Oh, God. What do I do now? The wolf’s distress was so palpable, it seared her, but he was proud, too. She could see it in the determined set of his shoulders. She’d never wanted to hurt anyone. In that moment, she understood on a visceral level that she’d chased away the possibility of support—and love—to shield herself. Aislinn was ashamed. What was it Travis had said? We’ve all lost a lot…Something like that. She’d used her losses as an excuse to check out of life. Drifting from assignment to assignment, she’d never let herself think too deeply about anything. Guess I thought I’d be killed sooner or later.
Scooting over, she hunkered next to Rune and held out a hand to him. “If you go into this knowing you’ll have to help me because I don’t know shit about being half of a bond pair, well, I’m willing to give it a whirl.”
“You don’t have to,” he said stiffly, still not looking at her. “I didn’t tell you about losing Marta so you would pity me. I told you so you would understand.”
She stifled a bitter laugh. “I don’t pity you,” she said. “I pity me. I lied to you just now. It’s not that I prefer working alone. I’ve chosen to so I don’t have to feel responsible for anyone else’s death. If you still want me for your bond mate, I’d be honored.”
Rune looked at her then. Really looked at her. It felt as if he was sifting through her soul. At length, he shut his eyes and whuffled softly. “You still have not told me where we are going. I must know if I am to help boost your magic.”
Aislinn let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. This was the first time she’d offered anything touching the core of herself since her parents died. Granted, it was only a wolf—No, a stern inner voice kicked in. He is far more than a wolf, and you know it. He is love and risk. And vulnerability.
“I am going to Taltos,” she sent in shielded mind speech. “I do not know if they will let you in.”
What he said next shocked her. “They may not exactly welcome me, but I’ve already been there.”
She was a little show on the uptake, because she was well into pulling their traveling spell together when it dawned that if Rune had been there, he must know how to find it.
“Of course,” he said, obviously having read her mind.
“You know my thoughts?” For a second time that afternoon, her spell drifted away on the winds.
The wolf nodded. “You should know mine, now I’ve dropped my shielding. It is part of the bond gift.”
She smiled at him, liking this new development, even though it felt scary. It would be like having a twin, where each knew the other’s innermost feelings. She’d always wanted a brother or sister—
Her head snapped up about the time she heard Rune’s voice in her head. “Back down the stairs, human. Get that door open. Do it now.”
The old Aislinn would have hesitated, wanting to see exactly what it was they faced. Today’s Aislinn dove for the stairwell, trusting Rune’s hyper-tuned senses. She was only about twenty feet from the break in the earth leading downward. Because she knew where the damaged steps were, she made the bottom in seconds and entered the code from feel without drawing magic for her light. Rune nosed her forward as soon as the door opened.
Aislinn stood in the dark, the harsh sound of the wolf’s panting loud in her ears. “What was out there?” she whispered, loathe to use any magic in case something with Seeker or Hunter ability lurked above them.
“Dark magic.”
“Can you still sense it?” She hesitated. “More importantly, can they sense you?”
“Yes and no.”
“Why are you invisible to them?” She was curious. Maybe she could borrow from his skills. That would be a handy one.
“Because I do not need magic to smell and hear things.”
Aislinn felt stupid. Of course he didn’t. Lupine senses were far more sensitive than her own. Feeling for the chair, she sank into it. And waited. At least half an hour ticked by. “I think we should face whatever’s out there,” she said softly.
“No.”
“Well, we can’t stay here.”
“Why not? There’s food and plastic bottles with water.”
“Because I have to be at the gateway in three more days.”
“Or?”
“Or they may not let me in.”
In the faint light filtering in from around the door, she saw Rune shift from an alert sit to his feet, tail pluming behind him. “I will go.” He nosed at the door. “Open it for me.”
“Now just a damned minute.” She rocketed to her feet and buried a hand in the thick ruff of his neck. “We can be partners, but I won’t have you fight my battles for me.”