Page 151 of Centaur Bolt

Her fingers intertwined in front of her—another clear sign of impending difficulty. “Does that mean you’ve gained control over what that Isobel woman did to you?”

I hesitated, suddenly feeling like an errant child. I’d never been much good at lying to my mother.

“Not exactly,” I hedged.

Not at all, you mean,Iskar stated. If you are going to endanger those you love, at least be honest.

I wasn’t fooling her, anyway. She sighed. “Marcus, I would dearly love to have you home. You know that. However, neither I, nor your father, can help you with this. You need what the academy can offer.”

I speared a meatroll and wolfed it down. Being my mother, she recognized this as an indication of stubborn refusal to negotiate.

“Why don’t you want to go back?” She straightened. “Does it have anything to do with Riley?”

Damn those maternal instincts to hell and back.

Your mother is one smart lady.

I ignored Iskar and shoved another meatroll into my mouth.

“Stop stalling, and tell me,” she ordered.

I paused my chewing. “She mated a bloody Dragon.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh.” Then she frowned. “I could have sworn—“

“Yeah, well, no.”

She tilted her head, and her eyes flashed. “Your father doesn’t agree.”

At this point, I didn’t care what my father had to say about Riley. I stood so abruptly I almost knocked my chair over. “Look, I’m tired. Can we talk about this later?”

She was frowning now. “Yes, I suppose. I am teaching tomorrow, so I might be gone when you awaken. Why don’t you meet me at the break?”

I smiled. “I’d like that.”

Her eyes slid over me. “I can get you some blankets—”

Like I needed another reminder of my weak human body. “No, I’m fine. Thanks for the meal, mother. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Her eyes flicked to the windows. We only had a few hours until dawn. “Pleasant dreams, son,” she said.

Minutes later, I entered my own suite. My legs shook with exhaustion, but my thoughts circled so restlessly that instead of lying down, I went to my drawing table.

Another chair had been placed near it. I pulled it up, grabbed my graphite rods, and began to sketch.

It started as a Centaur form, but quickly took on feminine lines, and before I knew it, the face and torso took on familiar contours.

Riley. For a moment, it was as though I’d been pierced by a sword, and I couldn’t breathe. Then I thought of the marks on her shoulder, and the big red bastard that had put them there.

Claws once again erupted from my fingertips as I ripped the paper into tiny pieces.

You are being a fool,Iskar noted.

Dammit. I concentrated on breathing, on calming myself, and sensed him working to suppress it.

The claws diminished, but did not disappear.

We can’t stay here,the Gryphon stated.

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