My body skidded sideways as though my black pads had sprouted tinywheels.
What the hell?Matt yelped, sliding right past me.How’d you do that, LittleWolf?
For a moment, both wolves observed me in silence, and then Matt craned his long neck and peered over his shoulder at August who was still planted on the lawn, fingers tapping histhighs.
Fuck . . .Matt said at the same time as Liam asked,Can one of you please enlighten me as to what justhappened?
As Matt filled Liam in on the mysterious mechanism of mating links, August tugged on the tether again, but not to move my body, just to remind me he was there, watching overme.
That he had myback.
The shimmery blue rope tautened between us. I wrapped an invisible hand around it and prepared to pull back to prove to August it went both ways, but then Liambarked.
I jumped, losing sight of the elusiverope.
How far is his reach?heasked.
Far.
Howfar?
As long as I’m in his line ofsight.
Good.Although his massive body was coiled tight, he sounded genuinely pleased by what he’d justlearned.
He must’ve spoken through the mind-link, because August nodded before returning to the open front door and sidling in next toLucas.
He’s not going to help you out until tonight,Liam said.In case anyone’swatching. . .
Heart skidding to a halt, my gaze swept over the wooded expanse surrounding us, seeking lambent eyes in the shadows of the great evergreens. I saw none, but did it mean they weren’twatching?
Where will the fight take place?I asked Liam, skirting hislunge.
On the lawn of the former Pines’headquarters.
In themaze?
Not in the maze, but next toit.
I didn’t like the idea of fighting next to a maze. There was no telling what could leap from the denseshrubs.
Liam pounced on top of my back.Concentrate,Ness.
I shoved himoff.
As he circled me, surely calculating at which angle to come at me, he added through the mind-link:Don’t ever rely on another person to keep yousafe.
Was he insinuating that I wouldn’t be able to keep him safe or that August wouldn’t be able to keep mesafe?
I’ll try to keep track of you the entire time, but I might not be ableto.
His words stilled me.Iwas supposed to keep track of him, not the other wayaround.
Of course, Matt took advantage of my lapse of attention to barrel straight into me, and none too gently. He apologized, but the impact stillstung.
As I straightened and wrung myself out, I pinned Liam with an inflexible stare.Don’t you dare take your eyes off Morgan tonight. Not for asecond.
His yellow irises seemed to ignite at my concern, but then he chuffed and wheeled around.Matt,again!
