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"You're his Master You must help him He must know you're there, that you're linked and bound, yes, but he isn't imprisoned There's no need for him to be hurt and afraid You are there, and you will care for him Help him make sense of this Speak to him in his mind, because you are his lifeline back"
He doubted her at first, but as he followed her direction, breathed, focused, Cai was startled to see exactly what she described Pathways opened, winding, twisting together, for tapestries made up of life threads that ran from the core of Rand's soul, connected intimately to his heart Then, his mind, a control center for it all, thrown into chaos like an engine with a wrench in it Cai could pull out that wrench He identified his own presence, a shifting energy that he started to reel in, how the fuck he didn't know, but suddenly he did, even if he couldn't describe it
Rand rowl and a question, and Cai pressed his palainst his chest and stomach, firm reassurance I'm here He rehtht Just relax Become man or wolf, whichever is easiest You have the space You kno I just knocked you off your axis because I didn't knohat the hell I was doing and wrecked the car, turned us upside down
"Just back away froe and settle down You've done it a million times Go forward or back Just don't stay like this, because they'll sell you to a freak show to pay for the dae we did in here"
He wasn't sure if the humor would help but hell, it helped settle his nerves, so he threw it in Cai realized he'd said it aloud when he felt Lyssa's fingers flex against his back He wasn't sure what she was doing, but a cool, steady energy flowed through hi effect
He felt the shift grind back to life again, though he winced as the initial jolt of it pulled a sound of pain from Rand's lips Cai held onto hiive way and disappear before the introduction of the fourth and final wolf leg His torso twisted, rocked, and that a Suddenly, the huone
As Rand finished the full transition to wolf, Cai let out a relieved breath so strong it rocked hi, and he was stroking his fur "It's all right We'll figure it out" I'et it if you want out of this gig I won't hold you to it
In answer, two gold eyes focused on hi Cai that Rand was deep inside the animal, beyond the reach of his humanity, unless Cai wanted to push it He didn't need Lyssa to tell hiered to his feet and swayed Cai stood up and moved back, Lady Lyssa at his side Jacob was on the other side of the wolf, a faint frown creasing his brow as he watched Rand, all of the to see what the ould do
The large black head lifted and Rand's eyes swung back to Cai again, taking the measure of them all With a quick snap of teeth and flattened ears, the wolf sprang But not toward theone, the sound of his toenails hitting the stairs reaching the
"I'lltoward the door He glanced over his shoulder at Cai "If that's the best thing?"
"Yeah Letting hi" Cai pushed away the sudden heaviness inside hi ten tiifted it
Turning to Lyssa, he hesitated but sketched an aard bow Another first for him "Thank you, Lady Lyssa"
In answer, she uest chair that hadn't been upended by the estured imperiously to another "Sit, and tella huiness has its place, but hiding your ignorance about this provides you no advantage, Mordecai Obviously"
He couldn't even bristle at the rebuke "Doesn't really matter That was probably my first and last experience If he has any sense, he's running his ass off toward the nearest forest" It would have been nice to say good-bye face-to-face, but Cai guessed he could do itFuck-You silence in return
"Servants, when they are meant to be ours, can surprise you I think it's best you be prepared Even if he doesn't return, you have third marked him, Cai His life is forever linked to yours now You will knohen he is afraid, hurtingdying" She folded her hands in her lap and crossed her legs, regal in the velvet dress even with her bare feet Her toenails were painted the sareen She wore no jewelry
Jacob returned "He's out He headed straight for the woods" The servant's gaze shifted to Lyssa, a curious look passing between them She nodded
"I will find him if necessary," she said
"He'll stay out of sight," Cai assured her The idea of Lady Lyssa traipsing through the woods wolf-hunting was soh he didn't doubt she would do it "The wolf's cautious about being seen by humans He won't cause you any problems"