Chapter 22 #2
My head jerked up so fast I almost headbutted him. “Are you weaker?” I rasped, running my gaze over the parts of him I could see. There was no indication I’d hurt him, the dragon looking as virile and gorgeous as ever. “Did I steal your power and weaken your beast?”
His laughter was low and soothing. “Not even a little. You used our power, and then you released it back to us. I’ve never seen literal spirit animals fight magic the way you just had us fighting it.”
“I never physically changed into my wolf.” It wasn’t a question, as I knew I hadn’t, but for some reason I needed his confirmation.
“No, you stayed in this form.”
My heart was finally starting to calm in his embrace, and with it I gained more clarity. “It was almost too powerful,” I admitted. “I didn’t want to let it go.”
“You’ll do better next time,” Constantine said, snapping us out of our little bubble as he appeared beside us.
Slade rumbled at the proximity, already in protective dragon mode.
“You will learn to understand and embrace your magic. I wasn’t sure until today that you six would be able to join in such a way. It was quite spectacular to behold.”
“Glad I could be of entertainment,” I murmured, shaking my head. “But it feels like too big of a risk to ever use their energy in such a way again. I can just combine my wolf and magic.”
Slade finally lifted me from the ground, and when he set me on my feet, I found I was more stable than expected. “You will use us,” he ordered in his usual bossy way. “Do not protect us at your own sacrifice, Emmeline.”
Constantine looked nervous as he fidgeted from foot to foot. “I don’t think you have to worry, Emme. Are all of their beasts okay now?”
Focusing internally, I checked in with each of my mates, to find most of them exuding excitement over what I’d done.
There was not an ounce of concern about them sharing power, or me possibly draining them into husks.
I didn’t even have to shift back, Talon said, already on his way home as he sent more flying images.
Another bout of guilt hit that I could have drawn on his energy while he was in danger.
When I apologized, he growled. Honey, you will take from me any time you need to. What’s mine is yours.
And vice versa, I added.
Hunter’s wolf rumbled. Not a chance, Emmeline. You will take from us… we will never take from you.
Grumbling about their stubborn ways, I was still mostly relieved that everyone felt as strong as ever. “They’re all fine,” I admitted with a sigh. “But since it’s still all an experiment, I won’t be rushing to do that again.”
Slade mulled my words over. “If it makes you feel more comfortable, you can practice with your magic and beast for now, but we can’t ignore the possible strength of our full quintet forever.”
The fact that we even had a “quintet” with six showed that we were more than the average pack.
Still, my concerns remained, as my number one priority was to protect my mates.
Constantine dusted himself off, his face impassive. “Next time, we will focus on you just using your beast and magic together.”
I nodded. “Yes, that works for me. Should we try something else with magic now?”
Slade answered with a rumbling growl: “You’re exhausted. Magic is new to you and your beast. You’re no use to anyone if you burn out. You get one more try on your own today, and then you’re done. You can practice anew tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. As much as I wanted to argue with him, he was correct about the fatigue. It wasn’t so much a weakening of my energy, but more the exhaustion that came with learning a new skill.
Slade moved away only a few feet this time, unconcerned by Constantine calling on another spell.
My beast and magic swirled in harmony, the merging easier now that we’d fought together as a pack.
When the blast of energy slammed against me, they formed enough of a shield to repel the worst of the spell.
No beasts leapt from my skin this time, and Constantine remained on his feet, but it was progress.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Slade said, a note of finality in his voice. “You need to rest.”
“I need to figure out how to track Jewels,” I countered. “If I can learn every facet of my magic, I might be able to help Constantine.” When he eased forward, I focused fully on him. “You mentioned using something of hers to track the witch…?”
He hesitated, as if it wasn’t a simple answer. “Yes, you can usually track through objects, but it depends on where Jewels is holed up, and how magically protected she is. The more time we give her to bunker down, the harder it will be to find her.”
It had only been a couple of days since the attack in the street, so we needed to find that item straight away. “Talon’s on his way home,” I said, turning to Slade. “Did he find anything at the compound?”
“Nothing of Jewels, since the compound was all but deserted. He did detect signs of life in the lower levels, but hasn’t checked down there per your request to stay safe. We’ll all go tomorrow as a pack.”
As per your request. Now, that was a sexy statement. Nothing like these alphas keeping their promises to me.
Slade wrapped a heavy arm around my shoulders to lead me from the training center. “We’ll see you back at home,” he called to Constantine.
I had no idea how the witch-wolf had gotten out here this morning, but apparently he was on his own getting home. We’d taken Slade’s bike, which meant no room for a third.
It was a silent but relaxed walk through the training facility, and I assumed Slade was wrapped up in his thoughts too.
When we reached his Panigale, Slade slid a helmet over my head and secured the strap under my chin.
His own helmet was on in a flash, and when I moved toward the bike, he wrapped his hands around my hips and lifted me onto the back.
“Are you letting me drive, big boy?” I teased, while pretending to slide forward. I already knew there wasn’t a chance in hell, but it was fun to poke at the beast.
I jumped when his voice echoed through my helmet, connected to comms I hadn’t known were there. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I’m your backpack, Snow. I’m the alpha. I protect you.”
I snorted and pounded my chest. “Me alpha, strongggg. You omega, weakkkk.”
Slade’s chest rumbled before he shrugged, as if he couldn’t really argue with me. I’d never deny that every alpha in my pack was more dominant than me, but I had my own special brand of strength.
“Yes, you do, sweetheart,” he whispered in response to a thought he shouldn’t have heard, and I flushed over every part of my damn body. “But I have to protect you. It’s built into my very essence.”
He was stubborn and arrogant, which was partly the reason I started prank wars in the first place. To humble him a touch. It might just be time to bring it back… At least once we defeated the wicked witch.
I was already manifesting her destruction, and with that, Prank Wars would return.
Trademark pending.