Page 54 of Crimson Shifter

Hatred for Samuel intensified in my gut.

“They're carrying out a mission,” I said. “But you're welcome to stay with us?—"

“No,” she cut me off. She then nodded at us and disappeared from the room.

“Does anyone else think it's a bad idea to let that sweet little innocent thing chase after the actual nightmare? Because I don't know about you, but I feel like there's a red tinge to the rim of his irises,” Jocelyn said, referring to Saint.

“He's the only one who’s been able to help her,” Lyric said, shrugging. “And while Saint may be walking that line, he's been walking it for a very long time. We can't distrust him until he gives us a reason to.”

Jocelyn nodded as her mate Benedict came into the room with a sense of urgency that made her sit up straight.

“We need you,” he said, and she was instantly at his side.

“What's happened,” I asked, standing, ready to go wherever he said to go.

“Just Jocelyn,” he said apologetically. “The hunters have gotten information from your mother,” he continued.

He was no doubt giving me a courtesy as the information likely wasn't a need to know for me.

“We need to go. She's given us the location of one of the Sons of Honor safe houses.”

Jocelyn looked over her shoulder at the queen, giving her an assuring wink before she followed Benedict out of the room.

I stood there, mouth gaping, my entire body freezing at the knowledge that Talon was going out on a mission so soon after nearly being killed.

“He'll be all right,” Lyric assured me, urging me to sit back down.

“How can you know that?”

Lyric seemed to think on that for a moment before shrugging. “They have to be,” she said. “Our mates. They have to be okay or else we'll drive ourselves mad with worry.”

She wasn't wrong, but I couldn't sit and sip herbal tea while knowing my mate was out there putting himself in danger and quite possibly getting killed before we could even have our chance. Before he knew how much he meant to me. And I hated myself for not telling him sooner.

“Would it be all right with you if I spoke to my brother?” I asked the queen.

“Of course,” she said. “He has a room only two hallways down from yours.”

“Thank you,” I said, bowing slightly before exiting the room.

I found Warrick sitting at his desk studying some ancient tome, Shadow at his feet. She stretched to all fours when she spotted me, crossing the room to brush her heavy body against my legs. It was incredible, stroking her fur and feeling our bond versus the one I’d had when Talon was imitating her.

Warrick abandoned his book when he saw me, wrapping his arms around me in a warm embrace.

“I heard what happened,” he said. “I'm so glad you're all right.”

I returned his hug, then released him. I couldn't help but notice the resemblance to Edward, but was relieved that he was not an identical twin. I couldn't imagine having to look into the eyes of someone who looked that similar to somebody who had almost killed my mate.

Warrick was slightly bigger than Edward too and had my mother's eyes instead of our father’s.

“It looks like they've been treating you well,” I said, not wanting to talk about what happened on the island.

Warrick didn't press either, instead nodding at his chambers. “They're allowing me to train as an assassin,” he said. “I have the right bloodline to do it, and the skills.”

“That's good,” I said. “That's really good.”

“What do you think they're going to do to our mother?” he asked after I'd remained silent for a little while.

“She has centuries of information,” I said. “They'll keep her alive, but I think we need to be prepared for our mother to be in prison for a very, very long time.”

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