Spirits Shared Read Online Free Page A

his
spirit's recognition of a mate. But was Clay?
    He'd know soon enough.
    The rain lashed against the cruiser as if
urging him to hurry, hurry, hurry. And his hands tightened on the
steering wheel, his worry for Clay increasing.
    There could be internal injuries. But he
hadn't lied to Jessica, he would never lie to her. The fastest
route to the hospital was blocked and the roads they'd have to
detour on were rough and jarring and might well be impassable.
    If Clay wasn't also meant to be his mate, if
Clay couldn't be healed with a sing…
    Tekoa's throat tightened. Phantom talons
gripped and pierced his heart.
    The loss would be devastating to Jessica and
he wouldn't willingly see her hurt. He'd rather give her up than
claim her knowing that the only way he could was if Clay died.
    Finally the cabin came into sight and
Jessica grabbed the door handle as if she'd jump out before he
stopped moving. His hand twitched on the steering wheel as he
suppressed the need to shackle her wrist.
    They reached the cabin and he maneuvered the
cruiser as close to the front door as he could. He parked and
Jessica flung her door open, scrambled out of the car.
    His heartbeats alternating between ache and
hope, Tekoa got out and opened the back door. Cold air and frigid
water blasted into the back and struck Clay's face.
    His eyes opened. His teeth chattered.
    With Clay's help, they got him out of the
cruiser and into the cabin.
    "On the rug in front of the fireplace,"
Tekoa said.
    They crossed the room, lay Clay down on the
thick rug Tekoa's grandmother and great aunt had woven in the red,
white, black, yellow and blue that were the Thunderbird's
colors.
    "He's pale," Jessica said, pressing her hand
to Clay's forehead, her voice tight. "And his breathing is more
labored."
    "Get him out of his wet clothes while I get
the fire going."
    Tekoa closed his hands, opened them,
fighting against covering the hand touched to Clay, against cupping
the back of her head and pulling her forward so he could kiss the
fear and worry away. He turned toward the fireplace and there were
two half-full cups balanced on the Thunderbird his brother Ukiah
had carved into the mantel.
    Lightheadedness had Tekoa reaching, gripping
the smooth polished wood of the mantel's edge. Clay would be okay.
Not only would Clay be restored to health with the sing, but the
appearance of the cups containing the Creator's liquid blessing
meant Jessica and Clay would become of The People, that they'd be
able to fly as Thunderbirds.
    Tekoa offered a silent song of thanks then
knelt and opened the fireplace grate. While his spirit had flown as
a Thunderbird, his human shell had rested on the rug where Clay
lay. When he'd been called back and flown over Jessica, he'd taken
only long enough to dress and bank the fire before racing from the
cabin.
    The flames came readily to life while behind
him, the rustle of clothing marked Jessica's progress at stripping
Clay. He steeled himself against showing any reaction to Clay's
nakedness. They might be the lovers who would share his bed and his
life, but right now they were strangers who needed his help.
    He turned and in a heartbeat was suffocated
by his clothing, bound too tight by his own skin. He hadn't allowed
himself to really see his mate, not when all Jessica's concern, all
their concern had needed to be on reaching and rescuing Clay, but
now…
    His heart stuttered. Her vulnerability
called to him. Her blue eyes were the color of a warm, clear lake,
the color of a sky meant for endless soaring. Everything about her
was exquisite, soft and gentle and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
    He wanted to hold her and bury his face in
her hair. He wanted to take her mouth with his, to press kisses to
each inch of revealed skin. He wanted…
    A blush stole into her cheeks. She looked
away and he cursed himself for what she must have seen in his face.
She was engaged and Clay lay between them in need of care.
    Tekoa rose from his crouch in front of