Free Deviation: Altera Realm Trilogy Book 2 by Jennifer Collins Page B

Syney noticed her, she quickly asked if Noelle had seen Adam in the dining hall. Noelle nodded, and Syney rushed out of the room. How would she ever thank him for what he had done for her? He had given her something she’d never thought she would have again. She stopped when she saw him at a table, laughing with a group of men. Then she headed over to him almost at a run.
    Adam jumped up when he saw her and smiled. She returned the smile before stopping inches from him and kissing him. After a stunned moment, he pulled her close to him and deepened the kiss. Syney relaxed into it, finally feeling something she’d been missing all these months: happiness.

“How can you tell if a Shifter around?” Cass asked, as she pulled a few berries off a bush. They were red, which meant they were good. It was the black berries you had to worry about.
    Cass and Ivy were only half a mile from camp. Cass was surprised that none of the guards had thought to pick the berries in the area. There were tons of bushes, and all the fruit was in season. She put as many berries as she could into the canvas bag she’d brought with her.
    Ivy was surveying the land only feet from Cass. “The scent. All Shifters smell the same.”
    “What do they smell like?”
    “Um, kind of like right after it rains. But you won’t be able to smell them, not with your Magic User nose.”
    “Are there any other signs? I mean, for people who can’t smell them?”
    Ivy gave her a curious look. “You always have a wolf with you. Why would you need to know that?”
    Cass shrugged. “Just curious.” To be honest, it was more than curiosity. Cass hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the snake that had literally tripped over her the week before. There was just something about him she found interesting—mainly the fact that he hadn’t killed her when he had the perfect opportunity to do so.
    “There isn’t any other way, really. You could have two bears in front of you, one Shifter and one real, and you’d never be able to tell the difference.”
    Cass frowned. That meant there was no way for her to find her mystery man—not that she wanted to really. Or maybe she did. She shook her head and stood up as she pulled the bag over her shoulder. “Done. I think I have enough to let everyone have a share.”
    The Lycin nodded and looked back over the land.
    “Everything OK?”
    Ivy frowned. “I keep smelling something, but I’m not sure what it is.”
    “An animal?” Cass perked up. She wasn’t a big meat eater, but even she was craving something fresh.
    Ivy shrugged. “Maybe. I’ll let the commander know so he can send out a party.” She looked back to Cass. “Ready?”
    “That’s silly! If you can catch it now, you should. What if it moves on by the time they come back?”
    “I can’t, Princess. Not when I have to watch you.”
    Cass sighed and looked around. She walked over to a small cave in the rock face a little ways away. “I can stay in here. I’ll be quiet.”
    Ivy shook her head. “No way.”
    “Come on! Do you know what kind of heroes we’d be if we brought back meat? They might even stop talking about me behind my back.”
    Ivy thought it over, her face scrunching up a bit. Finally she nodded. “I’ll be right back, so don’t move. Or
I
will kill you. Got it?” She said that last part with a playful smile.
    Cass nodded and ducked into the cave. It wasn’t very big, with only enough room for her and one other person. She looked over as a knife dropped in front of her.
    “Just in case,” Ivy said before heading off.
    Cass sat against the rock and sighed. It felt nice to be truly alone for once. Things had defrosted only slightly at camp since her last outing. But it was a little better. Hunter actually said hello to her now. Well, he gave her nods, which was better than his avoiding eye contact. Even though things were getting better, she still missed the Village. More specifically, she missed Helen. The last time she had