Trent could feel the words welling up inside him, trying to force their way out of his mouth. He knew he couldn’t go on like this forever – the urge to confess all to Zina, no matter how she might take it, was going to become overwhelming sooner or later. And perhaps if he was honest with her, she might also tell him more about herself – why it was he got such a strange feeling off her, and why he couldn’t sense whether she was a shifter or not.
At the sanctuary,Trent told his kangaroo firmly.Once the eggs are out of danger.
The kangaroo huffed out an annoyed breath at that, but it seemed to accept it. Thankfully, it had decided that the task of protecting the eggs came first.
Anyway,Trent told it, glancing across at Zina again, and finding her eyes closed, her head rolling gently against her shoulder.I think she might be asleep.
Trent couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face as he let his eyes rest on Zina’s face for a moment, before looking back at the road. She was peaceful – for now.
And Trent intended to do everything he could to make sure she got as much peace as possible in future.
Protect our mate at all costs,his kangaroo said approvingly.
And for once, Trent found he was in complete agreement with it.
Chapter 8
The car rattling to a stop jerked Zina out of the deep, deep sleep she’d drifted into.
Blinking, it took her a moment to extract herself from the dream she’d been having – a dream in which she’d been swimming in a vast ocean of pea soup and sunning herself on a golden beach made of pie pastry – and realize that it was dark outside the car window.
“How long was I asleep?” she blurted out, speaking before her brain could catch up with her mouth.
“Well, just about the whole day,” Trent said, turning to her with a grin. “I woke you up to give you a bit of water to drink, but I don’t think you were with it enough to remember.”
“No, I definitely don’t remember that,” Zina said. She twisted in her seat, looking around for her bag. “The eggs –”
“They’re in your bag at your feet,” Trent said soothingly. “It’s okay – I only stopped for a moment to get you something to drink. There was no chance anyone – or anything– could have gotten them.”
Zina released a long, relieved breath as she lifted her bag from where she’d stowed it at her feet, feeling the familiar weight of the box with its precious contents still inside it. She knew Trent wouldn’t have let anything happen to them, but still, it helped to be sure.
“Where are we?” she asked, as Trent opened the driver’s side door, unfolding his long body and getting out of the car.
“Little two-horse town in the middle of nowhere,” Trent said easily. “It was getting dark, and the car was getting hot, so as soon as I saw aVacanciessign I pulled over. Can’t promise you the Ritz, though.”
“No, that’s fine,” Zina said, following him out of the car. “I’ll grab our stuff if you want to check us in.”
“Sure.”
Zina watched as Trent headed off to the motel reception, taking in the line of his shoulders, his long, long legs, and the easy way he walked. She swallowed. As much as she’d regretted dragging him into her mess, she honestly couldn’t say she was sorry he was here with her now.
There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side. It’s only natural, after all, since –
Zina shook her head. The thought had drifted into her head, vague and wispy, only to disappear when she’d tried to grab hold of it to examine it more closely. Her stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch as she opened the back of the car, grabbing Trent’s bag. The serum reallywaswearing off at last, but it was taking longer and it was beating her up more than it had in the past – that was part of the reason why she’d been so tired lately.
Maybe I used too much,Zina thought, biting her lip as she shouldered both Trent’s bag and her own.I thought I was overdoing it, but I couldn’t take any chances.
Being able to sneak around undetectable as a shifter had been just too important at the time.
At least it’s finally wearing off now,she thought, as Trent emerged from the reception, twirling the room key on its metal ring around his finger.
“Room 310,” he said with a grin. “Madame, your suite awaits.”
The room actually wasn’t so bad, Zina had to admit. At least it had some kind of reed matting on the floor instead of carpet – which she guessed was because of the sand – the bed looked freshly made, and there was no smell of mildew anywhere.
“You should get some sleep this time,” Zina said, as she put the bags down on the floor. “You took the last watch, and you’ve been driving all day while I’ve been sleeping. It’s only fair.”
Trent hesitated. “You sure? I don’t mind if –”
