Page 17 of Fated to the Lone Shifter
She glances up and smiles. “Hey, warrior. Come to get patched up?”
“Just a few nicks,” I say, slipping onto the cot beside her.
She clicks her tongue and inspects my arms. “Mmhmm. And this burn?”
“Steam from the hose. Nothing major.”
She dabs ointment on the spot. Then she lays her hand over the ointment for the real treatment. Within moments, the burn has disappeared.
I lean close and whisper, “I need your help. There was… a moment. I couldn’t stop it. But I managed to push it back. I think I summoned a firebreak.”
Tori’s eyes glint. “A firebreak? That’s impressive.”
“Impressive is one word,” I mutter. “Dangerous is another.”
She gives me a sidelong smile. “Lots of strange things happen in a fire. You’re not alone in that.”
I glance around before whispering, “I’m scared, Tori. It’s getting harder to control. And I was partnered with Noah.”
Her brows lift. “Ah. So the mysterious hot one. Now it makes sense."
I shake off her insinuation. “He knows. I think.”
She consoles me. “I wouldn't worry about it. There's little that's going to faze him out there.”
Then her expression sobers as she leans in. "Keep your distance from Marcus though. He’s been sniffing around. Too charming for his own good, and too conniving for mine.”
I nod. “Can we meet tomorrow? I need to work on my control.”
“Absolutely. There’s a circle in the middle of the woods. We’ll meet there.”
I get up to leave, but doubt won’t let me move.
“Tori, what if next time I can’t stop it?” I murmur. “What if I lose control, and someone—”
Tori covers my hand. “Then we get ahead of it. Tomorrow. In the circle. You’re not alone.”
I don’t say thank you. I just cover her hand and hold tight.
Before I can exhale, the door creaks open. Marcus strides in, cradling his hand with a theatrical wince.
“Burned myself making a late snack,” he announces. “Tragic, right?” Tori rolls her eyes. “Tragic that you’re in here again.”
He flashes a grin at me. “You look like hell, probie. Hot day in the field?” “Something like that,” I say, forcing a smile. But I’m already pulling away, the encounter with Noah replaying in my mind.
And the memory I haven’t shared with anyone—
The way he crouched low at the point of origin. The way he picked up the ash. How he brought it to his nose. Not like an investigator. Like an animal hunting its prey.
Later, alone in my bunk, I retrieve the stone from its hiding spot in my pack.
I sniff it.
Nothing.
I can still sense the energy, but I can’t smell anything of value.
But Noah did. I could see him processing the information.
