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I’m not sure about breaking up. Can it wait until you’re back and we can talk? I wasn’t sure if we had something or if it was just me.

Bailey frowned,not liking where his thoughts took him. How deeply entwined were their lives? Did Kass mean if one died, they both died? Dread balled in his stomach…Kass was a soldier. He was too young to die. But he didn’t know how to ask Kass to explain. Had Kass felt the beating he’d been given?

I hopeyou safe and well. I will do my best to stay the same.

The why,that’s not easy to explain. But it’s not something I’m proud of.

And yet hekept doing it. After the beating, he’d gone out the bare minimum, but he couldn’t stop until his exams were over.

I’ll think of you,

B

Was that too much?He’d never had a boyfriend, had never wanted to drag someone else into his mess, or have Gran find out he was gay. He shook his head. How could it be too much when they had a magical connection that let them get off together? Oh…what if that happened at a really bad time? What if he was in an exam? Or Kass was doing whatever army stuff he did? He didn’t want Kass getting shot because he wanted to jerk off.

He added an extra line about scheduling a time to be close and hoped Kass would take the hint, then hit send. He waited ten minutes, constantly refreshing before giving up and going back to study.

But he was distracted by the idea of meeting Kass again. What would it be like when they’d already shared through the bond? Would they be able to break it if they kept using it for fun?

The mating bond wasn’t supposed to be fun. It was for power. Witches used shifters, yet Bailey wasn’t feeling used. He was elated. Kass was his, all his. And Kass seemed to like him. No one, not his grandmother or the people she worked for, could do a damn thing about it. There were worse things that could happen to him than being a witch’s familiar. For the most part, he was already there.

* * *

Kass had spentthe better part of three days watching and waiting. He was used to the waiting. Usually he waited and packed up and went home without taking a shot. Other days everything turned to hell in the blink of an eye.

Today was one of those days.

When the explosions began the only thing that mattered was getting back to safety. The fear that he’d die rode him hard. He choked on dust and followed commands, protecting his team while trying to get clear. He didn’t have room for thoughts about Bailey, and yet he couldn’t shrug them off. He was aware of Bailey in much the same way he was aware of everyone around him.

The wall next to him exploded, and Kass deflected the shards of brick and plaster without thinking who might see.

The soldier next to him said something Kass couldn’t hear over the ringing in his ears.

He wiped his hand over his cheek and his fingers came away bloody. Small bits of frag had gotten him, but he’d have been killed without his magic.

Then they were moving and they still had to fight their way out.

* * *

Bailey’s ears rang,and he was sure he was about to faint. He put his pen down and took a breath. He wanted to get up and have a drink, but he was in the middle of his math exam. His heartbeat quickened and sweat rolled down his back.

What was wrong with him?

He’d been nervous before the exam began, but this was ridiculous. He could do this stuff. It was easy. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and tried to focus on the page. He had an hour to go.

While the adrenaline flooding his body and drying his mouth made him want to run, it was the noise that was the worst. Like gun shots. He kept his head lowered like he was figuring out the question, then closed his eyes.

The bond shook and pulsed. Heat spread over his skin and he heard distant shouting.

Kass was in trouble. And there was nothing he could do.

He answered a few more questions, despite the distractions in his head. He was sure that if he said anything, they’d cart him off for an evaluation and some strong meds. But it wasn’t imaginary, and it was getting worse.

Kass had given him magic when he needed it…now it was his turn and it couldn’t wait until the exam was over.

He opened himself to the bond. Confusion and noise surrounded him, and he hunched over, gripping his pencil tight, not knowing how to help. When he was in a rough spot, he melted into the background. He couldn’t turn invisible, but snow leopards were good at appearing to vanish. So that’s what he offered Kass.

He didn’t care if the witch stole his magic; it was no good to him if he died.