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senses in this form. If he d have been expecting the priests to shy away or cower in fear, he d
have been wrong. Very wrong.
What a beautiful coat you have, Father Norbert murmured, and he proved his
nativity or stupidity Jameson wasn t sure which by stepping around Father Piotr and
reaching out to stroke Jameson s fur. Even a soft growl from Jameson got him a cluck of
tongue from the priest. And a scratch behind his ear.
Father Piotr squatted, his knees popping so that it made Jameson s hurt in sympathy.
We have told you of our family. They have in turn told of their lost leader and his mate.
Many have begun to lose faith that their true Alpha Anax will return, and many who fought
for him have been killed or imprisoned. There have been rumours of sightings, and when I
saw you outside on the steps, I remembered the rumours, and the drawings and sketches
passed in secret of you two. There are many shifters, and yes, even some people, looking for
you and Luuk. I have even heard tell of the Alpha Anaxes of other countries sending over
guards to find you recently.
Jameson s head was spinning with the influx of news, and the part about guards from
other countries and Alpha Anaxes what was he supposed to make of that? He remembered
the unfamiliar scent of the other shifters in the forest hours ago. Would shifters from far
away have a different smell to them?
Please, we truly only mean to help. The older priest sighed and plopped onto his
butt. Too hard on my knees. He turned watery blue eyes on him. Jameson.
Hearing his name in someone other than Luuk s voice just sounded weird, and& and
wonderful. Even in wolf form, his eyes burned, and Jameson had to struggle not to shift. He
wanted to trust these men so badly, it scared him. Could he?
Jameson, Father Piotr said again. It s a strong name. We have not contacted anyone,
not even our family shifters, to tell them you and Luuk have been found. We would not,
without first gaining your permission. We also understand that trust isn t given but earned.
Unfortunately, I do not think your mate has the time for you to dither over this. He nodded
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REVOLUTION Bailey Bradford
33
just as Jameson heard Luuk s breath hitch, felt his presence flicker, and it terrified him as
nothing else could.
Jameson shifted, scrambling to Luuk. No, no no no, he muttered, scooping Luuk into
his arms. You can t, Luuk, no. You can t& Jameson rocked and exerted every bit of power
he could through their link, clamping mental tendrils around Luuk, coaxing and binding, no
longer paying attention to the priests. There was no reason to. If he lost Luuk, he lost
everything. The priests could kill him or turn him in if they were so inclined.
Or they could save Luuk, he realised, fear jabbing his gut and heart as hands appeared,
the stink of the mixture strong and coming from the fumes rolling off the cup one of the
priests put to Luuk s lips. Jameson didn t take his eyes off Luuk to see which man gave it to
him. He was afraid if he looked away, if he let that bond loosen at all, Luuk would leave him.
You have to fight, Luuk. You have to. Don t leave me here, you don t want to leave me here. I
know you re tired, so tired, and I am, too, but don t be a coward and take the easy way out. Stay here
with me and fight!
Jameson s desperate thoughts and words flowed as rapidly as his tears. He held Luuk
as more of the stuff was poured into his mouth, bathed his face in kisses and licked away the
tears he d spilled on Luuk s skin. All the while, the priests remained beside him, chanting or
praying, he didn t know which.
Eventually one of them got up. Jameson heard him but wouldn t look away from
Luuk s pale, drawn face. A few minutes later the priest returned with another cup, and so it
went. Jameson lost track of everything but his mate and the fight to keep him alive.
And so, when Luuk finally took a deep, shuddering breath, Jameson s heart stopped.
Then Luuk s lids fluttered, as if it was a great weight on them, before he opened his eyes in
narrow slits.
Oh God, Jameson gasped, thinking he d never seen a more beautiful sight than
Luuk s golden-brown eyes just then. It only lasted for a moment, then Luuk sighed softly,
and closed his eyes. But his presence in Jameson s mind, in his heart, was stronger, and Luuk
curled onto his uninjured side and snuggled to Jameson.
The priests whooped, startling Jameson into twitching, then he smiled, and wondered if
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