“STOP!” The tension in the room was unbelievable. “Bring her back, Perizada. Just bring her back.”
Jen was impressed that Peri didn’t flinch under Sorin’s unwavering glare.
Peri nodded once and then she was gone.
“What the…” Jen muttered. “That’s just weird,” she said, referring to Peri’s sudden disappearance.
“Are you going to be okay in here, Sorin?” Decebel asked, sincerely concerned for his old friend.
Sorin nodded. “I just need to be alone, please.”
The steadiness of his voice scared Jen almost more than the outburst. She took a step forward, needing to let him know that it would be okay, but she didn’t make it half a step before Decebel once again had a large arm wrapped around her waist.
“Never approach a male who is in that state of mind.”
Jen let out a huff. “Is there a freaking instruction manual or something?”
Decebel chuckled softly as he pushed her out of Sorin’s room, closing the door softly behind them.
~
Elle didn’t jump when Peri was suddenly sitting next to her on the cold ground in front of the veil.
“Planning on visiting family?” Peri asked.
Elle didn’t respond right away and appeared to be gathering her thoughts. Her mind was scattered and she was unsure of how she should feel.
“I know you told us that it was a possibility that Adam and I could be mated to one of the Canis lupis, but it didn’t really sink in until Sorin was standing there calling me his mate.”
Peri chuckled. “They’re intense.”
“That’s really putting it mildly, Peri. I can’t even describe to you how I felt when he looked at me, when he got close to me.”
“Did you feel complete for the first time?” Peri asked knowingly.
Elle nodded. “Complete. And even though I was terrified out of my mind, I wanted him to wrap me in his arms. Even now I’m fighting the urge to return to him. I can feel him. I think if I unblocked my mind, I could even speak to him.”
“Why are you fighting it? You have been around long enough to know that this is not something you can walk away from. He will not give you up.”
“How is he?” Elle asked, genuinely concerned for him, knowing he must be frantic to find her and hurting as badly as or worse than she was.
“He is struggling to keep his calm. Sorin is unusually controlled for an unmated male, but you leaving him high and dry like that has seriously tested that famous resolve.”
“What should I do?” Elle looked at her leader and longtime friend, searching for something in Peri’s eyes, something that would tell her everything was going to be all right.
“Go back to him. Listen to what he has to say and try and realize what a blessing this is, to both of our races.”
Before Elle could second guess her decision, she closed her eyes and told Peri, “Show me.” She was asking Peri to show her where Sorin was.. As soon as she saw it in her mind, she was gone.
Peri looked up into the sky and pushed out her thoughts. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Great Luna.”
~
Sorin turned slowly as he felt her sudden presence behind him. Their eyes met, and Sorin felt the air rush out of him, as if someone had punched him in the stomach. He took slow, measured steps until he was standing less than a foot away.
“You left,” he spoke softly, the hunter luring his prey to him.
“I was a little shocked and quite freaked out. And, to be honest, I still am,” Elle squeaked.