Page 35 of Magic & Secrets
“Why not?” I cried, stung by his cruel words. “I have many wonderful qualities. Many of them have been obvious since we met.”
“If I had a mate, I’d want a Shifter,” Roque said, waving around his large hand as he stomped across the muddy ground.
He seemed like a child telling a fib rather than a fearsome beast stating an obvious fact.
“I would require someone who could understand what it felt like to change forms. Someone who could offer me offspring that would be like me. Besides, you’ve got those pointy ears coming in soon.”
“I’mfarfrom sixty,” I mumbled, feeling as if he’d ripped out my heart and was showing it to me now. “I think you’re treating me cruelly because I make you feel weak.”
“If I felt weak, I would agree it isyourdoing. A bewitching spell, perhaps. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’ve been suspicious since you fell into my arms. That was such a dramatic damsel-in-distress tactic you pulled there, Calla.”
His comments hurt me. I wasn’t a bad warrior. I would also never entrap anyone.What did I want with a mate anyway?The magic between Roque and me put my sisters at risk. Why would I ever purposely seek out this situation?
“If anyone has bewitched anyone, it’s you!” I cried and pointed accusingly. “You’re always naked. What happened to your pants from the outpost? No doubt you figured wagging that thing at me would be quite distracting. I blame you!”
“Silly fledgling,” Roque replied. “Where would I keep the pants when I shifted?”
“In a traveling bag. Something with a strap like the Lion Shifters had.”
“Would this magical strap expand with my size? Lion Shifters only have two sizes.”
“Maybe,” I mumbled. Despite his valid point, I refused to treat his anti-mate talk as reasonable. “I guess the traveling bag couldn’t change sizes unless it were magical like you.”
“Science, not magic. You’re distracting me right now,” Roque growled and narrowed his gaze to scan the forest around us. “What are you hiding?”
Turning away, I wished I had kept my suspicions silent. Roque poked me in the back. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.
“Your hurt feelings are ruining your sense of direction. We’re going this way.”
“Why?” I asked, spinning around to him. “What will we find in that direction? You are aware Pandorium Forest shifts, so whatever you knew a hundred years ago wouldn’t be true now.”
“Of course, I’m aware of that fact. My training was no doubt better than yours.” When I narrowed my eyes at him, Roque responded with a mocking grin. I wished my heart wouldn’t race at the sight of his smile. “I hear a river nearby. Humans live close to water. We’ll follow it until we find a settlement.”
“I’ll go in the opposite direction.”
Roque tsk-tsked at me. “You’re so emotional. Wipe your tears and follow me. We’ll discover together where the others have gone.”
“No.”
“I’ll carry you.”
Crossing my arms, I stared at him. “What if the others are dead?”
“Then, their problems are over. We’re still alive and need to find our way free of this forest. I need to return to my pack and tell Tempe that the attackers are dead.”
“We’ve destroyed their offerings to Ivitithi. The remaining cult members will want to claim new sacrifices.”
“Did you dream that?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know what you dream is real? What if this Ivitithi creature is filling your head with madness?”
Unable to explain my connection to Solme Divige, I only admired his ruggedly handsome face. Studying me, he fell into a deep silence. The magic between us swelled until I could barely remain standing.
Stepping back, I knew what needed to be done. “We shouldn’t travel together. This magic between us has proven to be too distracting. I should go out on my own to protect us both.”
Roque narrowed his eyes. Around us, magic crackled. His gaze focused at the bright green moss sucking at his toes. He growled at the ground. I nearly smiled at how the moss retreated.
