Void(36)

“Bullshit,” Gritt replied.

Banner shrugged. “I’ve seen shifters mark their mates before. The fact that you don’t remember it just proves that one, or possibly all, of your animals have accepted her as an acceptable mate despite your ridiculous prejudice. They were in the driver’s seat. So if you don’t want this to happen, I suggest you keep your distance. I barely stopped it in time.” Banner shot me a grin. “I’ll happily train her without you.”

Gritt’s eyes flashed with that catlike reflection, but there was an indiscernible look on his face. “No way. You’re wrong. I’d never mate with a Void, especially one that hurt my own damn brother.”

I shouldn’t feel disappointment, but I did. The fact that Gritt was so eager to dismiss me made my heart drop into my stomach and settle into the acid churning there. But I learned long ago to roll with the punches, and the refusal of a mate bond was one punch I’d expertly dodge.

I cleared my throat. “I’m sure it was a fluke,” I said, my voice shaky. “The Void is...tricky. No need to risk it though. I’ll just work with Banner from now on.”

His canines elongated. “The fuck you will,” he snapped, but he immediately caught himself, shock crossing over his features. My own brows shot up in surprise too. Was that possessiveness in his tone?

He swallowed hard and fisted his hands at his sides. “My purpose as paragon of the shifters is to be primed to become leader of my people one day. That means that I don’t back down, and I sure as shit don’t send in another shifter in my place for you to attack.”

My lips thinned. “I’m not attacki—”

“Let the other paragons deal with you for the rest of the day,” he said, cutting me off. “As of right now, my turn is done.”

He turned on his heel and jumped over the handrail of the gazebo, landing nimbly on his feet. He stormed off, looking over his shoulder at me once before increasing his speed and disappearing from view.

“His loss,” Banner said quietly before withdrawing his hand. A blanket of smoke filled the area at the loss of his neutralizing powers. “Now let’s keep practicing.”





Chapter 9





I lay down on the ground to try to catch my breath. Everything hurt. Everything.

A thick sheen of sweat covered my body, and it was taking everything I had not to roll over and vomit up my entire breakfast.

“I think we’re done for the day,” Banner said while brushing off his hands on his pants and eyeing me. “Do you need help?” he asked.

“I need a shower. And some food. And about fourteen days of sleep,” I groaned while stroking the amulet now firmly clasped around my neck.

“I can take you up to your dorm room,” Banner offered before sitting down next to me, crossing his legs at the ankles.

“I’m not staying in the dorms. Headmaster Torne put me in the feral cabin,” I said, running the back of my hand across my forehead to wipe off the sweat that had gathered there.

I was a disgusting, soggy mess, but I was too exhausted to care. Banner had me practice all day. Mostly he had me hold the Void back for long periods of time, but he also had me practice letting it out and then pulling it back in again, which was harder. I’d done that over and over and over again until my body shook so hard I looked like I was seizing, and the pain and effort had caused black dots to appear in my vision. My shirt was lifted up slightly from my position on the ground, and if Banner weren’t here, I would’ve stripped off my sweat-drenched clothes and let my fevered skin rest against the cool grass.

“They’re making you stay in the feral cabin?” Banner asked incredulously.

“Mm-hmm. I don’t want to brag, but it’s like a five-star resort,” I replied sarcastically before squeezing my eyes shut.

“Come on then, Miss Cainson. Let’s get you there before you melt on the ground,” he said, rising to his feet.

Taking a breath, I rolled over onto my side before pushing myself up. I had to stop at my kneeled position with my hands on my knees and my feet tucked beneath me before I could find the strength to stand. As soon as I did, I swayed on my feet.

Banner’s arms caught me immediately, his grip firm around my waist. “Steady,” he said, his mouth against my ear.

His nearness made my breath catch, but I tried to push him away. “I’m gross with sweat.”

“I’d never use the term gross to describe you.”

Our eyes met, and his dropped down to my lips before rising again. I didn’t know how to do this. I didn’t know how to react to attention like this. The only times I’d ever been with a guy were when Reed and I had snuck out of Mrs. Coxcomb’s School to hook up with humans. This was different. Banner knew what I really was. He knew my power. It was strange to have such an immediate connection with someone, but he was the only person who shared the same ostracizing experiences as me.

“Come on,” he said, clearing his throat. “Let’s get you there so that you can rest.”

I faced forward again, happy that I actually had someone to lean on. I’d been so starved of touch and common decency from supernaturals, that I melted against him. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to soak up the affection while I could.

My whole life, I’d been an eraser. I erased my mother’s love. Hell, I’d erased my whole damn life. Just by walking in the room, I erased people’s smiles and sense of safety. And whenever the council made me, I erased people’s powers, too, and that meant I took away their entire identity. I obliterated everything in my wake, sometimes in devastating ways. But for once, right now, I didn’t feel like I was erasing anything. I didn’t feel like a Void—a word that was usually spat out like a curse. Right now, I just felt like a girl. A girl being held by a guy who wasn’t an oblivious human or hate-filled super.