Page 82 of The Stone Secret
Levi’s nostrils flared again, and his gaze flicked from me to Serath and back again.
Shit. Could he smell us? Smell our connection somehow? If he figured out that we were mates, Serath would be taken. Executed. Panic rose inside me like a tide because a threat to Serath was a threat to me.
The air in front of me burst into darkness that expanded and became the large shadowy figure of Derek.
“Get away,” Derek boomed at Levi.
Levi backed up, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Cameron…I would never…never hurt you. You know that, right?”
But the appearance of Derek screamed otherwise, and the wounded expression on Levi’s face was almost enough to make me cave and jump to placate him—to tell him that of course I wasn’t afraid of him. But that was a bad idea.
This was for the best.
It would put the kind of distance between us that would keep Serath safe.
Levi took a breath and nodded. “I’ll leave you be. If you change your mind about the training…” He turned on his heel and walked away.
I sagged against Serath.
His hands closed over my hips, fingers warm brands, hugging me to him.
“Are you all right?” Derek asked.
“I am. Thank you.”
Derek fixed his diamond eyes on Serath. “And you? Are you all right?”
Serath’s grip on me flexed. “Why does that matter?”
Derek slow-blinked. “Because it matters to my Cameron.”
“Derek, let’s go inside.” Shar beckoned him from the doors to Stone Comfort. How much had she seen and heard?
I was sure we’d discuss it later.
Derek retreated with Shar, leaving me alone with Serath, who quickly let go of me, putting an appropriate amount of space between us.
“How has training been?” he asked gruffly.
“Good. It’s been good. And you? How was Outpost Ten?” How was your time with your lover?
“Good.” He fixed his gaze on a point over my head. “I think this situation will help us both.”
“What? You being with someone else?”
“That’s correct. It’s for the best.”
“You honestly think it changes anything?” I dropped my voice. “We’re fated mates. Our beasts don’t seem to care about who else we might be fucking.”
He looked at me, his gaze cold and biting. “You’re fucking the Mason boy now?”
I was tempted to say yes, to cause him the same pain I felt. But petty wasn’t a good look on me. “No. I’m not. I’m not a sellout like you. I don’t take the easy path.”
His scent spiked, reeking of frustration and anger. He wrestled it under control quickly. “You should go join your friends. I’ll speak to the elite about Levi and his offer to train you for the elite exams.”
“Are you insane? You saw what just happened. He could smell our…pheromones.” I shuddered.
“It won’t be an issue if I’m not present.”
