Page 363 of Primal Bonds

“Be right there,” Rui called over his shoulder, his gaze on the two young males he was sparring with. Another seven young men and women stood in a circle, observing.

The man on the left lunged. In a few swift, scarily efficient moves, Rui dropped him by hooking a heel behind his knee and then spun around to kick the other in the chest. The man flew backwards.

Cleia winced, but the two males bounded back to their feet.

“Good work,” Rui said with a nod. The younger men beamed as he turned to the observers. “The rest of you, form groups of three and practice the sequence I just showed you.”

He strode across the cavern to Dion and Cleia, big body naked except for a pair of shorts. “What’s up?” he asked as he pulled on a T-shirt.

Dion tipped his head at the exit. “In the ops room.”

“Sim.”

The operations room was in its own private corridor near the base’s center. A couple of warriors were always on duty to sift through communications and respond to emergencies. Like most of the base, it was a utilitarian space with a handful of chairs and a sturdy plank table, the only lighting a handful of watery blue and green fae lights.

By the time they arrived, Dion had brought Rui up to date. Dion jerked his chin at the pair manning the room. “Wait outside.”

They nodded and exited, but before they could close the door, Isa bustled down the corridor, her round face anxious.

“My lord, my lady. I need to see you, por favor.”

Dion nodded for the men to let her pass and then shut the door behind her.

Isa thrust a folded piece of paper at him. “I found this on Rosana’s pillow.”

Cleia read the note over his shoulder.

Dion, Cleia, Isa—

I’m on my way to Baltimore. But don’t worry. You might as well know, I’m with Adric. I’m tired of hiding it. I love him, and he loves me (even if he hasn’t told me yet).

More, he needs me. I’ll be back in a few days—please, don’t worry. Hugs and kisses, Rosana

“I’ll kill him,” Dion said calmly. “I’ll wring his goddamn neck.”

Cleia eyed her mate warily as he passed the note to Rui.

“If he’s hurt her,” Dion continued. “Forced her to go with him against her will—he’s dead.”

She set a hand on his arm. The bicep was balled tight. “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” she murmured.

“No?” The eyes he turned on her were the cold silver of his animal. “She goes to Baltimore and somehow ends up in a car a hundred-fifty miles south of here. She calls on you for help—which she’s never done in her life? Tell me, what am I supposed to think?”

“I agree it looks bad, but I’ve seen how Adric looks at her. We’ve all seen it.”

Dion snarled. “Like a fucking cat stares at prey.”

“No. Like a man who wants a woman with everything he has—but knows he can never have her. He’s stayed away from her for her own good. And she feels the same. If he’d wanted, he could’ve lured her away years ago.”

Beside her, Isa murmured agreement.

“Then why is he taking her to Virginia?” Dion demanded.

“We don’t know it’s him.”

“Who else could it be?”

“I’m just saying, keep an open mind.”

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