Silver Shifters Collection One by Zoe Chant

Author:Zoe Chant [Chant, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-05-03T23:00:00+00:00

FOUR

NIKOS

It was instinct, after a lifetime of being responsible for other people, to check on Jen as well as the two girls. Or so he could tell himself, but the truth was, every time he heard Jen’s voice or looked her way, he felt like he had too many hands, too many feet, and there were too many words he wanted to say, but the only one he should say was farewell.

That was logical. Responsible.

His unicorn responded to that thought with echoing silence.

He half-listened to the girls, who were soaking in the conversation about the sea life to be found along the Pacific coast. They wanted to stay. He could see and hear it in their joy at having spotted whales on their first, quick flight alone. He wasn’t worried about them being seen, as they were both mythic shifters—Cleo a hippogriff and Petra a Mongolian wind horse. As long as they were careful to shift out of sight of humans, they would be fine.

That is, as long as Cang and whoever was behind him were not lurking around.

He heard Jen’s voice again, splintering his thoughts. He caught himself straining to hear her, but all he caught were random words as she talked with her friends.

He wrenched his mind back on track.

Reasons to leave: first, the phone call from home, reminding him of the near crisis there. Second, he was far too distracted by Jen Carlsen.

Reasons to stay: first, his suspicion as to the nature of what was in that oracle stone. Second, Petra and Cleo were enthralled with the Pacific.

He could order the girls to leave today, and he knew they’d obey—especially if he told them about the phone call reporting that two spies of the gorgon who was threatening the island had been caught trying to infiltrate their stronghold. Except that in the same phone call, he’d been assured that his two leading hetairoi, Bryony and Mateo, were doing an excellent job of running things in his absence. His guards were doing everything right.

As for Jen Carlsen, he’d been distracted before, and he knew how to handle distractions: by keeping his focus on his responsibilities.

The foremost of those at this moment was arguably the oracle stone.

He had only caught what seemed to be a reflection of something he knew to be impossible: a Transfer Gate. There was only one Transfer Gate left in the world, in the possession of the celestial empress. Using it, she could send anyone anywhere, between one step and the next, as long as the destination was known. If there was any chance whatsoever that another such Gate existed, it must not fall into evil hands.

But he couldn’t trust that fleeting impression. He had to find a way to get closer. Make sure, before spreading what might be false news.

His attention splintered again when people began moving about. Doris cut slices of the cake, and Jen, Mikhail, and his wife carried dirty dishes to the kitchen, trailed by the white-haired little elder they called Godiva.

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