Heart of Stone - Book 2: Hearts Collide

Stone woke with an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Again. He was starting to get used to it now.

Since finding out that he wouldn’t give Aubree the children she wanted, she had seemed more down, withdrawn, and closed off in the days to pass. He gave her the space he thought she needed, believing she would come around and talk about whatever was on her mind when she wanted to.

He tried to ignore the feeling, but this time felt different.

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

While he didn’t have access to her mind, he didn’t need telepathy to know that she was feeling anxious about something. What could possibly make her anxious if not the one thing that had been on her mind all week?

He didn’t want to deal with this right now. When he didn’t come home late from the hunt, he’d spend an hour calling various packs in Europe in an attempt to find Amora. However, with every call, he came up dry.

The last remaining Ancient in existence, Amora moved freely from one pack to the next. If anyone could help him find a solution to their problem, it would be her. He didn’t know what she could tell him but any wisdom from her was better than nothing.

Groaning, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and trudged to the bathroom to empty his bladder.

He hated how Aubree found out. He wished he could go back in time and tell her himself. Although he trusted that Rosemary told her the truth as gently as she could, it still should have come from him.

Unfortunately, the past couldn’t be changed. As she withdrew into a state of deep reflection, his mind had been wrapped up in trying to find Amora, and discuss strategies with Colten and Davis regarding the vampires—all while trying to ignore Aubree’s scent.

He couldn’t stand the smell of human blood. It only brought back memories.

Memories that he didn’t want to associate with her.

He scratched the scuff along his chin as he stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

He remembered how Adelaide liked him clean-shaven in his human form, and he did it so willingly for her despite the nicks he’d gathered from the blade he used.

′It softens you,′ she had said as she trailed a finger along his jaw.

I could stand to be softer, he thought.

Pushing Adelaide from his thoughts, he looked away from his reflection, his eyes landing on his razor resting next to the sink.

It has been a rough few days, he reflected.

As much as he wanted to deny how much her scent affected him, it was a contributing factor in keeping his distance. He hadn’t been very kind to Aubree. He couldn’t tolerate being around her when she was bleeding. The smell of her hair and neck when he held her in his sleep was strong enough to block out the smell of her blood, but when his nose wasn’t pressed up against her, all he could smell was that metallic, coppery scent.

It was a hopeful act as he moistened his face and slathered shaving cream on. As the razor glided across his skin, he could feel anxiety creeping in more heavily than before.

He went to his office after shaving and noted some missed calls. One was from Arizona a few minutes ago.

Groaning, he put the phone back down on the desk and rubbed his face. What did the Spirit Walker want? He said they would come when they could, but Aubree had her menses, not to mention they both had enough on their minds right now. Seeing the Spirit Walker would have to wait.

Before he could leave his office, the phone began ringing. Narrowing his eyes at it, he walked back across the room to answer it. He lifted the device to his ears. “Stone.”

There was a crackle at the other end before a deep voice replaced it. “Good evening, Alpha.”

He scowled. “I told Coyote that we would come when we could. The timing hasn’t been agreeable right now.”

“I understand. However, I highly suggest you come next week.”

Stone’s eyebrows knotted together. “Why is that?”

“The full moon.”

“What of it?”

“It is auspicious to your species, is it not? Spiritual even?”

He paused, his mind starting to put the pieces together. “You have my attention.”

“Could there be a more fitting time to connect with the Spirit World than during a full moon?”

“It is indeed a very intriguing prospect,” Stone said. “Though, you still have neglected to inform me as to why you request our presence in the first place.”

“It isn’t me who wishes to communicate with you,” the Spirit Walker said, “but rather, someone else from the Spirit World.”

Stone nearly dropped the phone as Adelaide flashed in his mind. His heart thumped in his chest, beating so hard that he couldn’t get enough air into his lungs.

It couldn’t be, could it? Was that why the Spirit Walker requested Stone and Aubree’s presence? Adelaide’s soul had been trying to reach him but he kept putting it off?

No, he absolutely had to take Aubree to see the Spirit Walker now.

“What...” he hesitated with uncertainty. “What does she want?”

“That is not for me to ask. I am merely a means of transmission. Her business is with you and your recently acquired soulmate,” the Spirit Walker said. “I am certain that if you come during the full moon, you will have all the answers that you seek.”

Stone nodded, even though the Spirit Walker could not see it. “Yes. We will come then. Thank you.”

About to hang up, the Spirit Walker was quick to add, “Oh, and be sure to watch your back. The spirits are whispering.”

Stone frowned. If this was about the impending war against the vampires, he already knew about that thanks to Lillian’s warning. “Yes, we will proceed with caution. Thank you.”

Hanging up, his ears twitched when he heard Aubree’s footsteps on the stairs. The sour scent of fear followed her as she approached slowly. He pressed his hand to his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut.

Not now. He didn’t want to face Aubree right now. His mind was still trying to translate the significance of his conversation with the Spirit Walker.

She paused in the doorway before he pulled his hand from his face and looked over to catch her eye.

Perhaps if he took her mind off it, he could avoid it for another day? He hadn’t mentioned the Spirit Walker’s request to her at all. Now seemed like a good time to bring it up.

“We have been summoned to Arizona next week,” he said as he set the phone down on the desk.

Her eyes watched his movements as she stiffened at his words, her heartbeat skipping as confusion tugged on her brows. If she wasn’t scared before, she was now, and it rolled over him making his muscles tense up as well.

“Why?”

He brushed his fingers through his hair. “The Spirit Walker has been receiving messages from the Spirit World. He requested we go next week so we can receive them.”

She swallowed, looking away from him as she wrapped her arms securely around herself. “What’s a spirit walker?”

“Exactly as it sounds. It is a being capable of moving to and from, connecting with and communicating with the Spirit World.”

“What kind of messages?”

Her voice was small, nervousness eating away at both of them now. He wanted to soothe out the fear, but he couldn’t form the words. Didn’t know what to say.

Instead, he walked across the room and reached out to her, but she stepped back. Hurt flashed in her eyes, and he realized that there was something else running through her head.

Goddess, what she was thinking? It was so hard to say the words when thoughts ran rampant, faster than the tongue could shape them and spit them out.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She sniffed and the scent of salt caught in his nose. His eyes widened. Why was she crying? He reached out and grasped her arms, but she pulled away from him.

He flinched. “Aubree?”

“This is about her, isn’t it?” she demanded. She looked up at him as a tear slid down her cheek. “You want her back. You don’t want me. You never wanted me because I’m not a lycan like you.”

Shit.