He loved to spar against a competent opponent.
“No, wish I was. I need some help. I think I have met my … mate … she may even be my bloodmate, and she’s Hulven,” he blurted out. Gil held his hand up to stop him.
“Wait.” Gil looked at the group around them. “Ev‘ryone get outta here. Ya get an unscheduled break. Say: ‘Thank Ya Shane.’”
Together the group said, “Thank you, Shane,” with all sorts of enthusiasm.
Within seconds the group had skidaddled, probably afraid Gil would call them back, telling them they were suckers to think that he was really going to give them a break. Followed by hours of hell.
“Talk ta me.” By mutual unspoken agreement, they both turned to wander toward the swimming ponds, a natural sound barrier.
Shane relayed the gist of what had transpired over the past day, omitting intimate details and protecting Jess’s confidences. He did admit to giving Jerika a direct order to not include anything in her report about Jess, except that she was the self-defense instructor. Gil chuckled and nodded.
“Bloodmatin’s were always rich in rule breakin’ and drama, back when they were common,” Gil mumbled, shaking his head. “Ya do realize a true bloodmating hasna been documented in centuries, right? A Hulven and an Elven? Never. I think my parent wouda told me.” Since both of Gil’s parents were involved heavily in the SOSC, Shane was sure Gil would know.
“I don’t know what to say, Gil. I can’t explain how I feel.” Shane shrugged.
“Ya actually let her leave, huh.” Gil asked. Shane nodded, feeling miserable. “Ya are a tough bastard.” He shook his head with a smirk. “First thing first, lemme get a look at the pistol that has whooped your ass. See if we canna convince her ta take ya ta her aunt.”
“I don’t think she wants to see me. I really fucked this up, Gil. She’s exceptionally resilient, amazingly intelligent. Determined in a way I’ve only ever dreamed of being. The way she looked at me when she left … I think she may fear me now. Fear us.” He’d never felt so defeated in his life.
“If that gal’s your bloodmate, trust me, she’ll be wantin’ ta see ya.” Gil clasped his hand to Shane’s shoulder, infusing him with confidence. “Just lemme get the giant ov’r there ta take ov’r the class.”
When Gil returned, Shane sent his energy seeking her blood signature, using only the small drop of blood he’d gotten while kissing her. Once he found her, he felt an instant sense of relief and a burst of joy just because she was in the universe. Berating himself as the sap he was, he held her blood signature and then tagged Gil’s, carrying them both to her location, hoping he didn’t land them in a wall.
****
Jess sat in the parking lot of the Ryu, leaning her forehead against the steering wheel, dreading going in. She knew she needed to. If the thirty missed calls on her phone, which had been forgotten on the floorboard, gave any indication, she had some ’splainin’ to do to Eric and Aymee. “Shitshitshitshitshit!” she shouted. Jumping out of the Jeep and slamming the door, she trotted across the lot to the employee entrance.
“I have called them all … Yes, and the police … She has to be gone twenty-four hours for them to take a report, but they don’t have her Jeep involved in any accidents. … I have a class waiting to start right now, but if I don’t hear from her in—” Aymee turned when the door shut. Jess entered their combined offices and set her purse on her desk. It was obvious she was talking to Ellen. Good thing Jess walked in when she did or her foster mother would have called in the National Guard.
Aymee glared at her as if her apparent health was unacceptable. “She just walked in. … I have no idea, but I guarantee that is the first question I am asking. … Yeah, call you back … Hey, let Eric know she’s alive, at least until I kill her myself. … You too, bye.” The phone slammed
“No, wish I was. I need some help. I think I have met my … mate … she may even be my bloodmate, and she’s Hulven,” he blurted out. Gil held his hand up to stop him.
“Wait.” Gil looked at the group around them. “Ev‘ryone get outta here. Ya get an unscheduled break. Say: ‘Thank Ya Shane.’”
Together the group said, “Thank you, Shane,” with all sorts of enthusiasm.
Within seconds the group had skidaddled, probably afraid Gil would call them back, telling them they were suckers to think that he was really going to give them a break. Followed by hours of hell.
“Talk ta me.” By mutual unspoken agreement, they both turned to wander toward the swimming ponds, a natural sound barrier.
Shane relayed the gist of what had transpired over the past day, omitting intimate details and protecting Jess’s confidences. He did admit to giving Jerika a direct order to not include anything in her report about Jess, except that she was the self-defense instructor. Gil chuckled and nodded.
“Bloodmatin’s were always rich in rule breakin’ and drama, back when they were common,” Gil mumbled, shaking his head. “Ya do realize a true bloodmating hasna been documented in centuries, right? A Hulven and an Elven? Never. I think my parent wouda told me.” Since both of Gil’s parents were involved heavily in the SOSC, Shane was sure Gil would know.
“I don’t know what to say, Gil. I can’t explain how I feel.” Shane shrugged.
“Ya actually let her leave, huh.” Gil asked. Shane nodded, feeling miserable. “Ya are a tough bastard.” He shook his head with a smirk. “First thing first, lemme get a look at the pistol that has whooped your ass. See if we canna convince her ta take ya ta her aunt.”
“I don’t think she wants to see me. I really fucked this up, Gil. She’s exceptionally resilient, amazingly intelligent. Determined in a way I’ve only ever dreamed of being. The way she looked at me when she left … I think she may fear me now. Fear us.” He’d never felt so defeated in his life.
“If that gal’s your bloodmate, trust me, she’ll be wantin’ ta see ya.” Gil clasped his hand to Shane’s shoulder, infusing him with confidence. “Just lemme get the giant ov’r there ta take ov’r the class.”
When Gil returned, Shane sent his energy seeking her blood signature, using only the small drop of blood he’d gotten while kissing her. Once he found her, he felt an instant sense of relief and a burst of joy just because she was in the universe. Berating himself as the sap he was, he held her blood signature and then tagged Gil’s, carrying them both to her location, hoping he didn’t land them in a wall.
****
Jess sat in the parking lot of the Ryu, leaning her forehead against the steering wheel, dreading going in. She knew she needed to. If the thirty missed calls on her phone, which had been forgotten on the floorboard, gave any indication, she had some ’splainin’ to do to Eric and Aymee. “Shitshitshitshitshit!” she shouted. Jumping out of the Jeep and slamming the door, she trotted across the lot to the employee entrance.
“I have called them all … Yes, and the police … She has to be gone twenty-four hours for them to take a report, but they don’t have her Jeep involved in any accidents. … I have a class waiting to start right now, but if I don’t hear from her in—” Aymee turned when the door shut. Jess entered their combined offices and set her purse on her desk. It was obvious she was talking to Ellen. Good thing Jess walked in when she did or her foster mother would have called in the National Guard.
Aymee glared at her as if her apparent health was unacceptable. “She just walked in. … I have no idea, but I guarantee that is the first question I am asking. … Yeah, call you back … Hey, let Eric know she’s alive, at least until I kill her myself. … You too, bye.” The phone slammed
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