Page 102 of Poet & Protector

“Don’t go there, Cal,” I said quietly, and took her hand to emphasize my words. “If you do anything, try to interfere at all, Logan will make an example of you. What good would it do any of us if you were handed over to a wraith? Or Efron? You don’t have a choice. None of us do. Guardians serve. Right?”

“There are many kinds of service, Mason.”

I could feel Logan’s thumb pressing against the hollow of my throat as if I were back in that moment. His words echoed in my mind.

“All kinds.”

Calla was still watching me, her fingers tightening around mine.

I tried to reassure her one last time, but my voice quavered. “It isn’t your fault. I’ll be okay.”

Pulling my hand free of her grasp, I turned and walked away.

Eighteen

The Mountain School

The commons

NEV

“Mason, could I have a moment?”

When Ren rose to leave the commons, his Banes followed, including me. I was almost to the door when Logan’s voice ribboned through the air, a silken snare laid to trap Mason in the room with him. Alone.

I slowed, all my primal instincts roaring to life. My wolf snarled and clawed at my chest, demanding to be freed so it could protect its mate.

Sabine’s hand shot out. Her fingernails dug into my forearm. Our eyes met, the question in her gaze dissolving in seconds as she studied my face. Her expression hardened and her grip on me tightened when I tried to pull away. She flashed sharp canines and I knew she would drag me from the commons if I forced her to.

Behind me, I heard Calla whisper, “No.”

Mason’s alpha was attempting to intervene.

“Calla!” Logan’s response was instant, his next command harsh and unyielding. “You have been dismissed.”

Ren turned back at the exchange, quickly moving to retrieve Calla. He looked at me as he passed, his eyes tight with regret.

The fight went out of me. I knew there could be no other outcome than this. Our alphas desperate to help, yet unable to do anything but stop us from incurring Logan’s wrath.

Sabine didn’t pause when we were out of the commons.

“We’re leaving.” She wrapped both her arms around my waist, guiding me down the hall, out of the building, into the parking lot.

She continued to speak, but her words were muted by the storm raging in my mind.

All I could see was that room. All I could hear was Logan’s voice.

“Mason, could I have a moment?”

Panic gripped me and I hauled back, trying to free myself from Sabine’s grasp. But she’d been expecting a fight and wrestled me into stillness.

“Stop, Nev.” Her voice was quiet, but firm. “Stop.”

“I can’t leave him there.”

“You have to,” she said. “He’ll be okay.”

“You don’t know that.”