Page 108 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

He smiled. “I’m a cheetah.”

Rudy grinned. “Whoa. A sleek, fast kitty. I like it.”

“What about you?”

“Nothing so impressive. I’m a golden retriever.”

His eyes lit up. “Now I know why I prefer dogs.” Valmer pulled Rudy closer, until Rudy could feel every beat of his heart.

Then Rudy’s senses went on the alert again and unease trickled through him. “What’s wrong?”

Valmer blinked. “How did you—stupid question. So let me ask you another. Why were you at the exhibition?”

“I’m a history buff, but recently I’ve become interested in ancient history.”

He nodded. “Me too. I studied it.” He paused. “How much do you know aboutourhistory?”

Rudy managed a one-shoulder shrug. “Not much, but then again, I don’t think anyone knows much. Beyond the tale of the two brothers, of course.”

Valmer shivered. “I know more than I ever wanted to know. More than it’ssafefor me to know, I’m certain of that.”

Cold crawled over Rudy’s skin.

Valmer rolled onto his side to face him. “There’s one important detail neither of us has shared, and I’m beginning to think that was deliberate.”

Rudy suddenly knew where Valmer was headed, and cold reached his extremities.

“So?” Valmer propped his head up with one hand. “Fridan? Geran? Or do you follow neither?”

Icy fear swirled in Rudy’s belly, making him afraid to answer, but he had to.

This is my mate.

He took a deep breath. “Fridan.”

Valmer nodded, and for a few brief seconds Rudy felt relief. Then Valmer spoke, obliterating his hope. “Geran.”

Rudy couldn’t breathe.No. No. This can’t be right.

Valmer sighed. “Maybe we both knew instinctively, and we were afraid to say it out loud.”

“But that doesn’t change a thing,” Rudy blurted. “You’re my mate.”

Whose views had nothing in common with his own.

“And now you’re trying to figure out how we can make this work, given that we’re on opposing sides.”

Rudy swallowed hard. “I have to admit, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Valmer stared at him before flipping onto his back and hauling Rudy on top of him. He cradled Rudy’s nape, gazing into his eyes. “I know something that could change everything. Not our mate bond—I don’t think anything could do that. I’ve known you for all of, like, five minutes, and it already feels like a lifetime. No, something else. Something huge.” He cuppedRudy’s cheek. “Ansfrid and Ansger. Whatever stands between us started with them.”

“Their split, you mean?”

Valmer went quiet for a moment. “Suppose I were to tell you…,” he began slowly, then clammed up.

“Don’t stop there. Please.” Rudy’s heart pounded.

Valmer studied his face, and every second that passed only served to compound Rudy’s intensifying, overwhelming fear. “Suppose I were to tell you that everything you believe—everythingweallbelieve—was built on lies?”

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