Broken Bond - Callie Rose Page 0,4

prominent like this, they resemble sigils, similar to the marks we use to protect the boundaries of our lands.

No. They don’t just resemble sigils. That’s exactly what they are.

Jesus. She’s marked with witch sigils.

This is so fucked up.

Sable was meant to be my mate, a shifter like me. Not a witch, not the mortal enemy of my kind. How am I supposed to deal with the feelings I have for her now? Because even though she’s the embodiment of a shifter’s worst predator, my heart still aches for her. I’d give anything to wipe away the panic that contorts her features and hold her until she can breathe again.

I raise my hands up, palms out, and gently take several steps back, making sure every move I make is slow and careful. Like the day I brought her breakfast when she sat in my bed, nothing but a scared, broken lamb afraid of shadows. That wasn’t so long ago, but it feels like a lifetime has passed since that day.

“Okay. It’s okay, Sable. I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to. I’ll stay away.”

For a brief moment, she looks relieved. I think something inside her recognizes me the moment I give her space to process her new situation. But my soft voice and careful movements are overridden by the sudden scuffle I hear outside the bedroom door.

The thin wooden door slams open with a hell of a lot more force than necessary, startling Sable into letting out a screech that doesn’t even sound human. Trystan and Archer rush in, their eyes wild and their footsteps heavy on the floor. I don’t know how they knew she was awake, but the way they barged in like fucking lunatics didn’t do Sable any favors. Her panic seems to return full force to her face, twisting her features into something harsh.

So much for keeping her calm.

“Is everythi—” Trystan cuts off as his gaze lands on Sable. “You’re awake.”

Archer’s face goes slack with relief as he brushes past the larger man. “Sable. Thank God.”

Before he can take more than a few steps, Sable yanks the quilt off the bed, wrapping it around herself and practically huddling under it as she presses her back to the headboard. It’s as if she wants to get as far away from us all as possible. Like she wants to hide from us.

“I think she’s still half in her dream state,” I tell them, keeping my voice soft and even. “Don’t startle her.”

Despite my attempt at not scaring her, she throws a wild, panicked look in my direction and pulls her knees tighter to her chest. The blanket hangs over her face like a cloak, hiding her away but giving her room to keep her eye on us.

“Still the most awake she’s been in days,” Trystan mutters as he draws up to the end of the bed and studies her. Worry hovers behind his turquoise eyes. He snaps his fingers three times, like he’s calling a pup. “Sable! Wake up.”

Archer clasps Trystan’s shoulder, pulling him back. “Don’t be an idiot. You’ll scare her.”

“I’m not trying to scare her!” Trystan grunts, shrugging Archer’s hand away.

Beneath her blanket fort, Sable makes a small, panicked sound as her face disappears entirely beneath the blanket.

“Oh?” Archer jerks his chin to indicate Sable. “Well, you’re doing a real bang-up job of it anyway.”

Trystan doesn’t reply, but he storms away from the bed to go lean by the open door, his brooding gaze on Sable’s shivering form. Guilt lingers in his eyes though. He didn’t mean to scare her. As annoyed as I am at him, I know that. But he’s fucked up by this, just like we all are.

Rational thought is in short supply these days.

I exchange glances with Archer and roll my eyes. I’ve gotten to know them both pretty well during the last couple weeks, and the one constant is Trystan’s need to be in control, to be right, and to be the best. When he’s none of those things, he can throw a tantrum that rivals the youngest wolf cub. Of the three of us, he’s had the hardest time coming to terms with the new situation. We’re all adrift here, and I’m just doing my best to go with the flow. Trystan isn’t a go-with-the-flow kind of guy.

In the silence that lingers after he walks away, Sable resurfaces. Her bright blue eyes are wild as she looks between me and Archer.

Archer moves slowly and carefully, avoiding direct eye contact