Page 23 of Grey
“Welcome to the family, Tatum,” Dexter said. “Welcome to the Little River Herd.”
“You guys are going to make me cry,” she said, her eyes stinging with happy tears. “I understand the need for secrecy and just want you to know that I’ll keep it in my heart and I won’t tell anyone, ever.”
They nodded and smiled.
She patted Grey’s neck. “I’m ready when you are. Show me what it means to be a stallion’s soulmate.”
He tossed his head back with a nicker and pawed at the dirt, and then he trotted away from the barn. She held onto the rope and squeezed her knees at the surge of speed as he left the pasture through a gate that Dexter opened, and then they were running, the scenery blurring as they raced into the field, the moon lighting the way.
When they returned to the pasture, Grey wasn’t ready to be out of his shift yet, so they stayed there, moving around the area at a slow pace with Tatum on his back and talking to him from time to time. She often seemed to be lost in thought, most likely still coming to terms with all she’d seen.
As the time passed and he was finally able to shift, he nickered at Dexter as he trotted over to the barn and Dexter pulled open the doors for him so he could go inside. Dexter helped Tatum off his back and then shut the doors.
“So you only turn into horses in the barn?” Tatum asked.
“Yes,” Dexter said. “To make sure that no one sees us.”
She hummed as Grey moved away from everyone and waited for Nancy to turn away from the sight of him turning back to human. But Tatum was watching.
He shifted back to human and then grabbed his clothes, keeping his gaze locked on his soulmate’s.
“That was just as incredible as it was seeing you turn into a horse,” she said.
They met in a hug and he was so relieved she wasn’t afraid of him or angry that he’d kept the secret.
“We’re going to take off,” Dexter said. “Take care, you two.”
They waved and he and Tatum said goodbye.
When they were alone in the barn, Tatum said, “I knew you were hiding something, but I had no idea it was something like this. In my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined that you could turn into a horse. I would have been less surprised to find out you’re the Jersey Devil.”
He grinned. He took her hand and led her to the workbench, pulling out a stool for her. They sat and he said, “I’m sorry I had to keep it a secret. Our people are very careful for obvious reasons.”
“Oh yeah, people are crazy and scare easily. Just look at what happened to poor Eleanor.”
He wasn’t sure what she was talking about at first, but then he remembered that Eleanor was the name of the Ghost of Little River, who’d been chased into the woods by townsfolk. It was who Tatum had been on the hunt for when she’d gotten lost.
“Exactly,” he said. “But I felt in my heart that you cared about me and I could share this with you without fear that you’d go running to tell someone.”
She leaned over and kissed him. “I swear I’ll never tell another soul.”
“I know, sweetheart. But you can talk to me about it anytime you want, and also Tris and Zara and Nancy. And someday, when Avi and Ford find their soulmates, you can help walk them through it like Nancy did for you.”
“I’d love that.”
She leaned against the workbench, her expression thoughtful. A smile curved her lips and he was momentarily awestruck at how beautiful she was and how connected to her he felt.
“I should probably head home soon.”
Disappointment made his stomach tighten. He wasn’t ready for the night to end.
“But,” she said, her eyes darkening slightly as the sweet scent of her arousal hit his nose, “you could drive me home and stay the night. I could bring you back in the morning before I go to the library.”
The disappointment evaporated and in its place was a sweet warmth.
“I’d love to.”
They left the storage barn and he saw Avi who was taking the night patrol shift, and he told him that he’d be taking Tatum home and wouldn’t be back until morning.
