Page 34 of Poet & Protector

“Oh my god,” Mason whispered. “For how long?”

“Since she was fifteen.” I bowed my head and shut my eyes tight, refusing to let a single tear escape. Sabine would hate it if I cried over her, and she’d never forgive me if I did it in front of a Nightshade.

Neither of us spoke. Or moved.

I don’t know how long we stayed like that, suffering quietly under the weight of such horror.

When I felt a gentle touch, I opened my eyes and saw Mason taking my hand.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry, Nev. I had no idea.”

A stone lodged in my throat, but I somehow managed to reply. “I know you didn’t.”

“I won’t insult Sabine again,” he told me. “I wish I hadn’t talked about her like that.”

“Like you said.” I risked looking at him, trying not to think too much about the warmth of his fingers pressing against mine. “You didn’t know.”

“I’ll be nicer to her,” he added.

“I wouldn’t.” I shot him a wry smile. “When she senses weakness, she goes for the kill.”

“Right.”

“Besides,” I said, daring to give his hand a brief squeeze, “you don’t know anything about this.”

“Yeah, of course,” he said quickly. “It wasn’t your story to tell. Sorry. I won’t say anything to anyone. I promise.”

He bit his lower lip, worrying at it with his teeth, which absolutely did not make my pulse speed up.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked, then quickly shook his head. “Sorry. That’s a stupid question.”

“Still kind of you to ask it,” I said quietly. “I’ve been asking myself the same thing for a long time.”

I hesitated before I added, “So has Ren.”

Mason drew a quick breath as comprehension set in. “He’s her alpha…”

“And it kills him a little every day.” I finished his thought. “But there’s nothing he can do. Nothing any of her packmates can do.”

“That would be…I can hardly imagine…” Mason bowed his head. “I don’t blame you for hating Nightshades. And me.”

“I was harsh,” I said, regretting the way I’d lashed out at him. “You didn’t deserve what I said…I don’t hate you.”

He glanced at me, a teasing glint in his hazel-blue eyes. “Not even a little?”

“Maybe a little.”

“I can live with that.” When he smiled at me his thumb brushed the inside of my wrist and we both startled at the touch.

He looked down and his eyes widened, as if he’d forgotten he’d been holding my hand this entire time. He glanced up at me, and when I saw a question forming in his gaze, I stepped back, tugging my hand free of his grasp.

“I think we’re good here,” I said. “There’s not really anything else to say.”

Mason studied me as I edged away from him and picked up my bag. He didn’t try to stop me.

“We’re still on for tomorrow at the clearing?” he asked. “You know, for our real assignment.”

I nodded.