Page 101 of Mortal Shift
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks,” Ling said. “He has a responsibility to the academy. If he sees you trying to leave without permission, he’ll have no choice but to stop you.”
“So then I’ll make sure I’m not seen.”
Ling searched my face for a long moment. “There’s nothing I can do to change your mind, is there?”
I gave her an apologetic smile. “Nothing.”
“Promise me you’ll at least be careful?”
“Count on it. I’m no use to anyone if I don’t get this message to Cole’s pack.” I grabbed the door handle, then swallowed hard. “You…you don’t think they’ll really kill him, do you?”
“No. Not without a trial. They’re bound by the law, too.”
I nodded. “Right. We just have no way of knowing when they’re going to hold the trial, or carry out the sentence.”
I drew in a shaky breath and pulled the door open. The corridor was deserted, as I’d have expected this time of night. It had to be nearing midnight, and most of the students would be asleep or amusing themselves in the common rooms. No-one was lurking around near the first-floor library. Except me. But books couldn’t help me now, short of finding one big enough to whack some sense into any idiot who thought Cole would try to kill one of his closest friends without any kind of motive.
I froze mid-step, and Ling almost crashed into the back of me.
“What?” she hissed.
“No-one knew they were friends,” I hissed back—anything louder seemed wrong in the empty, echoing hallways. “Cole said it himself. They keep their whole bromance thing quiet, what with all the cross-species animosity flying around here. His pack’s going to think he’s guilty. And if I tell them why he can’t be, there’s a good chance they’re going to disown him. Fuck.”
“There has to be another way you can convince them he’s innocent. An alibi?”
I bit my lower lip. “Maybe, if I knew when it happened. Dammit! Why didn’t I ask more questions?”
“Maybe because they were taking away the man you love?” she said gently.
“I don’t love him,” I waved her off. She arched a brow at me.
“You’re trying to tell me you still think he’s an asshole?”
I frowned. “No, but… Well, I mean, heisan asshole, but he’s my asshole.”
“So youdolove him, then?”
“Ugh.” I raked my hands through my hair. “Could you please stop throwing the L word around? I don’t…thathim.”
“You seem pretty worked up for a woman who doesn’tthatthe man.”
A breath slipped from my lips. “I don’t know what I feel for him. This mate bond has me all mixed up. I just know I don’t want him to be hurt.”
She gave my shoulder a light squeeze. “We’ll find a way to keep him safe.”
“Great.” I gave her a weak smile. “Don’t suppose you happen to have a plan to go with that optimism?”
“Nope. But I’m confident you’ll come up with an excellent one.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “If by excellent, you mean terrible.”
She shrugged. “Close enough.”
A figure moved up ahead, hurrying through the semi-gloom of the corridor, then glanced our way, froze, and did a double take.
Well, that couldn’t be good.
“Cali?” the figure asked, passing under a light as he strode towards us. Jax. Not exactly my first choice to bump into almost alone in a dark corridor in the middle of the night. “What are you doing here?”
