“You’re not imagining things,” Kall said next to me. We were bringing up the rear, Maki and Novuk several yards ahead.
“You can see that, too?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“What is it?”
He lowered his voice. “It’s an obscuring spell from the witches.”
“Obscuring?”
“Yes, they’re concealing our passage through the forest.”
I pondered for a minute. “So… are we, like, invisible?”
Kall chuckled. “Not exactly. That would be a nice superpower.”
Superpower... the word sounded strange on his lips, and I had to remind myself that none of the pack members were ignorant as I was led to believe. He had been educated enough to know about the outside world. The thought of him knowing about superheroes almost made me laugh. This was not a world for make-believe. Life here was too real, too cruel.
“So how does the spell work?” I asked.
“I don’t know exactly. All I know is that we still have to be quiet. I think that, from the outside, we’re sort of... camouflaged.”
We walked for a few minutes in silence. I knew I should say something about the fact that he was my mate, but I didn’t know what. It felt awkward and…
“I need more time,” I blurted out.
He glanced over at me and opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.
“I like you, Kall. A lot.”
“I can tell.”
“Shut up!” I swatted his arm.
He repressed a smile by pressing his lips together, green eyes flashing with a little light of amusement.
“This is funny to you?” I started to leave, but he grabbed my hand.
“I’m sorry. It isn’t funny at all. Not when seeing you walk away feels like…” He pressed a hand on his chest. “It feels like someone is trying to rip my heart out.”
I pulled my hand from his grip. “Don’t exaggerate.”
“I wish I was.”
Something about the tone of his voice let me know he was telling the truth. I couldn’t help but feel guilty, even though I knew none of this was my fault.
“It’s too much, Kall,” I said.
“I know.”
I frowned at him. How could he possibly understand when I’d said so little to explain myself? Could he sense it through the triad bond? Did that mean that if I paid attention I would also be able to understand whathewas feeling about our relationship? Or maybe it was the mate bond?
Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t understand how any of this works.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying that and let me talk!”