Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
My visions have been coming true. From the joyous ones of celebrating at Promontory Point to my vision of flying along the coastal roads on Luca’s bike, just like we did on our way to Northwest Harbor, to the grim.
To the alpha with the ice affinity. If my visions are true, what can I do to change them?
I wallow in my nest at the Leclerc estate, alone for the first time in a long time.
I told my pack I needed time to think, that I wanted to be alone, but really, all I’m doing is going back over my visions again and again, trying to think of ways to change them, to bring about a different future.
The last vision truly spooked me. I’m not used to participating in my visions; I’ve only had a vision like that in the conservatory at Rose Manor.
Normally, I watch the visions like they’re movie clips, but I swear I could feel the balanced weight of a scalpel in my hand as I passed it to my father over a prone omega’s back.
Guilt roils in my gut. At some point, I’ll be beside my father in whatever clandestine facility he pops up in next, aiding in his experiments.
I couldn’t feel the weight of a collar around my neck, which makes me feel even sicker.
Why would I ever help my father of my own volition?
I know, deep in my gut, that I won’t be able to escape it, like it’s already set in stone, into the warp and weft of time itself.
I can’t change the future.
“My darling?”
“Sweet-tart?”
“We thought you might want to get on your feet and train,” Ian says gently.
I look up at him through hollow, burning eyes. “What would be the point? I can’t change the future. You and Sienna believe in me so much, but what if you’re wrong about me? What if I can’t do this?”
Ian crouches down beside me, taking my hand in his. His hands are so strong around mine, an anchor. “I still believe in you, Juniper, but if you can’t change the future in your visions the way I think you’re capable of, then we change the future another way. We’ll never give up this fight.”
“I’ll be forced to watch you killed before my very eyes,” I say, voice thick with emotion.
“Never,” Ian promises. “I will never let that come to pass. I won’t leave you, my darling.”
“Nor will I,” Marcus says gruffly, but with so much emotion behind that I feel his pride and his belief wash over me like a wave.
“My vision of the ice-powered alpha already came true.”
“And now we know what we’re facing,” Marcus points out. “Now we can figure out how to fight back. Come train, Juniper. You’ll feel better if you do.”
The last time Marcus tried to get me to train with him, I blew up at him.
The truth came rushing out, burning through me like acid, driving a wedge between us we’re still trying to close.
But this time, Marcus is right. I need to move, to feel my magic flowing through me to remind myself that I’m still alive, that the worst of the worst hasn’t come to pass yet.
I nod, and Ian helps me to my feet.
“My father keeps stonewalling me,” I admit. “I can’t get a read on him with my affinity. But he’s not the only one I can’t read easily. Marcus, you stonewall me just as much.”
“So, you want to train with me?” my former honor guard asks.
“It could be a good way for you to learn to read reticent minds,” Ian agrees.
“It’s not like I’ve tried to be hard to read,” Marcus says. “When your affinity emerged, I thought you’d find out my secret any day, but you couldn’t read me for some reason. Sometimes, I wished you could.”
“That’s behind us now,” I tell him, though I’m still unsure.
Still mired in the lie he told me, yet yearning for him.
“I need to be ready to read my father’s thoughts when I encounter him next.
” Because I know I will, if not in his course on magical medicinals then in an operating theater hidden away somewhere.
“He could have information about the extent of the plan, his success rate. The timeline they’re working on. ”
“Then let me help you,” Marcus says.
“You’re ready for me to read you? If you have any more secrets—”
“I don’t. Not from you,” he swears, utterly earnest. “I’m ready, Juniper. I know what I’m signing up for, and I’m not afraid. Come on, sweet-tart. Let’s try this.”
He takes my other hand and gently guides me from my nest, and I let myself him lead me.
We disappear into a part of the sprawling manor house I’ve never been in before and find practice rooms where I can work on my magic.
They’re even nicer than the practice room Cassian built for me, and I’m grateful to Pack Leclerc once more.
If I can’t be home at the pack house, this is where I’d choose to be.
With my new family in their comfortable, safe home.
Ian slides down the wall until he’s sitting on the floor and nods to me.
I take my place across from Marcus and roll my lower lip between my teeth, unsure if I’m ready to know Marcus’ deepest thoughts.
Still, I let my affinity flow through me, filling my body with buoyant light.
It hums through me, answering my call. I focus on Marcus, on slipping into his mind.
I fail.
I shake out my shoulders and try again, failing once more.
“Try envisioning your affinity covering his mind,” Ian suggests.
“Do you think that’ll work?”
“Can’t hurt. Probably.”
The last thing I want to do is hurt Marcus with my powers, but I do as Ian says, gently wrapping my affinity around Marcus’ mind.
I take a deep breath and let my magic sink into his thoughts, slowly, so slowly.
I get his surface thoughts, that it’s a little cold in the room we’re in, that he’s a little afraid of me sending him to his knees in pain, that he doesn’t want to look weak in front of me, that I’m beautiful, even in leggings and one of Cassian’s tee shirts, my hair swept up into a messy bun to keep it out of my eyes.
I close my eyes, focusing on Marcus’ thoughts and moving past his fleeting thoughts. If I can read his surface-level thoughts, can I read deeper?
I gentle my magic, thinking of my affinity as a warm light, determined not to hurt Marcus no matter how deep I dig. I sink into his mind, catching more and more of his thoughts.
And every last one of them is about me.
How courageous I am, how beautiful. How very dear I am to him. He thinks of me in his arms, his bite on my other wrist, finally his mate. He thinks of a long, long future for us, a future after the war that’s brewing. Growing old together.
I yank back my magic, overwhelmed, tears springing to my eyes. I cross the few steps between us and wrap my arms around him, holding him tight.
He holds me so sweetly, so gently. Because he loves me. Marcus Haley is truly in love with me, down to his deepest thoughts.
I’m finishing my breakfast when Douglas, Cassian’s doctor father, comes to me with a request. Jeanine “Jeanie” Haley, Marcus’ mother, wants to meet me.
To ensure both her safety and that she gets the care she needs, she was moved to the Leclerc estate after the recent attack.
Douglas personally sees to her care, for which I’m grateful, and I’m sure Marcus is even more so.
I hesitate. Surely, she’ll know everything that’s transpired between me and her son. They’ve been so good with each other lately, after barely speaking for years. She’ll know that things are up in the air between us. New. Like we’re stumbling toward each other in the dark.
“Is it safe?”
“You’ll need to wash your hands and wear a mask, but Jeanie is stronger than she’s been in years. I just don’t want to risk an infection when she’s doing so well.”
I nod my understanding. “I’ll meet her.”
Douglas leads me through the estate to a private wing, no doubt set up for her by Douglas and the pack. We stop at a sink, and scrub our hands, and I don the mask he gives me, stretching the bands behind my ears and adjusting the nose piece until my mouth and nose are covered.
He knocks at the door to Jeanie’s room, and she calls for us to come in.
I find her sitting in a plush chair in a lavish, comfortable sitting room.
She wears a pink chemo cap on her head and has a throw blanket over her lap.
Though she looks small, engulfed in the chair, her spirits are high as she pushes to her feet, sets her blanket aside, and comes to shake my hand.
“Juniper, dear. I’ve heard so much about you!”
I swallow hard. “Good things, I hope.”
She smiles. “The best. Come sit with me.” She shoos Douglas out, leaving just the two of us. I watch as she gingerly sits back in the large, wing-backed chair and settles the blanket back on her lap before taking a seat across from her.
“I’m not even cold, but it’s an omega thing, you know? The blankets.”
I grin. I certainly know about that. Whenever I’m curled up, I’m wrapped in my pack’s clothing or a cozy, silky blanket. “Of course.”
Jeanie lightly drums her fingers on her knee. “I’m all for making idle chit-chat and getting to know each other, but I feel like I already know you, so I’d like to cut to the chase. My son.”
My eyes widen. I hadn’t guessed that the other omega would be so blunt. “I—”
“That boy is desperately in love with you, dear. He has been for years. I know you’ve been through some strife together recently, but it hasn’t dulled his feelings for you whatsoever. Oh, he feels guilty as all get out, and saints know he should, but he loves you. Deeply.”
I pause, digesting her words. If Marcus loves me so much, why hasn’t he made a move? He hasn’t even as much as kissed me. “Marcus has been… reticent, let’s say,” I admit.
“Oh, that boy. I raised him to be a proper gentleman. He’s waiting for you to be sure, Juniper. But make no mistake, he wants you and wants you to be his mate.”