“Rudy! Is that you?” I couldn’t tell if his voice was shaky or if it was just me.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s me. Gods, I needed to hear your voice. Are you okay?”
“I think so. I don’t know… been feeling a little queasy if I’m honest. I didn’t get seasick last time, so I didn’t expect to this time. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I was hoping to surprise you later.”
I squeezed the phone in my grip and allowed myself a moment to breathe before responding, not wanting to lose it. “It’s okay, just tell me you’re not alone.”
“No. There’s a group of us, like tourists in a foreign country. It’s a little laughable, actually. I don’t normally do group activities, but it’s been surprisingly fun. I had to hang back for a moment because I got dizzy rightbefore you called, but I can see them. They’re just a few stores ahead of me.”
Thank the gods. His being dizzy must have been what I was feeling. Unless he was feeling it from me, I wasn’t really sure, but there was definitely a connection. I found it strangely comforting. “Okay. Okay. Just stay close to them.”
The brief moment of relief I felt was gone in a flash as my veins chilled. Icy fear pulsed in my mind and filled my chest. “Bowen?”
Nothing. No response. I looked at the phone, and it showed the call was still connected. “Bowen!” I shouted into it. The fear cut off, and there was nothing, nothing, nothing. Silence echoed inside my mind and in my chest, silence so loud I thought I might drown under it. My own fear filled the spaces left behind by the absence of Bowen. No. Not absence. Somewhere very deep inside, I could sense him, but not enough. Something was very wrong.
A roar came from the most primal part of me. “Booowwen!” I was moving, bounding through the lobby and out the doors before my phone even hit the ground, instinct, need, and blind fury driving me without stopping to think about what I was doing.
Along the edges of my limited awareness, I could hear Zephyr yell after me, and Maxime making a phone call, but the only thing I could focus on was getting to Bowen. I ran at full speed toward the port, not sure what I was going to do, but I wasgoing to do it. When I neared the end of the dock, preparing to jump into the water, I was tackled from behind.
I snarled and pushed back, whipping my head around, snapping my teeth. It didn’t matter who it was at that point. It only mattered that they were stopping me. Zephyr rolled away from me, narrowly dodging my sharpened fangs that were itching for blood.
“Shit, Wolfie. Hold on a second. What are you doing?”
“Need to find Bowen,” I snarled and felt my anger blurring my vision until it was no longer a friend who stood before me but someone in my way.
“And you’re what? Going to swim there? That’s bullshit.”
Lashing out, I swung my arm at him, but he managed to jump away, even as the material of his shirt shredded at the tips of my claws. My lips pulled back in a snarl, and I growled out. “Fuck you!”
“Damn, I liked this shirt.” Zephyr bounced around me, keeping beyond my reach, but holding my attention. “If you’re looking for a fight, fine, give it your best shot. But I’m not the enemy here. I’m your friend, and I can help you if you let me.”
I shook my head, too overwhelmed by emotion to think beyond the chasm in my chest. “Can’t.” I wasn’t even sure what I meant, but it was all I could bite out.
Zephyr sighed and held his hands up, taking a careful step closer. “Let me help. I can fly you and get you there faster. But I can’t do it if you’re like this. So calm your ass down. I don’t know what’s happening with Bowen, soif you want to get to him, you gotta use your head, man.”My chest heaved up and down as I huffed heavily. His voice broke through the mess in my head. He was right. In the past, I wouldn’t have had any luck controlling my wolf in this kind of state, but I could feel him give slightly. We had a shared goal. To get to Bowen. The only way to do that right now was for my wolf to take a back seat. I couldn’t protect Bowen if I couldn’t get to him. Swimming was a terrible idea; I was too dense as a wolf, and it would take me too long.
“Okay.” My claws and fangs retreated, and my body shrank inside itself, pushing me back to the forefront. My friend became clear as my sight returned to normal. “You’ll help?”
Zephyr’s expression softened. “Of course, I will. Whatever you need.”
“I need to get to the big island as fast as you can get me there.”
“All right. You think you can handle it?” He asked, eyeing me warily.
“I can.” Ihadto. I could feel my wolf’s acceptance within. He didn’t like it, but he knew it was necessary.
Zephyr gave me a nod and stepped back to undress, drawing my attention to the slices across the front of his shirt, making me wince. At least he’d managed to avoid harm. I would have to worry about it later, though. Right now, all my concern was for my mate.
He tossed his clothes to me, and I balled them up, holding them to my chest as he transformedinto the griffin, and braced myself. Soon, massive talons latched onto my shoulders, squeezing but not tearing into me. I wouldn’t have cared if they did at that point. I would endureanythingto get to Bowen.
With my eyes closed, I searched within for the connection that was so new and already so very much a part of me. It was there, deep within. The fear wasn’t as icy sharp, but it was there in a low chill beneath my skin. I hadn't really figured out the whole mind-speaking thing, though Bowen had heard me a few times, mostly unintentionally, but I focused as hard as I could, picturing him in my mind. “I’m coming for you, Bowen.”
Zee took off, flying me high above the water. I still wasn’t a fan of flying, but I was grateful for the speed with which we crossed the ocean. The tether in my chest was there, pulling me along. Before long, the island of Catalina came into view. The last time we made this flight, our goal was to get as far away from the populated areas as possible to avoid being seen, but now… now I needed to get to the city.
“Get me as close to Avalon as you can.” If Bowen had been near the shops, the main port town on Catalina was my best shot to pick up his scent.
The griffin let out a high-pitched whistle, making me wish Bowen was here to translate. That wasn’t the only reason, but it sure would be helpful. My mate was the most incredible being. I’d known it from the start, but even more so after he told me about his heritage andwhat it meant. Gods, I was so in awe of him. I wanted him back.Neededhim back. I needed him more than I needed breath in my lungs.
The outline of land appeared before us. My wolf stirred within, eager to be set free, but he remained as he was, braced and ready. We approached the southern peak in an unpopulated area, and Zephyr dipped slightly lower, flying through the clouds. When the buzz of city noise reached my sensitive ears, I tapped on one of the taloned feet that held me.
