Page 8 of Spirit Rites

I pause and look over at her. “Do Shade and Solace ever attack you?”

“Well, no, but...I don’t know. I’ve just never been around jaguars.”

“Me neither,” I admit.

I finally cave and reach out to Veyra.Where are you?

Look up.

I stand still and look up. It takes me a minute, but I finally locate Veyra.Are you okay?

I am an apex predator; you need not worry about me.

Why are you up there all alone?

I am not alone. My mate watches nearby.

I turn around in a slow circle.I don’t see him.

You aren’t supposed to see him, but he can see you.

I stiffen at her words. “What?” Farrah asks, gripping my arm. “What is it?”

“Uh, nothing. She was just telling me that Jespar is nearby. We can’t see him, but he can see us.”

“Well, that’s not creepy at all,” she says, gripping my arm tighter. “Where’s Veyra?” I point out the tree she’s currently sitting on. “Where? I can’t see her?” I move closer to the tree and point her out. Farrah turns to me and gives me a look I can’t quite read.

“What?”

“How did you see her?” she asks.

“I didn’t at first. She told me where she was.”

“No, I mean, I can hardly see her from here; and you saw her from back there.”

I look back at Veyra and then Farrah and shrug. “I don’t know.”

She continues to study me, and it makes me nervous. “What?”

“I just wonder if your bond is stronger, or maybe you’re just better at using her abilities.”

I look up at Veyra. “I don’t know. I don’t think so.” I reach out to Veyra.Are you going to stay up there?

Yes.

Okay. Are you sure you’re okay? Why aren’t you down here with Jespar.

The matings of our kind are rough; I am resting now.

I’m not exactly sure how to respond to that.Okay. I'll let you rest now.

Do you need my assistance?She surprises me by asking.

Uh, no. No, I’m good thanks.

You seem very uncertain.

I can’t help my smile.That would be me. I’m pretty sure that sums up my entire life.