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would’ve hidden things from me as well, especially if that had been my parent’s wish. There was also a reason why I’d closed myself off. No connection meant no pain when they departed. Colt had been the only one to break down that barrier, and now he was gone too. Proving I’d been right all along.
    Lilly stopped and turned towards me.
    “Don’t lock us out, Cheyenne. Callon told us what’s been going on.” Her shaking hand brushed her black locks behind her ear, and our eyes met. “I wanted to come the moment we found out, but Callon held us back. He didn’t want to push you farther over the edge than you already were.” Her blue eyes softened. “I want to help. I want to be the one you confide in. I want to love and nurture you…”
    “You want to take the place of my mother,” I finished her sentence.
    “I want to love you as your mother, Sahara, would have wanted me to.” Her shoulders sagged forward as her gaze moved to the grass. “Your mother and I became close in her final years, and yet she never told me about you. I know why now.” Tears began to stream down her cheeks. “It’s because she wanted me to be here for you now. She knew her life was coming to a close, and she was ensuring you were taken care of.”
    I stared at the fragile woman before me. She was baring her heart to me, opening it up if I’d just accept it. Was this truly what my mother would have wanted? I just couldn’t accept any more misery in my life if something were to happen to Lilly or anyone else.
    “I know,” I whispered. I reached out and touched her hand, squeezing it.
    A tear-stained smile rose on her lips.
    T he fenced pasture ahead caught my eye. Two black stallions caught my attention. We stopped at the fence and watched them run and prance until they neared. I stood up on the rail.
    They were tall, at least eighteen hands each. Their black coats shimmered in the sunlight , giving off a bluish tint. I studied them as they gave wild snorts. They were almost identical. The only distinguishing difference between them was that one had a notch missing in his ear.
    I reached out to them with my mind, cooing and calming them until they became still. I stretched my hand out , and the notched-eared beauty moved closer, nudging my hand across his snout. His black eyes met mine in understanding. The other moved closer, his head hovering near my cheek. A gentle nod caused his snout to brush my cheek and then he moved away. Both, however, remained immobile just a few steps away from me.
    “I knew you had this gift, Cheyenne,” Lilly said softly. “I could see it even before your transformation.”
    I stepped down and looked around at the vast estate around us.
    “You can talk with them, right?” she asked.
    I nodded.
    “Can they communicate with you?”
    “No, it’s just one -sided.”
    “I used to be able to talk with animals…” Lilly trailed off.
    I stopped in my tracks. “Used to?”
    She smiled. “Yes.”
    “What happened?”
    Before she could answer, a voice spoke.
    “Enjoying your walk, ladies?” Callon asked. I jumped, releasing a small squeak. Where’d he come from?
    Lilly smiled. “Yes, I thought it would be nice for the two of us to have some girl time.”
    Callon’s smile brightened , and for the first time in a long time it seemed to reach his eyes. “I think that would be the best thing for Cheyenne right now,” he replied.
    I turned my attention back to the matter at hand. “Lilly, you said used to.”
    She smiled and then glanced at Callon, but no reply came.
    I was so over this non-disclosure. I turned on Callon, brows puckering, shoulders tensing when suddenly it all faded away. I stared at the man whose face had softened and weary eyes pleaded. He reached out and took my hands in his as Lilly departed.
    “I promise not to hold back on you, Cheyenne, but I’ve just barely gotten you back. I won’t allow anything or anyone to push you to those dark depths.”
    “But I just want to