Page 28 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

Milo glanced at the impassive faces of the soldiers, and he wondered what they were thinking. No one could fault his reprimand; sex between soldiers and inmates was frowned upon, but maybe he’d spoken a little too harshly.

Raised too many eyebrows.

He left the office, walked out of the block, and headed toward the reeducation center, where he’d first laid eyes on Jana. The place was empty.

Obviously no one needs reeducating today.

The walls had posters stuck to them, and they all followed a similar theme: The rules of the camp. The consequences for breaking those rules.

Milo paced, his heartbeat racing, his skin tingling again. The door opened, and Jana entered the room, coming to a halt when she saw him.

“You.” Her lips parted, her eyes shone, and there was a glow to her face that made his heart race even harder.

Gods, that same delicious scent still clung to her. He could smell it from right across the room.

Milo gestured to the empty chair in front of him. “Sit, please.”

Jana walked slowly, exhibiting not the slightest trace of fear. When she reached him, she sank into the chair.

He’d expected questions.

Why am I here?

What have I done?

Instead, she gazed at him with a serene expression that settled Milo’s unease. His heart rate returned to something more like its usual rhythm, and breathing became less of a chore.

When he found his voice, his words surprised him.

“You’re not afraid of me.”

Jana blinked. “Why should I be?Youwon’t harm me.”

He stilled. “How can you know that?”

Her smile widened. “Because you’re my mate.”

For a moment, her reply shook him to his core, but he quickly recovered. “You don’t think I’m stupid enough to fall for that, do you? Mates don’t exist.”

She gazed at him with obvious sympathy. “I felt the same as you, believe me. I’d heard stories, but I thought they were just that—stories. But after meeting you, I realized that was the only explanation for what you do to me.”

Milo sagged with relief. He pulled up a chair and sat facing her. “So you feel it too?”

She nodded. Then she chuckled. “I thought I was going mad.”

He laughed, and it was as if a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. “Why are you here? What did you do to be brought here?”

Jana shrugged. “Nothing—apart from exist.”

“What do you mean?”

She blinked again. “There’s no other explanation for it. I’m only an otter shifter. I’m nothing special.” Light filled her eyes. “Except that’s apparently not true, because I have a mate—well, I’ve found one of them.” Pride rang out in her voice, and she straightened in her chair.

Milo’s world came to a dead stop. “One mate isn’t enough?” Then he shook his head. “What am I talking about? There’s no such thing as mates. It’s a fairy tale, a myth.”

“What, like humans think shifters are a myth?” She smirked. “We seem pretty real from where I’m standing. So why shouldn’t mates be as real? How else do you explain what you’re going through right now?” Jana sighed. “All I know is what I’ve heard. That there are shifters out there who have found not one, but two mates. And ifthatrumor is true, then the other one might also be as accurate.”

“What other one?”

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