Page 47 of The Stone Initiation
Oh wow, she’s…wow… “I’m dead, aren’t I?”
Her mouth fights a smile. “You’ll live, cadet, but you’ll have a hell of a bruise. It’ll take a few hours to heal.”
Wait…she’s… “Selas?”
“Touron, right?”
“You know my name?”
The smile breaks through. “I do. I knew your brother. He was a good warrior, and he will be missed.”
My throat tightens. “Thank you.”
She moves away and stands looking down at me. “Get back to your dorm and put some ice on that.” She turns away.
“Wait. What about Cam? He’s her mate, isn’t he?”
Her shoulders tense.
“That’s why he acted like he did before. It’s why he attacked me.” I pull myself up. “Why hasn’t he spoken to her about it?”
She turns to me with a sigh. “Sigmas aren’t allowed to take mates. It’s Stone law. Has been for…forever. Tell Miss Walker that she’s safe. Serath will keep his distance.”
She takes a step then launches herself up through the canopy, vanishing from sight.
Well at least we have confirmation now, even if it came with a bruised face.
CHAPTER20
CAMERON
Sharniza slid steaks off the grill while I mashed potatoes. The room smelled meaty and delicious, and my stomach rumbled in eager anticipation.
Palia and Ginia grabbed plates, and I glanced over at the door. We’d held off on cooking, wanting the steaks to be warm when Touron got back. He’d been gone over half an hour now. Surely, he should be headed back by now?
He arrived a moment later as if summoned by my thoughts. His sandy hair was dappled with dirt and mussed, and his face…
“Oh god, your face!” I dropped the masher and rushed over to him.
“I’m fine.” He held up his hands to ward me off. “Seriously. I just need some ice.”
Palia passed him a pack of frozen peas. “If you tell me that you tripped and fell…”
He gave her a wry smile. “I did. After Serath punched me in the head.” He pressed the peas to the side of his face and winced. “That goyle hits hard.”
“He hit you?” A bubble of rage expanded in my chest. “He fucking hit you? What the fuck?”
“Why did he do that?” Ginia asked confused.
“I was up close and personal with his mate, that’s why.”
“No.” I shook my head.
“Sorry, Cam. Selas confirmed it,” Touron said. “He was in the grip of primal rage. It’s a male goyle mate-thing. Selas says he’ll leave you alone though because sigmas aren’t allowed to have mates. Stone law or something.”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Palia said.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off the swollen bruise on my friend’s face, couldn’t shake the growing indignant rage that ate away at my lungs. “So, he hit you, then what did he do?”
