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Niah is watching all of this go down with an unreadable expression on her face. It doesn't matter what she's thinking, I'm feeling judged. It's wild that I can go head first into a firefight without flinching, and yetthisshit is what always gets my flight response going.

Every. Single. Time.

And if it wasn't for the baby inside of me, I probably would throw myself right out of this saddle.

Airos is almost right on the money, and I hate that he can see it. It's not that Iamexcited by riding with him. I'm afraid of the possibility that I could be.

Then, Azin whistles again and our gryph responds, falling in behind them. Holding the reins is useless—we're just in for the ride here—but I keep them tightly gripped in my hands. I'm not willing to give up control, even if it's just the illusion of it.

11

AIROS

“Back off, man,” Jackson snaps.

"I'm not doing anything," I say.

"You're in my space."

"Perhaps you haven't noticed, but we only have so much saddle between us."

Our gryph trots quickly, following the tail of the lead. Jackson keeps trying to pull himself away from me, but the rocking of the animal's gait makes it impossible to keep my hips away from him. It's simply part of riding such a beast, but Jackson is choosing to make it an ordeal.

"You must think I'm enjoying this," I say. "Believe me, I'm not."

"You better not be," he says. "Shit!"

"Oh, I'm not. If you're concerned that I might have some kind of attraction to you, then you're dead wrong. You simply being an omega is not enough for me to want you."

"Good, I'm glad we clarified that. And it sure as shit doesn't excite me to ride with you, so get that thought out of your head."

"Then please, explain this aversion you have to being close to me."

"There's nothing to explain."

"There's no one judging you, Jackson. Maybe in your world, but not here. You're an honorable person."

"Bro, you barely even know me," he says. "You have no idea what kind of shit I've done."

"I promise you, I've done worse," I reply.

"Look, Airos, it's all good. I just like my space, alright? That's it."

I would believe it, if it weren't for the scattered haze of memories I now possess.

"But that isn't true, is it?" I know that I'm treading into dangerous territory, but I only want to understand. "What happened in that forest, Jackson?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" he says with a thin voice.

"Dreams that reveal a place I've never been to, and a life I've never lived. A memory that doesn't belong to me. Something happened when our powers united over the desert."

The name McScott rests on my tongue like a feather on a fingertip, ready to be plucked away by the wind. But Jackson thrusts his fist up to shoulder height, with his palm facing forward and knuckles white with tension.

"Don't."

"Who is he?" I ask.

It all happens in a blink of an eye, and I hardly even see it coming. Jackson twists around, and in one smooth motion grabs the front of my robe and manages to yank me out of the saddle. I flip over and land on my back on the sand. The sun is clipped behind his head like a gleaming crown, and the look of rage I expect to see is instead one of betrayal.