Page 56 of Hybrid Heroics

“You think she knew about the curse?”

“No. I think she knew he was three steps ahead until recently. This was the last step before he got to her, so she knew something was happening here that needed attention, but she needed to boost herself for battling him, too.”

“Why boost herself to fight him when everyone knows she’s stronger?” he wondered.

“Because she doesn’t know if she’s stronger,” I speculated. “Sloane only knows there are enough people on her side to keep his minions busy while she systematically slaughters them all. Which is why we need to train today.”

Battling Alric might be some prophesied event, but she wouldn’t be alone.

We wouldn’t let her stand against him by herself.

She could argue if she wanted…

But we would all break if she didn’t survive this fight.

Not just her mates.

Or her parents.

Or Jack… Grim. Hyde. Dolyn.

If she didn’t walk away from this war as the victor, everyone she cared about would be forever changed.

And she knew that. Just like she knew…

Losing had never been an option.

Wednesday, June 24rd

Early Morning

Nothing set shit into perspective quicker than figuring out you were the weakest link in a group.

I wasn’t physically weak, but mentally? That was the area I was questioning after my conversation with York.

He hadn’t said anything that led me to believe he felt the same way, but the druid was too nice to point out I was failing unless it was causing issues.

So... Either I hadn’t fucked up anything too bad, or he was giving me time to straighten myself out.

But godsdamn.

This wasn’t a feeling I was used to, though I understood it.

Failure hadn’t ever been an option for me. Even when I was overwhelmed and ready to walk away, I would just put on a mask of indifference and push through whatever task or class needed to be completed.

That was another thing my Kitten and I had in common. Except she didn’t simply mask herself so people would leave her alone. Her reasons ran deeper than mine.

We both gave bits of our personality, never leaving it all on display at once. That was a habit our parents had taught us early on. Though our upbringings were vastly different, our childhoods had been easier when people didn’t know everything about us. Or when they just didn’t notice us.

I was quiet. And usually, I liked it that way... I had spoken more since I’d been with Sloane than I did in the six months prior to meeting her.

She had brought me out of my shell, pulled my mask off.

Now I was realizing how much that mask had held me back.

For a brief moment, I wondered what it would be like to act more like Novak. He was an in your face kind of guy. What you saw was what you got, and if you didn’t like it, he didn’t fucking care. I would rather not get that comfortable with just anyone, but I could fake it.

Or not.