Page 69 of Mated
“Callus.”
His head pivots.
“Thank you,” I say. “For helping me.”
His nod is brief. “Go, Nisha.” With that he slips into the trees and I never hear him make a sound.
***
The walk to the cars is uneventful. Callus was right. Despite several of the beasts coming to the edge of the creek bed, they never climb down into the water. But they do pace the edge for long moments, their glowing eyes tracking every move I make.
Despite the heat still in my veins, my body does not shift. Nor is there another sign of the dark mist. A part of me wonders if I will be stuck with the heat and the pressure forever.
But Callus’ words keep filtering back to me too.
I’m in heat.
I had a cat once that went into heat before we had her fixed. Watching her roll and yowl continuously is forever ingrained in my head.
Is that what I will do? Is that what it means for a shifter to be in heat?
Somehow, I can’t quite wrap my mind around that, but the sudden increase in sexual frustration is still there. Even now, my skin feels too tight. Too hot. Everything aches like having a low grade fever and the pain between my legs is worst of all.
My body is swollen and too slick, and every step I take seems to add to the need.
No wonder my poor cat cried so much.
I push through a small bunch of evergreens and come out on the edge of Silver Rock land. The open field is visible and so is the car lot. I take a step and something snags the back of my dress.
I whirl, slipping on the leaves to fall on my ass just inside the tree line.
A massive black cat stares down at me, its silver eyes brighter than even the moon above.
“Tanner?” My voice comes out breathless, but sure. I would know those eyes anywhere.
The big cat inhales near my skin and his eyes glow like twin beacons. The heat pouring from him is balmy. It’s like the thickest blanket. Or a fire. He looks from me to the distant field and back, head cocked.
“Callus told me to leave,” I say softly. His lips pull back to show long white teeth. I shiver. “I’m in heat, he said. I was causing chaos or something.”
A low rumble pours from his body, and my eyes flutter at the sound. “Don’t do that,” I admonish, shoving at him.
He nudges me with his big head, and his fur is coarse but surprisingly soft as it brushes my bare arm. I dip my fingers into the midnight expanse, gripping and pulling lightly. He sags over my legs.
I can’t help but smirk. “You’re like a giant house cat, aren’t you?”
He licks up my neck in answer, his sandpaper tongue rough.
“Eww,” I laugh and shove him away again. “Cat drool.”
If it was possible for a panther to roll its eyes, I have a feeling Tanner would. But instead, he takes his big head and nudges me until I rise to my feet.
We walk out into the field and I wait for him to change back. When he doesn’t, I frown.
“Any particular reason why you’re staying in cat form?” I ask.
He peers up at me, his eyes vibrant before glancing back at the tree line. I follow his line of sight and find a handful of glowing eyes staring back.
“Oh,” I mutter.
