KALLE

Kalle sat on the couch in the suite, staring blankly at the fireplace, trying desperately to keep her fear in check.

Visions of Shaw, that feverish light in his eyes kept flashing through her head—the terrible shifts in his voice. It was impossible to know when he was himself, and when he was under the influence of the voices…. Or maybe he was always himself, but he was being… urged? She didn't know, and she couldn't ask.

She'd almost given up on her grandmother arriving when the door jiggled, and she realized she'd left it locked.

A soft knock sounded on it as she hurried across the room to unlock and yank it open.

She didn't even give her grandmother time to say anything, just grabbed her hand and pulled her into the room, then leaned back out to see if anyone was there, or watching. But she couldn't see anyone.

When she closed the door again and turned to face her grandmother it was a battle not to give in to tears and just throw herself into her grandmother's chest.

"What's going on, Kalle?

"

Kalle took a deep breath.

"We… we learned some things yesterday and Elia showed up in the night—she's breaking, Grandma. Like, I don't know if she's losing her mind, or just her will to live. But she's only been herself for bare minutes over the past week or more. And Gahrye is convinced—completely convinced—that he has to get her back to Anima or she's not going to go back at all. He… he went… he went through to make sure they could do it safely and… but he's not come back and I'm getting worried. And Shaw is pressuring me to get Elia's story and… Gahrye should have been back by now. I just don't know what to do!

"

Her grandmother's face sharpened.

"He's pressuring you for Elia's story? Specifically?

"

Kalle nodded.

Her grandmother's lips pursed.

"Okay, I think we better go back to the beginning. I have to be missing something. What have you found in the histories so far—at least, what you think you can tell me?

"

Kalle took a deep breath. Could she tell her grandmother about the Protectors? She knew Grandma had a good heart. Surely that would be fine?

She started across the room towards the couch and chairs.

"Let me check Elia, just in case and let's sit,

" she said quietly.

"This might take some time.

"

Her grandmother took a seat while she peered around Elia's door again, then shook her head. The lioness was still there, and Gahrye was still gone and… Kalle wanted to scream. Instead, she very stiffly made her way back to the chair, sitting at an angle from her grandmother. Then she took a deep breath and threw caution to the wind.

"Last night, we were going through the histories and I found a little book—

"

The sound of the door unlatching acted like a gunshot. Kalle leaped to her feet for the second time that day, her heart pounding so hard, she couldn't hear anything but its thrum in her ear.

But when the door opened, it was the tall, broad shape of her mate that met her hungry eyes.

"Gahrye!

"

She ran—literally ran—across the floor to throw herself into him, her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, and they clung to each other. She was crying, she realized, letting her tears slide down his neck because she couldn't bear to lean back far enough to wipe her eyes.

"Thank the Creator, thank the creator, thank the creator…

" she kept whispering against his shoulder.

*****

GAHRYE

Gahrye shushed her and soothed her, but he held her just as tightly as she held him.

"I'm fine,

" he whispered, kissing her hair,

"I'm safe. I'm sorry you were scared.

"

"What happened?

" she cried, squeezing him tighter.

"What kept you?

"

"How long have I been gone to you?

"

"It's been almost a full day! When the sun comes up…

"

Gahrye went very still under her hands.

"Why?

" she asked, pulling back to meet his eyes. He still held her weight.

"How long has it been for you?

"

"A few hours,

" he said.

"Maybe six or seven? It's hard to tell how long the traverse takes. But it seemed very quick to me.

"

Kalle shook her head.

"It wasn't quick,

" she said, biting her lip. Then she put a hand to his face.

"I'm so relieved… so relieved. Did you—did you see anyone or—

"

"No one,

" he said gravely, searching her eyes.

"There was no one guarding the portal. Nothing.

"

She blinked.

"But… then why—?

"

"Can I ask you a couple of questions, Gahrye?

" Eve said from behind her and Gahrye startled. How had he missed the grandmother's scent? It was the Creator's grace that he hadn't said anything important yet.

"Hi, Eve,

" he said, looking at her over Kalle's shoulder.

"Thank you for being here with her.

"

Kalle sighed, but held onto his shoulders and let him go with her legs to stand in front of him and turn to face Eve.

Eve waved off his gratitude.

"You're bleeding,

" she said pointing to his arm.

Kalle opened her mouth as if she was about to explain, so he rushed in to speak over her.

"Yeah, yeah. It's not deep. It'll heal in a few hours. I just… caught it on something.

"

Eve's forehead puckered.

"That's bled a lot. Are you sure you don't want some kind of disinfect—

"

"No,

" he said hurriedly. He didn't know how soon he was going to be able to take Elia back, but he knew he couldn't go through stinking of that horrible stuff.

"Thank you, but it really will be fine. I'll go take a quick shower and put on some clean clothes. Kalle could you come with me for a second?

"

"Of course,

" she said, her eyes a little wider than usual. She looked at her grandmother than back at him.

"We won't be long Grandma.

"

"It's fine, honey. You guys do what you need to do.

" She grinned and winked as Kalle tugged Gahrye through to the bedroom. Gahrye nodded his thanks and followed his mate, his heart filled to the brim with yearning and with dread, because he could smell the hope and desire on Kalle, and he was going to have to break her heart—and his own.