Page 92 of The Stone Initiation
“All the time…before.” She yawns. “I can’t remember clearly now, but…it was a monster. He wanted to get me, always trying to get me.”
My chest tightens at the thought of her being afraid and my not being there to protect her. “You’re safe here. Safe with me.”
She laughs, a soft sleepy sound. “Am I? The things I want to do to you…”
My pulse quickens. “Cameron…” I want to inject warning into my tone, but it comes out as a plea. As if Iwanther to continue.
I feel her shut it down, and I can’t help but be grateful to her. “I should get some sleep.” She sounds reluctant. I could press her to continue the call but we’re swimming into dangerous waters, and she’s right to pull back.
Stronger than me.
“Yes. I should get back to work.” I look around at the dark, empty, observatory. There’s no need to tell her that we’re practically grounded until we get another Basque. That all we can do is assist in small missions because the Stone Council fears losing another one of us.
We’re stronger together, and with Romi gone our bonds have weakened.
“Night, Serath,” she says. “Speak tomorrow?”
“Goodnight, Cameron, and yes, tomorrow.”
I end the call and stare at the tiny phone in my hand. Such a small device and now a lifeline. A connection to my mate.
If this is all I can have then I’ll take it and make the most of it, because the alternative…It’s not worth thinking about.
“How’d it go?” Selas asks from the doorway.
“Good. It went well.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Because I’ve just had some shitty news.”
I take a final look at the starry sky then turn away from my dreams and to reality. “Tell me.”
CHAPTER40
CAMERON
The weekend flew by, and I was back on my feet by Sunday and eager to do something. Training seemed like a good idea. Had Selas told Touron when we could meet again?
I dressed and stared at the empty spot where a coffee mug would usually be. Melanie had been absent the last few days. Well not absent exactly but uncommunicative. I’d felt her presence, and even caught a glimpse of her in the corridor last night, but she hadn’t visited since scoping out the filing room for me.
After everything she’d said about wanting company and being roommates, it was odd that she’d just stop talking to me. Had I upset her by asking her to help me? Had I done something wrong? And what the hell was I doing, worrying if a ghost wanted to be friends with me or not?
I grabbed a jacket and headed out.
Touron didn’t answer his door, but Shar did, although she blocked me from entering. I stifled a stab of annoyance. “Why won’t you let me come into your room?”
She frowned. “It’s a mess.”
She was lying. I should let it go, but it was bugging me now. “I don’t care.”
“But I do. I’ll be out in a moment.” She closed the door in my face.
Seriously?
She emerged a moment later and closed the door quickly behind her. “Your ankle looks better.”
She was trying to deflect. Not having it. “We’re friends, right?”
She blinked down at me in confusion.
