Page 48 of Midnight Whispers
“This is serious, Riley.” Why did his dad think he wasn’t being serious?
“I’m taking it seriously. My mate is out there, Dad. He needs me.”
“I know. But you have to promise to do everything I say.”
“I will, as long as you don’t tell me to leave him. I won’t do it. Not under any circumstances.”
Was that respect in his dad’s gaze? It sure appeared as though it was. “I won’t tell you to do that.”
Riley nodded.
When his dad let go of his arm, he exited the vehicle. Dad wasn’t far behind him.
They stood in the middle of the empty road. Forests lined either side with thick underbrush. Even in the daylight, the vegetation made it impossible to see anything.
Dad chanted under his breath, and before Riley knew it, something shimmered around them.
“It’s a ward that will follow us. Protection.” Dad moved behind him. “Close your eyes.”
Riley did.
“Reach out to Cass in your mind.”
Riley had zero idea on how to do that. How did you ‘reach out’ with your thoughts? They were contained in his brain.
For a couple of very long minutes, they stood within the ward and listened to the crickets in Riley’s head because nothing else was happening in there.
Riley let out a frustrated sigh and opened his eyes. “I don’t know how.”
Dad ran his hand down Riley’s arm. “It’s alright.”
“It’s not. He’s out there alone. God knows what he’s going through.” By the time he finished his little rant, he was calmer, as if saying the words made them less relevant.
“You’ll get it.” Dad kept his tone even and calm.
A wash of comfort came over Riley. Knowing his dad was there made a huge difference. Riley took a deep breath and shook off the rest of his frustration. “Let’s do this.”
“Shut your eyes again.”
Riley did.
“Picture Cass in your mind.” That was easy. The last time he saw Cass, he kissed Riley goodbye, holding him close. He’d said he didn’t want their night to end. How he wanted to pretend it wasn’t morning yet. And then he’d joked about wanting to kidnap Riley and hold him hostage on the bed. Riley had been all for that.
“Do you have his image? It needs to be a strong one.”
“I got it.” Riley had his smiling face at the forefront of his mind. But the smile turned wolfish, literally. Cass’s mouth grew and distorted. He grew fur everywhere, and his wolf emerged somewhere in the twisted breaking of Cass’s body. And then it changed again. He stood on two legs, instead of four. He stillhad hair. His head was still a wolf’s. His fingers had long claws. But his legs were more human than wolf. He was so tall, it stole Riley’s ability to breathe.
Riley wanted to back away from the creature, but its gaze met Riley’s. Those amber eyes belonged to his mate. They showed affection and worry. There was also confusion as if Cass wasn’t sure why Riley was there.
And then Cass growled, shoving Riley away.
“Go home. Stay safe.” The voice was still Cass’s voice, even though it was distorted and gravelly.
While Riley knew on a fundamental level the exchange happened in his mind, the experience felt as real as if Cass had been standing in front of him.
Cass was fighting for his life. He was in the middle of several wolves. Riley couldn’t tell how many there were, but they had injured Cass. Riley couldn’t tell how bad it was.
He opened his eyes. “I know where he is.”
