Scarlet cut through the silence with an ear-splitting laugh. It made Amelia shake her head back and forth, slowly rising out of the fog of shock.
“That’s bullshit, and you know it,” she said. “A shifter can’t leave their mate. Physically, they can’t. You know that better than anyone.”
Scarlet took Amelia by the hands and wrapped them around the mug, securing it so she could hold it properly. The warmth of it, along with the scent, helped Amelia clear her mind to realize the utter nonsense of Tripp’s excuse.
“That’s definitely not true, Amelia. Trust yourself. There’s something fishy going on here.”
Scarlet stood with her hands on her hips, fingers tapping as she ruminated. Amelia was thankful she was here today to talk some sense into her. It was the fuzzy nature of love that had caused her to believe such a strange statement, something that, if she were outside the relationship, she would have easily caught and labeled easily as a red herring.
“I think we should try something,” Scarlet said. She stood from the chair and placed the mug down, motioning toward Nick’s office with her chin. “In there.”
Amelia looked up from the place her eyes were resting on the desk and watched as Scarlet opened the door to Nick’s office. “We’ll use this room,” Scarlet said, flicking the light switch on and off. He wasn’t there, which Amelia was partly thankful for. But only a sister could do something so bold.
“Wait a second, what are we doing?”
Scarlet smirked, looking identical to her brother.
“Have you used the mate link yet?”
Amelia frowned, then shook her head. How had she not thought of that?
“I’ve never tested how far it goes. But I’d imagine with mates, he’d hear me anywhere.”
The thought of Craig, Tripp’s long lost, greedy brother, rose in Amelia’s mind, which triggered the organized, heroic queen she’d always been inside.
Scarlet informed Amelia that using telepathy while still in human form wasn’t as easy as it was when mates were in their animal forms. But Amelia insisted she could do this. She knew she and Tripp were strong enough to overcome anything, least of all distance.
“I’m going to be in the other room,” Scarlet said. “If you need me, just call. I believe in you, honey.”
Amelia felt an endearing warmth in her chest for Scarlet and nodded with a small smile.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Scarlet closed the door promptly, and Amelia breathed in deeply, settling into the comfortable office chair.
“Come on, baby,” she murmured to herself. “Hear me call out to you. I know this isn’t over.”
Tripp!she cried out as loud as she could.
She breathed in and out with her belly expanding like a balloon, just the way Scarlet had shown her. It only took a few breaths for her to detect something, and she leaned into it, her body buzzing with the free-flowing, sedated nature of her and Tripp’s love.
His voice in her mind was raspy and kind.Amelia?
Fuck, Tripp, she groaned in her head.Baby, what is going on? I know what you said on the phone isn’t real.
She could feel his love surrounding her like a bubbling hot tub, which she slowly submerged into, letting her bones sink into and reassure her woes. He didn’t need to tell her how much he loved her and needed her; she could feel it all around her expanding like the universe.
You have to stay away, Amelia,he said in her mind.It’s for your own good. You have to trust me.
Amelia did trust him inherently, of course. But she needed to know what in the hell was going on to make him sound so concerned.
Tripp, please tell me what’s happening. I can help you.
You can’t, he said quickly.
Amelia felt their connection slipping away. It was likely because she was starting to get upset again, or he was making an effort to cut it off.
TRIPP!she screamed, though the words came out of her this time, too, tears flowing once more.Tell me what is wrong, and I will find you!