Page 202 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

‘Why? Because I’ve never been in love? Because I haven’t lost someone I love?’

He staggered back a step as if she’d punched him. ‘What?’ he said, his voice a breathy thread. ‘How do you know?’

She took a small step towards him—oh Goddess, his pain was throbbing through her, making her throat thick. ‘You lost her. I didn’t know you loved her. I’m so sorry. So sorry.’

‘What? What are you talking about?’

‘Mariella? The McClune witch. The one you were to bond with. She’s died, hasn’t she?’

‘No. Why would you think that?’

She blinked at him for a long moment then said slowly, ‘But it’s the only reason why you’d feel such grief. Losing someone you loved deeply. Like a mate.’

‘I’m not grieving. You’re wrong.’

‘I’m not wrong. I feel it. Here.’ She clenched her fist over her chest.

He shook his head, his mouth opening and closing. ‘You shouldn’t be feeling that at all.’

‘But I am.’ She took another step forward. He took a step back, hands held up as if to shield himself from her. ‘I have never felt such horrifying loss before.’ She blinked rapidly, tears welling in her eyes, choking on her words. ‘I can’t bear it. I don’t know how you can. I don’t know how you’ve managed to shield this from everyone. It’s so—’ her hand clenched again, hot tears poured down her cheeks, ‘—huge. So all-encompassing. How can you even think past it?’

He shook his head but didn’t say a word.

She took another step forward. ‘Please, Paul. Let me help. You can’t deal with this alone.’

‘I have to.’ He turned away, hands wrapping around his body as if to hold himself together. ‘There were consequences. Now I must pay them. There is no other choice.’

‘There is always a choice.’ She stepped up behind him, wrapped her arms around him again even though she had no idea what he was talking about. He stiffened and moved to pull away, but she held on tight. ‘I know you don’t like me, that you think I’m a pain, but I am the only one who has felt you hurting. And I can help. Let me take some of the pain.’ Her wolf keened as she sent calm and warmth along the part of the Packbond that tied all the Were in Pack McVale to their coven. To Paul. The grabbing soul-clenching grief lessened slightly as she did so, and she took a big breath for the first time since she’d felt it, pushing more of her maternal healing down the bond. ‘See, I can help,’ she whispered.

‘Ivy.’ He turned in her arms, looking down at her. ‘You shouldn’t be so good to me.’

She smiled up at him. ‘I know. You’re an arse. I hate you.’

He laughed, although it ended in a sound almost like a sob. ‘No, you don’t understand. You shouldn’t be able to do this, feel this. Why do you? Did I not do it right?’

She frowned up at him. ‘What are you talking about?’

He was looking past her, out into the darkness. ‘So sick. I was so worried. But tonight … the zombie that woke up was gone. Alive, laughing, dancing. It wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t wrong. It was all as it should be. Finally.’ His gaze came back to her. ‘But why can you feel what you’re feeling?’

She stared at him askance for a moment before saying, ‘You know you’re making absolutely no sense.’ She gasped. ‘You are having a vision. I know they cause you pain. Is that why you’re so sad? Grieving?’ Oh Goddess. For him to feel like this, the vision must be horrific. She loosened her hold on him. ‘Is it about the pack? Is something terrible about to happen? Have you told Iris and our Alpha?’

‘No. You’re wrong. There’s no vision. I’ve not had one for a month.’

He’d been holding onto the horror of this vision for a month? Something flickered in his eyes—even though there was only the moonlight, she could see it. ‘But I can see the shadows of it. It’s making your life miserable.’

‘No. No, it’s not. I fixed it. It won’t happen anymore. It’s done.’

‘What’s done? What did you see?’

He firmed his lips, shook his head and knocked her hand away. ‘Whatever I saw, it’s nothing to do with you.’ Then he disappeared again leaving her gaping at empty space, his words winding around in her mind.

He was lying. She felt it in her soul. Her wolf was howling with the knowledge of it. Not only was he lying, but she knew suddenly without a doubt that he’d had a vision and whatever it was, it was about her.

But why would he care about what happened to her?

Her wolf whimpered and she wrapped her hands around her middle, suddenly chilled. Paul was gone and the horrifying sense of loss had retreated with him.

Except, it hadn’t completely gone. An echo of it remained inside her.

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