Page 105 of Shifter King

The soft even flowing of the suphrite through the stone channels soothed her mind. Outside all manner of chaos and voices tried to press in, but it wasn't so desperate and terrified as it had been below. These people, though scared, had some measure of hope and purpose. And, perhaps she was wrong, but it seemed as if this stone here absorbed some of it rather than echoing the voices and thoughts at her.

She closed her eyes. The Ki Valo Nakar had vanished for the time being. It would return eventually, no doubt.

For now, she needed to find Naatos. She stretched out into the darkness.

Naatos had such a distinct presence that coupled with their bond it should have been easy. He was the one person she was most connected to.

That cold sopping oozing sensation returned. She strained and twisted her energy out, searching for something. Anything.

The voices grew louder from the outside. They pressed in more and more the harder she pressed to get away.

What was wrong? What was making it so hard? She gritted her teeth together and channeled all her energy in. "Naatos!" she shouted. "Naatos, where are you?"

The cacophony of voices lurched even louder as if someone had cranked up the volume. Dropping forward, she covered her ears.

Where was he? Elonumato help her, she had to find him. He was out here. Somewhere. Everyone was. Everyone. She'd found him before. Why not now?

The floor became thick liquid. It sucked her down to her knees. This was wrong. This wasn't how it worked. She envisioned the ground solid.

It vanished.

She lunged out, grabbing for anything solid. A fragment of the bond reached her. Desperate, she seized it. Her fingers curled tight. "Naatos, can you hear me?"

It was too much. She fell back to consciousness, choking on tears.

The Ki Valo Nakar uncurled in her mind and pressed hard against her consciousness, almost as if nuzzling her."Don't try too hard. It isn't just you. Things are different in this place."

"I have to reach him," she said aloud.

"Your Vawtrian is right about me. I'm not your friend. It is in my interests to keep you alive. And I do know this is hard for you. But you have to understand that what I am offering you is the chance to do something far greater and far more important than what you thought. I can't help you reach your veskare, but I can help you find your strength if you let me."

"Just stop. Please. That would help me get my strength back." Her head was pounding again. "I have to find Naatos. I have to reach him."

"I'll be here when you're ready to face reality."It withdrew, seeming to shrink as it disappeared.

She dove deeper into her mind. That cold sopping sensation intensified. Stretching out, she searched. Her fingertips brushed against only a cold empty void or a slick chill. Nothing else. No Naatos.

The world shook.

Startled, she jolted.

WroOth crouched beside her, concern shining in his blue-green eyes. "I'm sorry, dear heart. But we can't wait any longer. Did you—"

She shook her head, still holding onto his arm. Her voice trembled. That cold was so deep, even being near WroOth now and in this warm room felt like too little. "I couldn't. My mindreading isn't working, WroOth. I don't know what I did wrong. But I couldn't—I couldn't reach him." What if he was dead?

"It's all right. Come on. We have to go." WroOth lifted her to her feet as he stood, not even straining with the movement.

The unsettled feeling remained. "What if something's happened? What if he's been killed?"

He laughed. "Naatos isn't going to die, darling. Why would he die?"

"I don't know. But…" What if he had? One more thing that did not go as it was supposed to. She couldn't find him. Couldn't focus. Her elmis prickled and burned.

"The queen has changed her mind about you drinking psychic wine. Things are finally starting to go our way. But you do have to get a tattoo."

"Why?" She shivered, rubbing her arms. The cold wasn't leaving. In the past, it had felt like a bead that had expanded outward. Now it was the opposite. The cold was coming in from her fingers and toes and all that remained was a shrinking sphere.

"That's what Bealorns do when it's a love match. Apparently, now it's vital that you and Gabrice appear to be in love to convince the other Bealorn leaders that this was the right choice. That the intensity of the passion overrides all else."