Jaxon, my snarky and never seriousbrother, placed a hand on my shoulder. “We got this. Don’t worry, sis. No oneis going to hurt you.”
Wow. If Jaxon was being mature, I hadshit to worry about.
“I got a call this morning from a verydear friend who wants to meet you. You can stay there tonight and head forPortland after that,” Nahuel told us, and all I could do was nod. My eyes weredrawn to the bleeding entrails of the fawn but I forced myself to look away. Itunnerved me that while I was in the room talking to my father, Mukesh was outhere … doing this.
“First we need to get rid of thesemarks.” I pointed to my neck and the wolf tattoo that rested there. I quicklyexplained to everyone what my father had said on the phone. “Jaxon, do you knowany concealment spells that would work?”
Jax chewed on his lip. “Yeah, but notagainst a dark witch.”
I frowned. If the government had darkwitches in their back pocket then we were seriously screwed. So far this lookedlike civil unrest but with the new announcement from the government thatwerewolves were in the same class as pets … they had to be making a move.
“Okay … we have to cut them off then,” Ideclared.
Mason’s eyes nearly fell out of his head.“In order to get all of the ink off we would have to cut deep … like risk-cutting-a-main-arterydeep.”
Avery had started pacing when all of thistalk began but now she stopped. “I can do it.”
I wanted another way, but there wasn’tone and now the damn Skin Walker was after me and we were going to have to goon the run. We couldn’t be walking around with werewolf tattoos during thewerewolf apocalypse.
Nahuel nodded from the doorway. “I have amedkit in my bathroom. Let me clean this up and I will assist you.”
A thought struck me then. Mukesh knew Iwas in here and yet he didn’t attack, he just taunted me. “Nahuel, why didn’the just bust in here and take me?”
A little smile tugged at the shaman’s lips.“I was thinking the same thing. It seems he’s not all powerful. Something aboutattacking with so many of us around scared him, made him think he would fail.And that is the best damn news I’ve heard all day.”
I couldn’t help but smile as well. It wasthe best damn news all day and I was going to deliver it to my mate and shakehim out of his funk.
“Avery, get the bathroom ready for thetattoo removal procedure. I’m going to get Gavin.”
She nodded and gave me a look that said,‘Good luck.’
As I made my way down the hall, I plannedon what I would say. I was going to have to be firm and demand he tell me whatthe hell was wrong. It was driving me crazy not to be connected to him like Inormally was. I needed that bond.
When I opened the door, I found himsitting at the edge of the bed staring at his hands like they would sproutclaws, but the haunted look on his face was what halted me. I changed my planof going in hot and heavy and instead took to one knee before him, grabbingthose hands in mine and meeting those endless green eyes.
“Let me in,” I begged as tears lined myeyes.
He sighed and reached up to cup my face.“The Skin Walker and I … we’re connected.”
My body stiffened and Gavin withdrew hishands with a hurt expression on his face.
Shit.
“Hey, you caught me off guard is all. Howare you connected? Like biologically.” I reached out and took his hands again.Please say it’s only biologically.
He shook his head. “He’s been coming intomy dreams. Taunting me. Since I got here it’s been much worse. Stronger.”
Okay. That wasn’t too awful. I was aboutto say as much when Gavin dropped the bomb.
“I think he can see through my eyes. He’s… possessed me and now I’m going to become just like him and I won’t let thathappen. I would never hurt you, Anya. I would die before that happened.”
I tried to contain my shock, but itwasn’t possible. “Possessed you? What do you mean?”
Gavin stood suddenly and I had to back upquickly or risk falling on my butt or being knocked in the head by his knee.
“He’s been coming into my dreams forweeks, but I had it under control. Then Lina died and we came here, and … I dunno,I feel him. He knew you were here because of me. I know it!”
“No. No way. That’s not possible.” Ihugged my midsection, suddenly feeling sick.
