Free Destiny's Shift by Carly Fall, Allison Itterly Page A

it was attached to. He
    couldn’t believe she was going to teach him something as huge as how to control his gift.
    She smiled at him, and Jovan studied the ringlets that fell around her face and the
    glow of her eyes. She was really pretty in an innocent, almost childlike way. He felt his
    Warrior side emerge, the side that wanted to shield her from all the ugliness he knew
    existed, all the terrible thoughts and feelings people had.
    He clasped her hand and was surprised by her strength as she helped him up.
    “I hope you don’t mind, Jovan,” she said as they left the dining area. “I requested
    the sleeping quarters at the bottom floor of this cylinder. The only way the emotions of
    the house can get to us is from above, and it is much easier to manage when they aren’t
    coming at you from all sides.”
    Jovan nodded. It made sense.
    The emotions in the house were going to be very strong for a while, of that he was
    certain. Even Noah, Rayner, and Hudson would be feeling sadness for the loss of SR44,
    even though they were happily mated. However, Talin and Cohen will be off the charts
    devastated with the loss of their lovrens . Jovan realized that if it weren’t for Liberty, he
    would probably have to leave the Warriors, because there was no way he would be able to
    deal with the sheer torture of the intense emotions in the house.
    As they stepped into the elevator, Liberty turned to him. “As we descend in this
    box, it is my understanding that we will be passing the sleeping quarters of where the
    others tarry. Is this correct?”
    Jovan nodded. “Elevator,” he said.
    She tilted her head and stared up at him, obviously confused.
    “This box is called an elevator,” he said with a smile.
    “Ah,” she said. “Of course. Thank you.”
    “And yes, we’ll be passing where the others sleep.”
    She nodded, turned to the control panel, and pushed the button for the bottom
    sleeping quarters.
    Jovan reached over and pushed the emergency stop button. “What do I need to do
    so I don’t end up on the floor again, Liberty?”
    “Take a deep breath,” she said. “I shall hold the box . . . I mean, elevator, in place
    while you do this exercise.”
    Their hands gently grazed over each other as she moved to hold the button. “Now,
    close your eyes, Warrior.”
    He did what he was told and skipped telling her that he wanted her to call him
    Jovan.
    “Your SR44 form is a beautiful, glowing light. Imagine that energy in front of
    you.”
    He remembered the green, misty form of his past.
    “Now, concentrate and picture lowering a fabric of black over it.”
    After a couple beats of silence, she asked, “Do you have that vision secure?”
    In his mind’s eye, he brought the black cape over the green form, and within him,
    he felt something shift. It was as if he was really rocking the whole I-am-an-island thing,
    and not in the physical sense he was used to. He had entered a private room of his own,
    where he could relax, where he was . . . alone, without anyone’s emotions or thoughts to
    bother him. And this place brought him peace and freedom, freedom from the shackles of
    always being on the outskirts, from the chains of needed avoidance.
    “I see it in your face that you have accomplished your task, Jovan,” Liberty said
    quietly. “We will ride the box down now. Concentrate on keeping your light cloaked.”
    The elevator gave a slight jerk, and Jovan felt the descent begin. When he didn’t
    feel anything for the first few seconds, he thought he had the whole cloaking business
    down pat and he let himself relax. Suddenly, a jolt of pain cut through him, slamming
    him into the side of the elevator, and taking his breath away.
    “Focus, Warrior,” Liberty said in a calm voice. He felt her cool touch on his arm,
    her fingertips on his temple. “Focus.”
    He did what he was told, and the pain dissipated a bit, but not totally. “We must
    have just passed the quarters of either the Warrior Talin or