Page 50 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

He froze. The word came not from inside the room but inside his head.

Gods, I need to sleep.He rolled onto his side.

Milo. Can you hear me?

He sat upright, his heartbeat racing.Jana?

It couldn’t be.

It was impossible.

Then how come I can hear you?

Sweatpopped out on his brow, and a wave of nausea surged through him.This isn’t real.

Does the fact I feel sick too make it more real for you? I don’t know how I’m doing this. All I did was concentrate on you.

His breathing quickened.Where are you?

In bed, which is probably where you are, given how late it is.

There was a pause, and for one heart-stopping moment, Milo thought their connection had been broken.

Jana!

Still here.

What made you try this?

She gave an internal chuckle.If other mates can do it, I didn’t see any reason why we couldn’t.When she fell silent again, he waited, knowing there was more to come.This is weird. I’m lying here, debating whether or not to tell you how I’m feeling.

Milo closed his eyes and focused on the image of Jana that was never far from his thoughts.I already know. You’re afraid. I can feel it.

It was no lie. He knew her heart hammered, causing her pain in her chest. He could feel how she wanted to flee from the sensations that swamped her.

Tell me what you’re scared of.

Milo, I don’t want to die. Her voice trembled.I want to be home with my lodge. Having Mom make us a limitless supply of mussels, listening to my brothers argue over who can eat more while my father sits and smirks, then puts away enough that they’re both humbled.

Her words painted a picture in his mind, and his heart went out to her.

I don’t want to die here in this awful place. I want to take your hand and introduce you to everyone in my house. My parents, my siblings, my grandmother. I want you to sit and eat with us. To… to….

Her sob cut through him.

I don’t want to die.

Milo could have told her she would be okay, but it would have been a lie, because although he believed it once, now he didn’t know for sure. And he knew she’d see right through him.

There was only one thing he could say to calm her.

Jana… I’m going to get you out of here.

Fuck, he could feel the flutter in her belly, could hear the hitch in her breathing.

That’s it, honey. Don’t give up. There’s always hope.

But how?She sounded bewildered.What are you going to do—set me free so the guards in the towers can shoot me? Walk out of here with me so they can shoot both of us?

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