If that was the case, I figured it would become apparent that we had them. Big enough to drive a freaking Mac truck through.
Whereas Valkyrie—geez, they even moved as though they were one entity. Brushing and bumping up against each other, hands often in contact, but not speaking. Although their eyes flashed frequently.
“Telepathy,” Matt whispered to me. “Alphas have a partial link to their packs, but they’re mated, too. So they’re gabbing to each other, but we just can’t hear it.”
Wowsers.They were a natural team. I couldn’t imagine the advantages of telepathic communication while on a mission. And as I stared at them, a tiny winged form flitted overhead to land on the dark-haired Dire’s shoulder.
An owl. I didn’t know owls came that small.
“Think he talks to the bird, too. They’re perfect for recon.”
Matt sounded hoarse, and I glanced at him. His eyes were shadowed in the darkness, which made their occasional gleam almost feverish.
I leaned close. “Are you okay?”
“Blimey, will you stop asking that, Angel? I’m bloody fine.”
The edge to his voice only served to prove he wasn’t. But there wasn’t much I could do about it. Unless I could push him more energy? But what if it went the other way?
I wished Cara were here. I had nothing but questions, and I needed answers, and badly.
The other teams and instructors followed Bess through the academy doors, heading for the back field and the gate beyond. Sebastian, however, took us to the one by the lake.
He stood before it and raised his hands, and the gate came to life with a shimmer. I shivered. It was easy to forget that he could contain such power. When I watched him move or saw him run, he exuded so much more than just physical perfection. He wasn’t just a tall, exotic-looking human.
Something wavered into view through the arch—trees. Another forest. Another world.
“Like we don’t have enough trees here to play in,” Matt growled, uncharacteristically grumpy. But then again, he didn’t like traveling through gates.
Sebastian dropped his hands. “To ensure we step through in sync, we’ll have to join hands.”
Maddy and her Dires immediately grabbed hold of each other—they were seldom without body contact, anyway. I stood frozen, afraid to touch anyone, as Darius walked right up to me, expecting to grab hold.
A growl from beside me, and words, soft-spoken, “Here, Angel.” Matt’s big hand folded around mine.
Darius’s eyes flashed, and the alpha power swept over us. Matt flinched.
I glared back at the alphahole, struggling to contain my anger. I couldn’t risk it, but man, did I want to take the bastard out. With my luck, my fledgling power wouldn’t work on him.
A warm palm slid into my other hand, and I looked up in surprise at Talakai. His expression was remote as he stared Darius down.
I swallowed, and shivered again. But relaxed, just a trifle, when neither shifter collapsed at my touch.
A smooth feminine voice interrupted Darius’s glare. “Here. Take my hand,” Maddy said. Her steady gaze slid from Darius to me as she extended her hand to him.
The alpha turned his back on me and accepted her offer. Aaron glowered, before putting his hand on Mari’s arm. She, in turn, took Darius’s.
Maddy’s blond Dire offered a shoulder grab to Matt, and the dark-haired one gripped Sebastian’s. Then, linked at the head of a living chain, the Bellati took us through.
The air on the other side was warmer, more humid. Darius and the other guys disengaged from each other right away, but Talakai took a moment to let me go. Matt held on until I smiled nervously at him and pulled my hand free.
Sebastian led us along a path until we came to a small clearing. There was a tent set up at one end. Once we all piled in, he handed sealed packets to both Darius and Maddy.
“Your missions. Discuss them with your team. We are going into this one blind, protocol-wise, and that is because I want to see what you have to offer without it.”
Crap.I refused to look at Darius, but my gut twisted.
“I have a single parameter to set. One member can be non-humanoid. For Maddy’s team, they’ll have to use the owl—for Darius’s, I’m putting Talakai in the sky. He’ll be wearing one of these, and keep his team apprised of what he sees, but he be not engaging.” Sebastian held up a device that looked like it slipped over a human ear. He addressed Talakai. “Can you fasten this into place with your scales?”
