Shift by Raine Thomas Page A

They passed near her home, so he reasoned out where she’d gone. Before he started down the path leading to the panthers, the door to the house opened.
    “Hi, Quincy,” James said as he and Olivia emerged. He raised an eyebrow. “Do I want to know why you’re holding Sophia’s clothing?”
    Glancing down, Quincy realized he had Sophia’s bra and panties in one hand and the rest of her clothing in the other. Feeling his face flush, he quickly balled everything up so the undergarments were no longer visible.
    Clearing his throat, he explained, “The experiment started off on rocky footing.” When James and Sophia approached and stopped a few feet away, he said, “ Archigos Ini-herit told her about the cursed arrow.”
    Olivia inhaled sharply and lost all of her color. James reached out and pulled her against his side, looking nearly as shaken.
    “Oh, my God,” Olivia breathed. She looked up at her husband as her eyes filled. “James…”
    “Where did she go?” James asked.
    “I think she’s with the panthers.” He lifted her clothes. “I was about to go after her.”
    James nodded in understanding. “Thank you, Quincy. We were about to go and meet with the elders. Zayna had difficulty reasoning with Hoygul and she’s heading back without the scroll piece. We have to figure out what to do.” He exchanged a look with Olivia. “But now…”
    Quincy’s mind jumped from one concern to the next. The Scultresti elder had failed in her attempt to get the map to the library, which meant the scroll piece was still out there and potentially accessible to Eirik. He didn’t see how that was possible. Why would Hoygul defy his elder when it came to something so important? Why didn’t Zayna try to force the issue and use her power to retrieve the map?
    He thought back to his own experience with the odd Scultresti male all of those years ago. If it hadn’t been for Saraqael’s quest to save the woman he loved, Hoygul never would have shared the map with them. Quincy wondered if he might have more success if he approached the Scultresti, but he doubted it.
    Shaking his head, he returned to his more immediate concern. “Let me go and retrieve Sophia. I’ll talk to her about this and help her process it.”
    James frowned. “I’ll come with you. She must be upset with us for keeping this from her. She has a right to feel that way.”
    Tears trailed down Olivia’s cheeks. She didn’t comment, but her grip on James’ hand was tight enough to turn her knuckles white. When she jumped a little and rubbed her belly with her free hand, Quincy gave her a questioning look.
    “I think it would be best if you stayed with Olivia,” he told James. “The baby is very close to arriving. I’d feel better if I knew you were with her in case she goes into labor.”
    Clearly torn, James looked at Olivia. “I don’t—”
    “I promise, I’ll bring her back as soon as possible,” Quincy interrupted. The need to go after Sophia tugged at him. “Let her get her anger out with me rather than you. Go and find out what the plan is regarding the scroll piece, and once you’re done, Sophia will be back and you can talk to her about everything.”
    The couple exchanged looks and thoughts. Eventually, James reluctantly nodded. “Okay, Quincy,” he said, catching his gaze. “Please let her know…”
    Even without the words, Quincy understood. “I will.”
    Before they could change their minds, he turned and hurried in the direction of the section of forest where the panthers dwelled. He knew Sophia very well. She had likely gone straight to Domino.
    The panthers lived in a rather vast part of the protected forest near Sophia’s family home. Over the years, with a few of the panthers having prowled the plane only to return with mates, the cat population had grown to nearly thirty. It was easy enough for Quincy to make his way to Domino’s den.
    The cat’s sister, Cleo, slept there still. Quincy used a wise amount of caution