Page 365 of Primal Bonds

“It will. And I want your promise that when you do catch up to Adric and Rosana, you’ll hear them both out before you do anything. If she’s his mate, and you hurt him…”

His chin jerked back like she’d hit him. “She’s not his mate. That—it’s not possible.”

“But if she is, and you hurt him, she’ll never forgive you.”

“I can handle my own sister,” he growled, and stalked after Rui.

Cleia pinched the bridge of her nose—and ’ported back to Rising Sun and her baby girl.

There was only so much a woman—even a powerful fae queen—could do. Some things her mate had to work out for himself.

Chapter 24

The New Moon Court was in a densely forested state park near the mouth of the Potomac. A powerful look-away spell meant the local humans didn’t even know they had a night fae compound in their midst. The court didn’t appear on maps or satellite scans, and if hikers somehow managed to bumble too close, they couldn’t penetrate the court’s wards.

Adric downed a plate of sausage and eggs at a local diner without tasting them. His chest still felt like a black hole had opened where his heart used to be. He ground the heel of his hand into his breastbone, trying to rub the ache away.

He kept seeing Rosana’s face when she’d realized he was leaving without her. Anguished. Betrayed.

You did the right thing.

He couldn’t mate with her, not when he might be dead before the week was out.

He forked up a bite of egg and stared at it. She’s back at Rock Run by now. Safe.

So why did he feel like he’d left something vital behind?

Don’t think about it. Do the job. You can make it up to her afterwards.

If there was an afterwards…

He grimly shoveled down the rest of his meal. Ten minutes later, he was checking into a cheap motel a few miles from New Moon, paying cash and requesting a room facing the strip of trees at the back. He wheeled his bike around back and went inside.

The room was a beige box. A king-sized bed vied for space with a flimsy armoire and a desk with one chair. Dropping his helmet and duffel bag on the bed, he stripped to the skin and then sheathed his iron dagger in a leather case with its own cord before dropping it over his head next to his quartz.

He cracked open the door. Other than his motorcycle, the only vehicle in the back lot was a dirty white sedan, and the sole sign of life was the humming of a vacuum cleaner two rooms down.

He locked the door and jogged into the trees behind the motel. He’d researched the area around New Moon until he could’ve navigated it blindfolded. The narrow strip of trees connected with other wooded patches, enough to provide cover for his cougar until he could disappear into the state park.

On the deserted country road, a truck rumbled past, accompanied by a belch of oily fumes. From the fenced-in yard of a nearby house, a dog barked, its scent a tart mix of bravado and fear.

Adric snarled, and the dog gave a startled yip before cowering next to the back steps.

He tucked the key card into the crook of a crepe myrtle, then closed his eyes and opened himself to the change. Hot sparks danced over his skin. Power surged through him, obliterating his human form. For a time, he was both Adric and not-Adric; pure, formless energy. And then he was on all fours, the wet brown leaves cool beneath his tawny paws, his senses a hundred times sharper.

He gave himself a shake, settling his fur into place, then set out for New Moon, intermittently cloaking himself. He hadn’t forgotten Rosana’s warning that Langdon had Seen he was coming to the court. The bastard might know Adric was on his way, but he couldn’t know the exact moment. No Seer was that powerful.

A half hour later, he entered the state park. He was in a stand of sharp-scented longleaf pines, the sun high in the pale blue sky. He aimed for the park’s center.

As he neared the New Moon compound, gray clouds blotted the sun, and the pines changed to menacing hardwoods that loomed over him like grim soldiers. His fur bristled. He crept forward, scanning the dark spaces between the trees.

Gradually, he became aware of the look-away spell pressing at him.

Turn away. There’s nothing here.

When he continued, shadows gathered, and the warnings grew more foreboding.

Danger. Run…while you still can.

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