Page 26 of Cosmic Power

Her werewolf snarled, scratching at Zamorra’s skin.

Please, Zamorra pleaded.Just trust me and relax.

Her werewolf wasn’t happy about it, but she finally pulled back and Zamorra’s features returned to her own, her eyes shifting back to blue.

Thank you.

“Very impressive. Every other shifter who’s experienced that spell has had their creature explode out of them the moment it was lifted. But not you,” Barnabas said, eyeing her curiously.

Zamorra ignored him. She didn’t need his validation.

Do you know what’s going on? Have you been able to see?Zamorra asked.

Yes, I could see. You just couldn’t hear me—and believe me, I was very vocal.

Zamorra snorted. Yeah, she could imagine that easily.

Is what Barnabas said true? Is he our father?

It can’t be. We had a familial bond with Orion and his werewolf.

Zamorra lifted her chin as she stared Barnabas down. “I knew you were full of shit.”

His expression turned thunderous. “Excuse me?” he hissed.

“You’re not my father,” she spat. “Orion is. He’s the one we shared a familial bond with, not you.”

Barnabas gave a condescending smile. “But we do have a familial bond, youngin. It snapped into place the night we met, remember?”

The memory of that horrid night and the pain she felt flared through her mind, making her flinch. Was that what that was?

“That-that wasn’t—”

“It was,” Barnabas cut in, his voice strong. “Familial bonds are usually established at birth, so you would have been too young to remember what one felt like. But I can assure you, that’s what it was.”

Zamorra shook her head, still refusing to believe him.

“Allow your were to breach the surface. Let her see for herself.”

Her werewolf pushed against her skin and Zamorra relinquished a modicum of control, allowing her to move to the forefront of her mind. Her eyes shifted to silver and a snarl ripped from her lips, her werewolf glaring at the Alpha shifter before her.

Barnabas did the same, letting his werewolf take control and his eyes blazed silver, shining brightly in the dark cell.

The two entities stared at one another, power building in the air. Dominance crackled between them, strong and unrelenting as they fought for supremacy, both trying to outdo the other and gain control, neither one wanting to back down.

Stretching forward, Barnabas gripped her wrist, his fingers hot against her skin and she stiffened. She felt his were reaching out to her and she accepted the connection, as much as it pained her to do so.

Familiarity flared through her body. A sense of belonging clicked inside her, radiating deep within her soul. Zamorra sucked in a breath, her eyes wide. A hole in her heart she wasn’t even aware of healed, like she’d just been given the missing piece of a puzzle she’d been searching for her entire life.

It was true. It was all true. Barnabas was her father. There was no doubt in her mind now.

The silver drained from Barnabas’ eyes and they returned to that strong, crystal blue that women swoon over, his werewolf relinquishing control. He withdrew his hand and Zamorra snapped back to herself, her werewolf slinking back to her corner in Zamorra’s mind.

He’s our father, her werewolf said, surprise and hurt in her voice.

Zamorra backpedalled until her body hit the stone wall behind her. “But-how-no—,” she shook her head, her breathing turning frantic. “I had a familial bond with Orion. I-I don’t understand.”

“The bond you shared with Orion was familial, but not from father and daughter.”

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