of course I won’t. What sort of man do you think I am?” I turned and stalked away from her. “You’re safe. You and your…shifter.” That word burned my tongue. “Maybenowyou’ll trust me. Maybe now you’ll let me in. If you even can?”
“Vyns…”
“No, Izzy. Don’t say anything. Not right now. I just… can’t. Your secret is safe, but… I need some time to… Heavens! This is so wrong!” I took flight, pushing my wings hard to pull myself higher.
And once I was high enough to see the still fading light of day over the horizon to the west I stopped. I kept myself there for some time, watching darkness take the world. A fitting metaphor.
This world was messed up in every possible way. I didn’t think anything could be worse than what Saldrea had made me do, shredding my soul. But seeing Izzy with that man had done far worse to my spirit.
And it wasn’t even her fault, nor even the other man’s.
It was fate.
Cruel fate.
I swooped back down, letting myself fall, feeling the rush of wind around me, ruffling my feathers, wondering what would happen if I didn’t stop myself. I could end all this misery.
I didn’t.
My wings flared, and I stopped, hovering above Izzy.
“I’m sorry,” I said, though I didn’t know if I was apologising for my harsh words or for her situation. “I need time.”
She nodded.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Her life was in my hands now.
I nodded and flew away, back toward campus and someplace to hide and think and plan.
As I soared high over the academy, my enhanced sight caught Saldrea and her friends heading for the lesser residence with Koar.
Were they looking for Izzy?
Did they know?
