Their bond, and her shields.
Shea’s empathic abilities gu
ided her to the exact point where the bond went jagged. No denying it was because of her shields. Every time she erected them, put them up and bolstered them, using his rejection to continue to build a wall, she was actually hurting them both.
By trying to save herself from her own devastation, she created an impenetrable force that kept Colton from getting a read on her scent and her emotions—while blinding herself to his.
It wasn’t just his wolf. Colton, the man standing in front of her, chest heaving as he thinned his lips, watching her with a focused expression… Colton wanted to reach for her while telling himself that he was too late.
And he was, wasn’t he?
Why couldn’t this kiss have happened before now? Colton had her kiss, but Julian already had her blood—and her promise that she’d be his betrothed. There were witnesses and everything. She couldn’t go back on her word. If she did, she wouldn’t be the only one paying for it.
Hudson might not deserve her loyalty, but that didn’t matter. Her brother had it and there was nothing else she could do about that.
But there was something she could do for Colton.
Sometime since she left the club, her well of healing had started to refill. She didn’t have to strength to fix anything fatal. This, though? This she could do. Tapping into her energy, using just enough that it didn’t trigger the magenta glow, she sent pulses of healing through their bond.
It wasn’t witchcraft, not exactly, but the innate healing ability that marked her as the strongest Moonshadow in her family’s line. Because, to a Moonshadow, magic was nice, but it didn’t compare to being able to heal a hurt or save a life.
Shea made sure to soothe the tear. And then, when she slowly began to rebuild her shields, she purposely left a gap for Colton.
Tonight, she’d been able to sense his emotions, get an idea of what he really felt—and what he was really thinking. Know what? It was time she returned the favor.
That... might have been a mistake.
Thanks to the gap, she knew when Colton sensed the change in her shields. It wouldn’t have been so noticeable, but the crackle in the air would’ve alerted him to the magic she was using. He had to know something was up when she didn’t cut him off again like she’d been doing since they first met.
He was the first person she allowed behind her shields. Well, except for her Nana, but that didn’t count. And how did Colton thank her?
After running his fingers through his hair, leaving tracks as claws parted the sandy-colored strands, he started to back up toward the open door.
“I… shit. I should be going. You stay safe, Shea, okay? We’ll talk soon.”
“Wait.” Shea was still wearing his suit jacket. So maybe it was an excuse to keep him around a few seconds longer. It was worth it to say, “Don’t you want your coat?”
He paused on the landing. His eyes stayed dark blue, the man in total control. “Keep it. I don’t plan on going back to that place so I won’t need it. Now promise me you’ll stay away from there, too.”
She’d have to be dragged back to Bloodlust kicking and screaming. Something told her that that wouldn’t be necessary, though. If Julian planned on holding her to her pledge, he’d find her no matter what.
She had no doubt in her mind about that.
Through the gap in her shields, she could tell that Colton really wanted her to promise him. Good thing it wasn’t a lie.
“I promise.”
“Good. Take care, Shea.”
“Colton—”
His head disappeared. She hurried forward, peering down the stairs. A flash of his hair, a glimpse of his white shirt flapping as he took the stairs two at a time… he was gone before she could even marvel at how fast he could go.
She thought about going after him, then decided that the whole getting over Colton thing? She might as well start that now.
At least she had that one kiss to hold onto.
That was just her luck. Her first kiss was with a shifter—her almost-mate, and definitely not her new betrothed—who bolted with his taste still on her lips.