Broken Warrior (The Weavers Circle 1)

Clay made a scoffing noise at that cop-out. Grey most definitely had an opinion about what he should be doing and saying to Dane.

“I mean, if you’re using him for sex, then no, don’t tell him.”

Clay clenched his teeth and tried not to growl at Grey’s dismissive tone. Sure, it had been the same damn thing he and Dane had agreed upon just a few hours ago, but Grey made it sound so dirty and heartless. Dane was more than a quickie in some alley while on his break.

“It’s not like that,” Clay snapped. “I don’t think he’ll believe me. If he thinks we’re all crazy or feeding him some bullshit, he’ll leave.”

Grey’s smirk was back. “And you don’t want him to leave?”

“It’s dangerous if he leaves. Flo said the plantation grounds are protected so long as they are holding on to our powers. The pestilents can’t find us or attack us here. I don’t know if those fucks spotted Dane with us last night, but there’s a chance he’s vulnerable now.”

“You think the pestilents could use him to get to us?” Baer asked, proving that he’d been listening to their conversation from a distance.

Clay looked up to see his friend standing a few feet away, his earlier excitement gone. He was pulling a little at his beard with his right hand. “I don’t know. The only thing we can be sure of is that he’s safer here.”

“Don’t you think he deserves to know the truth if it’s his life that’s in danger?” Grey pressed.

Clay shoved both of his hands through his hair and groaned. “I don’t know. Right now, I think our main focus should be honing our powers.”

What the hell was he supposed to do about Dane? No fucking clue. At least Baer and Grey were distracted with something different, leaving Clay alone to his internal grumblings.

They reached the clearing without any new questions or prodding at Clay’s mental sore spots. In the blink of an eye, Baer had shifted into his black lab form, dashing around the clearing. He circled Grey, barking and yipping like a lunatic. Grey stood in the center of the meadow, slowly turning in one spot as he tried to keep Baer in view.

“That’s…that’s amazing,” he said breathlessly.

Clay nodded. “He’s getting faster.”

The dog stopped and hunched down. Clay cocked his head, unable to figure out what the hell Baer was doing. After a few seconds, the dog shook and then Baer’s human form popped into existence. He immediately gave a shaky laugh.

“Tried to go directly to another animal form. Couldn’t manage it,” he admitted.

“You’ll get there.”

Grey turned to Clay. “So, he’s the Animal Weaver and you’re the Earth. The earthquake from the other night.”

“He can make the plants grow and move as well,” Baer added.

“That’ll come in handy if we decide to put in a garden behind the house,” Grey said.

Grey’s words brought a smile to Clay’s lips. It was late in the season to be planting a garden, but his gift could help speed things along. Just the thought of having a garden to tend, a place to watch over and care for plants, seemed to soothe something deep within his soul. His parents had tried to keep a small one here and there when he was growing up. It was never more than some tomato plants, a few peppers, and eggplants, but he’d loved watering it and watching for bugs trying to eat at the new growth.

“Go on! Make the vines dance again!” Baer prodded.

Clay’s smile fell away, and he shook his head. He had enough problems getting his powers to work properly. He didn’t want to perform in front of an audience like some trained seal.

“I’m more interested in seeing what the new guy can do.” Clay looked over at Grey and smirked. “So, what’s a Soul Weaver?”

Grey didn’t back down an inch. He tilted his chin up as he met Clay’s mocking gaze. “I know what you’re feeling. Both of you. I think…I think I could read your thoughts if I tried. They’re like muffled whispers right now.”

Clay’s blood ran cold at Grey’s almost taunting words as he mentally replayed all their interactions since Grey had come downstairs that afternoon. Had Grey given away any hints that he’d know what Clay was thinking?

Holy fuck. How were they going to have any kind of privacy around someone like that?

“Whoa,” Baer breathed. “That’s crazy. You want to try to read my mind?”

Clay flinched. It was amazing Baer could trust a practical stranger with something like that. Clay needed his privacy. He didn’t share. Didn’t like sharing. He was used to being a loner. And then let some guy shuffle around in his brain? No fucking way.

“Don’t damage his brain,” Clay grumbled, earning a horrified look from both Grey and Baer. How could they have not thought of it? It wasn’t like their powers worked perfectly on the first try. Baer was offering to let Grey play around in his fucking brain.