Rebel Pax (Shifters of the Primus Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

notice that I have been feeling extra energetic for the past few minutes and the ache from the venom is all but gone. It’s probably just the near-death experiences coming in rapid succession and being in the presence of Pax. Or maybe something else. . .
    We reach the edge of a wooden branch several dozen feet wide. It terminates in a broken burst of wood, like something crashed into it. I try not to imagine what kind of beast could break a branch this size. When I look over the edge, my head spins and I nearly lose my balance. It is miles down and there is nothing but a green expanse of leaves and open air. And now I know what nightmares wait for any who fall to the jungle floor. It would be better to die from the fall.
    Pax’s strong hand steadies me. He looks at me, concern creasing his features. “Are you well?”
    “It’s just a long way down. I’m fine though. Are you sure that branch can hold us?”
    He reaches up to grab it, the muscles across his bare torso stretching and flexing with the effort. He grips it tight and pulls down with an explosion of power. There is a sound like a thousand leather straps being twisted, but the vine holds. He tugs it several more times for good measure.
    “You’re right.” I say, trying not to stare any more than I already have at his muscles. “It looks pretty steady.”
    He pulls me to his body again and I reflexively wrap my arms around him and my legs around his waist. “Hold tight,” says Pax.
    I didn’t need a reminder. I think if I hold any tighter my fingers will break. I’m so scared that I don’t even spare a thought for how good the warmth of his skin against mine makes me feel. Okay, maybe I spare one or two thoughts for it. I close my eyes tight and feel his body begin to swing. He sways, lurching forward every second for what feels like minutes. Though I don’t look, I know we are swinging from vine to vine above a very long drop. I can’t bear to open my eyes so I press my face into his chest and keep them squeezed shut. I vaguely become aware that my leg is pressing against his firm ass.
    Then we are still. I open my eyes and realize, to my embarrassment, that he is standing still while I still cling to him. I let go so quickly that I nearly fall, but his hand snaps out and steadies me. I see something pass over his features. He squints, looking past me.
    I turn to see what he is looking at. A splash of red in the otherwise green and purple environment catches my eye. We move closer until I can make out what it is.
    “This is a missile casing,” Pax says. He puts his hand to it. “Still warm.”
    “That means this was from the missile that shot down my transport shuttle?”
    “Yes. And I would have heard if any other missiles had been fired recently. This is one of them. But. . . It is strange. Do you see this mark?”
    I lean closer. There is a square of grey paint with a yellow skull inside. “Some sort of clan’s sigil?”
    He nods. “Yes. The Toltek.” He sniffs deeply and then frowns. But this other scent. It is like you, but not. There is a smell of humans too.
    “So. . .” My mind races, gut wrenching when I realize what it means. “One of my own people worked with the Toltek to have me killed? But only a handful of people even knew when our shuttle was leaving and where it was headed. And even less knew who would be on board.”
    I see an intelligence behind Pax’s eyes that I didn’t realize was there as he thinks of what to do. It’s not a scholarly sort of intelligence. It’s almost like he has so much willpower that he just overpowers problems through sheer force of will and strength alone.
    “We will go to your people. Seek answers.”
    I didn’t want to return to New Hope as a failure. I wanted to complete the mission and prove that I could do it, but now. . . It feels like there’s something more. Something greater pulling at me. If I have to look like a failure to piece it together and make things right, then I will do