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“Okayyy. And?”
“Most of my time since the shattering was spent in Illuemera, trying to figure out what happened and how to fix it. During that time, I spoke to a scholar who studies soul magic, Master Yurghen. I don’t know if he can help, but it’s my best guess. We’ll need to take the cat through the portal when you’re ready.”
Oh. That was… not what I expected. Not even one mention of mating. So why do I feel disappointed? I’m just looking for the opportunity to yell at him.
“But how did he get stuck like this?”
Sunder shrugs as I try to stroke Bobble soothingly in my lap. I don’t believe for a second he doesn’t know, but I’ll ignore it for now.
Illuemera. Might as well be Narnia. My sister is my only living relative, and we haven’t spoken in years. But Jasper, Ross, Stephen, and Lisa…
Lisa.
Their faces sear into my heart. Restarting with a new company when I get back will suck, but I can always find another job. But leaving Lisa.
“How long will we be gone?”
He shrugs but the way his eyes avoid mine, unease settles into me. What happens to Bobble Cat once I die of old age? Life can’t be kind to strays. Will he be able to find me again if I’m reborn and he’s still a cat in Atlanta?
“Let me think about it.”
I don’t want to leave. I’m not ready.
But I also don’t want Bobble to suffer.
And… I’m in this totally and completely now.
There’s a difference, however, between being in this and realizing I can never come back. Sunder is asking a lot of me.
Especially for a man who has made a point to say that he can never love me.
Chapter Eighteen
Sunder
Dead leaves scatter in my wake as I pace the forest, searching for some sense of peace. Mira’s still pissed about the cat thing, but I don’t care. Things were getting a little too chummy. If she betrays me at a critical moment during the liberation of Valenfall, I may never get it back. No, let her stew over my supposed lie.
Returning to the cabin, I walk into the clearing to find her laying on the gravel talking to that stupid cat. Resisting the urge to punt him into the abyss, I clench my fists at my sides. What’s so magnificent about a cat? It doesn’t even clean itself properly. The orange fur almost looks mangey. Just a dirty little rat.
I round on the pair, my jaw tightening and relaxing in time with my fist. I try not to speak through gritted teeth.
“Let’s get started.”
She eyes me up and down with disgust, like she’s considering if it’s worth touching such a slimeball for Chroma. I clarify for her that we can train weapons today instead of Chroma.
“What kind of weapons?”
“The pointy kind. I don’t expect you to hold your own in sword combat, if it comes to that. But I want to know you can slide a dagger into an attacker’s ribs with precision.”
Her mouth falls open as the blood drains from her face.
“I’m not going to kill anyone, you psycho.”
“What if your life depends on it? What if his life depends on it?” I nod my head towards the Third. Bobble. Dumb name for a dumb cat. I would never deign to name myself something so silly.
I know he’s another one of the Shards. But he is one that is far inferior to me. I’d never let myself be trapped in a shapeshifted form. I’d never shift into a… house cat. Mira tilts her head and eyes up the little rat, considering.
And the way she looks at him. I don’t know why it pisses me off so badly.
