Page 2 of Centaur Bolt

1

Marcus

The sunlight lit the meadow with vibrant color.

I was hyperaware of every nuance, of every flower opening its petals to the warm rays, of the gentle breeze rippling through the grasses, of the life flitting along through it all. Of the million little things I’d always taken completely for granted when I’d been free. When I’d galloped on four powerful legs through meadows, never noticing what I trampled.

I deliberately blocked any thoughts of the woman who I’d hoped would be my future. That future ripped apart with every step I took.

Isobel had my father, and there was only one way to save him.

She is too clever,conceded Iskar, his mindvoice filled with angst.If we try anything—

We can’t try anything. It isn’t worth the risk. Not until we know Emmanuel is safe.

Iskar lived in my mind. He didn’t need me to elaborate any further.I will be ready, but so will she.

We’d had limited success in controlling what lay within me. Turning it loose might well result in me forever ceasing to exist as a human.

When Iskar didn’t comment, I accepted it as a reality. I’d sensed how hard both he and Cara had worked to keep it under control. If I was very lucky, the sacrifice would be worth it.

I would kill the bitch.

The foundation students had already filed through the front entrance to their fight class in the back field, and the advanced ones would be in their theory class, so the area in front of the building was pretty quiet. The gate itself, however, was busy this morning. Construction materials for the final wing of the dorm were being carried through and stacked off to one side.

The Bellati guard straightened as I approached, but his attention was clearly divided. He viewed me without alarm—I knew him, slightly. Most of these warriors had dealings with my father and me. His expression reflected his confusion. My features would be familiar, but without the equine body the Sorceress had taken from me, the context was lacking.

He settled for a basic query. “Are you a student?”

“Yes,” I said. “I have an invitation to a meeting off-realm.” I held up the crystal. “Shouldn’t be gone long.”

He wasn’t there to stop me, but rather to monitor traffic arriving at the academy. However, he was a Liberi, and his gaze assessed me. I had no doubt my energy was all over the map, and who knows what he sensed of the monsters that now lived within me.

Not enough to alarm him, though. I supposed this place was full of hidden monsters. He nodded to me and turned away to pause the supply run through the gate. Then he stepped back, and said, “Pleasant journey.”

My fist closed around the crystal. From deep within me, something shrieked. Enraged wings beat my thoughts to shreds.

Now in conversation with the construction supervisor, the Bellati frowned and glanced my way.

If we are going to do this, we’d better get it done,Iskar said.

Raising the crystal to the gate brought the arch alive with dancing energy.

I took a deep breath, and stepped through.

2

Riley

My mind spun as I sat on the back steps of the academy building. Around me, the students assembled for fight class.

When I’d wanted to push, to pursue what existed between Marcus and me, Cara had offered one simple bit of advice.Give him time.

That wasn’t going to be easy. My body burned for him. And my every instinct insisted that he’d never hurt me, no matter what monster surfaced from within.

But the concept of shifting to a beast was still very new to me. Cara had believed what she’d told me.Even those born to shifting sometimes lose control and kill those they love.I just had problems wrapping my brain around the fact that the human in Marcus would ever let that happen.

But what if the human wasn’t in control?

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