Page 41 of Love the Way You Lion
Oh, fuck, I’m an idiot.
I close my eyes to make the room stop spinning before I hurl. I can’t feel anyone or anything, but the roller coaster my senses are on. Breathing as I try to get myself under control, I lay still. People have to be wondering where I am, but I can’t tell them. My body’s not responding well, either, or thatmightbecome a problem in not too long, considering I drank a pint of juice like an hour ago.
Something about this feels familiar, but I can’t put my finger on why or what.
Suddenly, Taurus pops into the room right next to the bed where I’ve landed, looking at me like a crazed fan. He smells like our garden and fear, as he looks down at me. “Baby?”
“Mmm?” I reply, burying my experience in the pillow I’m holding onto as the world does merry-go-round things. I feel like I’m made of clouds and it takes everything in me to crack my eye open again to look at him.
Super speed has him at my side before I blink, and his hands stroke down my back. “You alright, love? I didn’t know—what’s going on? You left without saying a word.”
“I don’t know,” I say, flopping over to look up at him. I have kitty eyes; I feel the emotions swirling in them. It makes me grin when I think about how silly I look. “I wentpop! How d’you find me? I couldn’t find anyone.”
He shrugs, blushing. “I didn’t know—not really. Didn't have a clue where you went, but I hoped you’d come home if something was going on. It seemed smart to check here before the real search began.”
I giggle. “I didn’t mean to go anywhere. Then it was all ‘wheeeeeee’. I hit the bed. And I’m all grrr-y.”
Not looking a bit amused, he tilts his head. “I don’t know, baby.”
My tail twitches, I feel it, and I scrunch up my face in frustration. “All I did was let go a bit and now I’m all fluffy.” I blink, stopping for a moment to get my brain working.
“What do you mean, you let go for a moment?”
I frown again, not liking his tone. It’s not nice. “I quit focusingbecause I didn’t have to hold everything in place. The healing was almost done. I let my arm heal and all.”
“So, you ‘let go’ and you popped up here?” He asks me, his fingers brushing the hair off my face.
“No. I let go and something weird happened. Then boom! I was here and I’m all fuzzy and stuff.”
He speaks, his voice not rising at all. “Okay, baby. I’m trying not to lose control, but I can’t feel you.”
I nod. “Yup. I can’t feel you, either. I know you’re here, but it’s like you’re not.”
His face flickers with emotions as if he’s trying hard not to let them show. “Okay. What could strip away the bonds from your two closest mates? Sampson said he couldn’t feel you either.”
Shrugging, I flop onto my back again. “Not a clue. My head’s all ‘wooooooo’.” I twirl my finger around as I say that, watching it move in fascination.
“Deli! Concentrate. Stop watching your sodding fingers move! The babe—is she...?” His eyes narrow, and he is scowling, which I can’t understand.
I saved her, right? Talia’s okay? I did a good job, right?
“Is she alright? I can’t feel Maeve, and I always feel her a little.”
Looking inside, I search through the muddled haze in my head to locate the little one. “I felt nothing wrong inside, but everything is muzzy. It’s hard to focus.” I look up at him, watching his features, and sigh. “Have I ever told you how pretty you are?”
He flinches, looking at me like I smacked him in the nose. “I’m pretty?! Christ, woman, are you drunk?”
That was mean, and there’s no need for him to be mean. I don’t like it.
I sniff, not wanting to cry in front of him, and turn on my side, putting my back to him. See if I ever say something nice to him again. “I told you I don’t know what’s wrong!”
I bury my experience in the pillow, determined to keep the tears on my cheeks hidden.Why does everyone hurt me?I squeeze my eyes shut, and colors explode behind my lids. Why am I trying to think?He doesn’t care. “I’m gonna sleep now.” Feeling his eyes on me, I wish he’d just go away. I’ve had enough of mean, hateful people.
“I don’t like not feeling you in my heart,” he whispers.
“I’m not doing it on purpose, so I can’t fix it. I let my focus drop for a minute to rest, and suddenly, I’m flying. Did I forget anything? What did I do wrong?” I’m asking myself more than him and I push my hair off my face. “I’m hot.”
“Hot? Hot?” He touches my cheek. “Christ. You are hot.”
