Reclaimed (Shadow Beast Shifters, #2)(74)

I would never let either of them know how much this was affecting me. Never.

If it fucking killed me, I would get through this trial with a smile on my face.

And hopefully answers about myself would be my reward.





36





Ixana’s guards arrived soon after, weighed down with dark brown crossbody bags. The design looked awkward until it was on, and then the evenly distributed weight had it resting comfortably. The outside of the bag was thick and coarse, made from what appeared to be dried plant, and they felt strong and durable. Easily able to carry the supplies inside.

“There is food,” she said. “Mainly for those who are a little weaker.” Dig, dig. “And some padded rugs, for those who require extra rest.” Dig, dig, dig. “Hopefully, it won’t be too heavy.”

“Oh, you are just the sweetest soul to ever live,” I said with a broad smile. “Bless your heart.”

I’d never lived in the south, but I watched television, and I enjoyed using hidden digs against her too.

“Oh, okay,” she said, moving herself to perch on the wall. “Shall we leave then?”

“We shall,” I replied grandly.

She smiled, a slow, devious bullshit sort of smile, and then she stepped off the side, landing smoothly, even though it had been a quarter of a mile drop at least. No way I could top that, and frankly, I was growing exhausted by this imaginary rivalry I’d created with her.

“Would you like help down?” Shadow drew my attention, and as I tilted my head back to see him, I was surprised to notice the fatigue just visible around his eyes. Shadow always seemed larger than life, and as an immortal, he’d never look old, but he was weighed down.

I wasn’t helping the situation acting like a child.

“Midnight can take me,” I said softly, shooting him a small smile. “I’ll see you at the bottom.”

He reached out and brushed his thumb across my cheek, before he leaned in closer. “Ixana is up to something,” he murmured in his low rumble, “and I’m sorry that I screwed up when we first arrived here. In not wanting to tip her off, I hurt you, and that’s not okay. I promise I won’t do it again.”

Before I could reply… or catch my damn breath, he turned and stepped off the side. I watched him all the way, and when he landed as smoothly as Ixana, I turned to Angel, blinking rapidly. “Holy shit, did he just say that?”

He’d been so open and honest. The secretive side that was so much a part of his personality fading out briefly as he shared a truth with me. And he’d apologized. Two guesses how often that usually happened.

“Despite our differences, I have a lot of respect for Shadow,” Angel said, her gaze drifting over the side to look below. “It’s worth trusting him to do the right thing. He knows how to handle Ixana.”

She wasn’t wrong, but a part of me still wondered if he might be a little blinded by the true mate bond. It was a strong connection, as I knew all too well. But at least I hadn’t completely lost him to her, and that was worth taking the next step forward. Worth having a little faith. Even if there was still one rather large issue in our midst… Ixana.

“Hopefully this entire journey isn’t a trap set by the Queen of Illusions,” I said wearily, feeling as ancient as Shadow.

Angel considered my words. “She’s definitely up to something, but it feels a lot like that something is about Shadow and their mate bond.”

“I agree, and truth be told, I really do want to know if my weird-ass power is from this Nexus.”

Angel nudged me. “You’re not weird. And you are worthy of Shadow. Don’t lose sight of either of those facts in this quest you’re on.”

She took off along the side of the wall, gliding down even more gracefully than the other two. Inky had gone after Shadow, so all that was left was Midnight and me. As the mist swirled around me, brushing our energies together, I let out a sigh to rival Shadow’s.

I’ve acted like an idiot, I told the mist, and Angel hit the damn nail on the head. It was my insecurities causing me to act so defensively and childish. And for what? I wouldn’t want a man because I got him through underhanded vindictive means. If Shadow was meant for me, he would be with me.

Midnight’s reply was immediate. You are too hard on yourself. Angel uses her millennia of knowledge to form these conclusions, and she is not in love. Love is neither rational nor calm. You have acted completely in character, and it was nice for Shadow to see someone fighting for him, even in your roundabout way of doing it. He appreciates that.

That gave me pause. Have you been talking to Inky?

Where else would its insight into what Shadow might appreciate have come from?

There was an almost indignant huff. We converse when required.

That made me laugh. You’ll be old friends before long and maybe that’s step one to lessening the divide between the two mists.

Another huff told me everything I needed to know about Midnight’s thoughts on that.

“Come on,” I said out loud. “They’ll be waiting for me.”

Midnight wrapped its warmth around me, hugging me tightly, before it picked me up and carried me right over the edge. As we soared up and then out from the wall, all I could see was the grey landscape, and far off in the distance was a glut of creatures. So many that my nerves soared to the same height as Midnight. They were vastly overestimating my abilities if they thought I could control that many creatures.