Page 60 of Gift from the Stone

“Fuck,” all three of us say.

“Yeah. Not just that, her animal thought I was a damn cub, a kitten she called me. So again, care to tell me why you didn’t give me a warning?”

We all stare at him for a few beats, letting his words sink in, then we lose our composure.

His lion is a beast of a creature. Standing at least six feet tall from shoulder to paw, with claws as sharp as blades and teeth that can tear your head clean off your neck. I can’t believe my little warrior thought he was a kitten.

“Vince the kitty cat. Damn, that little Primary is trouble,” Caspian teases as he continues to laugh and point at a pissy Vince.

“We can’t tell you her animal right now, Vince. I’m sorry, but it’s far too dangerous, and that’s all I’ll say on it. I didn’t tell you who she was because I didn’t want you to baby her. I needed you to treat her like you would any other student and get a feel for where she is and what she needs help with. You would’ve tested her dominance on your own then wouldn’t have let her go up against anyone else.” Corentin’s the first to compose himself as he states facts to Vince. And he’s spot-on. Just like Ry babies her, he would’ve too if he knew who she was to us.

“Probably, but she obviously has a very good relationship with her animal. They’re completely in tune with one another from what I could tell. She easily pulled her dominance off me and Walker as soon as she noticed we were down, then the rest of the class once she was done with Gage.”

“How the fuck is that possible?”

I pick up Corentin’s thought and shoot him a look, letting him know I heard that. I have no clue how that’s possible. It took Draken years to be able to pinpoint his dominance like that. It didn’t matter how weak the other shifter was compared to him. If they dared growl or challenge him, he’d send every shifter within his range to their knees, and they’d just have to deal with it until he felt like letting up.

“Where does she need the most work?” I ask.

“We’ll focus on pinpointing. Today, she purposely meant to send all the men to their knees, according to her, so I told her we’d work on getting those skills sharper so she doesn’t accidentally send any of your E.F. members to the ground on your trip to Terravile.”

We all grunt in agreement. That’d suck to be stuck in a situation and my Primary send my men crumbling in the middle of a fight.

“Will she be okay to return to the class?” Corentin asks.

“Oh yeah, she’ll be fine. The wolves have some wounded egos, but they’ll get over it. They’re no match for her. I just wanted to give you shit. She’s powerful, extremely so. But she can still learn. I’ll keep you updated.” He gives us all a handshake before walking out.

He’s one of our oldest friends here at the academy, but I still can’t stop myself from checking his thoughts about the situation, finding nothing but humor and genuine curiosity. I don’t feel guilty about doing it, friend or not. Willow’s safety will always come first.

“I wonder what that fucking mutt said to set her off,” Caspian comments, darkness clouding his eyes with the need to hunt them down if they meant her any harm.

He’s been doing better ever since she woke up, his darkness receding for the most part. Except for when it comes to her. The fierce protectiveness in him is handled very differently than we handle ours. Where me and Corentin can’t go around, fucking students up left and right, there’s no stopping Caspian. Draken either.

Hence how Vander mysteriously ended up in the healing wing, barely breathing with lungs full of water and beaten to within an inch of his life. Caspian and Draken of course denied any involvement.

“Caspian,” Corentin warns, having the same thoughts I am.

“What? I was just wondering. She’ll tell me,” he declares, rolling his eyes at us and plopping down in the chair like we’re being ridiculous.

Giggling down the hallway draws all our attention to the door. The sweet sound of her laughter is as calming as the wind chimes hanging in the windows of my tree. I could be on the verge of losing my mind and that laugh would settle me completely. It’s my favorite sound in the realm.

Aside from how she screams my name.

“Guys, guess what—”

“Come here, Primary,” Caspian orders, cutting off her excitement, causing the beautiful smile she was wearing to slightly fall.

“What’s wrong?” she asks as she hastily makes her way right to him.

I can see the satisfaction on his smug face, pleased she listened immediately with no fight.

“Caspian, leave her alone. Now,” Corentin orders.

Ignoring his brother completely, he wraps his shadows around her and sits her on his lap. “I heard you sent a class full of men to their knees.”

“How did you hear about that so fast? We just left the field,” she asks, looking up at him with those sweet innocent eyes.

“Vince came straight here. He was upset with Corentin for not telling him you were our Primary. But he left out a very important detail,” Caspian says as he runs his shadows down her face.

---