Page 29 of Bizarre Bonds
“Was there anything about someone named Gracie?”
“That name… no. I’m sure it would have stuck out to me. He didn’t mention anyone other than himself and the targets of his irrational wrath.”
Then I can still hope Gracie got away. And if the weird rifts pose a threat to mortalkind, I owe it to her to do whatever I can to solve the problem too.
Two missions at once. I can be ambitious.
One last twinge of guilt ripples through my chest, but I give Rollick a firm nod. “All right. Let’s go unravel the mystery of those rifts.”
11
Raze
I’m annoyed the moment I sense Peri arriving outside our dorm bedroom door—and hear her thanking the staff member who escorted her.
If Rollick wanted to make sure no one hassled her on the way from the infirmary, he should have asked me. Who cares more about keeping her safe than I do?
I spent most of the past few hours prowling around outside the voluntary student building, hoping the spiteful snow wraith would show her wan face so I could flay her with my fury.
Except I’m not sure I actually would have no matter how much I wanted to, because then the staff might banish me, and who else might hurt my Glowbug without me here?
And then I found out they’d already banished Gloss, so all my pacing was pointless anyway.
I emerge from the shadows before the door has even swung shut, leaping to Peri’s side. “Are you all right? You’re feeling totally better now?”
She steps into the room smoothly enough. I’m not picking up any twinges of pain through the glowing spot on my chest, but I’m not sure if I’d notice milder sensations.
Subtlety has never been my strong point.
At least I know she’s not blaring with agony. I’d recognize that in an instant.
Like the jumbled froth of distress that brought me hustling her way. Like the more vicious spike of anguish that followed.
When I remember seeing Gloss poised over Peri in the hall, the essence streaming off Peri’s body and the savage expression on her attacker’s face, my stomach ties itself in knots.
I can’t remember the last time I experienced anger like the rage that seared through me at that sight. My contacts cracked; I’m sure one brush of my fingers would have been fatal.
I might really have killed the icy woman, shadowkind or not, if Jonah hadn’t dashed over a moment after me and locked me in place with a shout of sorcery.
He did also get Gloss off Peri, which I guess I can give him credit for. As much as part of me wishes I’d gotten in a fatal swipe before he showed up.
The staff wouldn’t have blamed me for acting in my beloved’s defense in the moment, would they?
The brutal longing only twists my gut up more. I ease back a step to give Peri space.
All those venomous emotions are coming even closer to brushing up against her now. How can I keep a careful wall up when she’s got a direct line to my inner state?
Peri offers me one of her soft smiles, but it’s not quite as vibrant as they often are. “I’m completely back to normal. Itis nice that our physical bodies can heal so much faster than regular mortal ones.”
I don’t know about “fast.” Does she realize our shadowkind nurse took her into the shadow realm for a few days before she was healed enough to finish the process in this plane?
I make myself smile back despite the conflicted emotions roiling inside me. “That’s good. If I’d gotten there sooner?—”
Peri shakes her head dismissively. “I didn’t have any idea Gloss was that angry with me, so you definitely couldn’t have. It’s over now. It sounds like no one has to worry about her going full monster again.”
She pauses for a moment, studying me, and then flops down on her bed on the other side of the room. The urge spreads through my arms to follow and cuddle her close, but the jab of uncertainty on its heels holds me in place.
Instead, I stand aimlessly in the middle of the room like the lug Hail would say I am.
