Page 250 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Gran lifted her chin. “You’ve changed.”

Bailey took a step back. “Or maybe I’ve grown up and I want more.”

“Ungrateful, tiresome child.”

“Yep. I’m not working this weekend. Exams start Monday.” He picked up his bag and walked toward his room.

“That’s not how this works.”

“Then tell them I quit.”

“They’ll visit again. They’ll take your tail, your claws.”

He’d only ever seen her shifted once, the first time she’d taken him out to prowl. The end of her tail was missing, and she had a notch out of one ear that she kept hidden when human. He’d give up tail and claws if that meant he’d be free.

“Will you sit there and watch as they kill me? How is that keeping us safe?”

He slammed the door with enough force to rattle the windows. He was breathing too hard. He leaned against the door and rested his head on the scarred wood. A few more weeks, then he’d vanish.

“Bailey!”

“Fuck off.”

Concern radiated through the bond.

Whatever.

Kass hadn’t bothered to reply to his letter, and it had been weeks. He didn’t have the right to care.

Bailey sat on his bed. He put his shiny new license in his wallet next to Kass’s. He stared at Kass’s photo. There hadn’t been much between them over the last couple of weeks, not after that night. He wanted more but feared it too. The bond hadn’t shrunk from lack of use, and he was missing the closeness. Which was lame.

Maybe Kass was embarrassed to be mated to such a loser.

He closed the wallet and pulled out his books to study, but the urge to pick up his phone and check his emails was too much. An itch he couldn’t scratch. He’d checked a dozen times at least today, and there’d been nothing. He gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the urge. After five seconds he gave in.

This time there was a new one from an unfamiliar and official looking address that had a security warning. His heart stopped. For a moment he thought the government was after him and knew what he was. Then he recognized the name. And his heart exploded into action as a grin formed.

Hi,

I’m glad you wrote again. I received your letter yesterday, but only got the chance to email today. I’m not in Australia. I deployed the day after we met. I need to know if you’re okay or in some kind of trouble?

I’ve been enjoying getting to know you, but it’s strengthening our connection, and our lives are deeply entwined. I had thought to break it when I got back, if that’s what you want. If you do, we should stop (though I really like it, probably a bit too much sometimes ;) ).

And I love snow leopards, so fluffy.

Do you like superhero movies? I do, I’ve always thought being telekinetic would be fun.

Kass

P.S. Totally not mad at you, but I want to know why.

Bailey stared at the email.Then reread it twice to make sure he wasn’t missing anything that wasn’t being said. Kass was overseas, and he’d left the day after they’d met. Stealing his wallet had been a real dick move, but the next line kicked him in the gut. Kass knew something was wrong. How much was he getting through the bond?

Everything, apparently. His cheeks heated, but Kass had been liking it too, even though it changed what was between them.

He hit reply and stared at the screen for several heartbeats, trying to figure out what to say, while not saying anything that the authorities could catch on to.

Hi Kass,

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