“I don’t know how.” Is that even true? Maybe Idoknow how, but when I have all that power trapped inside my body and mind, I hurt. Every piece that’s been shoved inside me has ripped apart something else. And it’s like I’m bleeding internally, all the things that made me who I am draining away with each beat of my heart.
“You’re still you.” Ceredes has one arm locked around my shoulders, my back to his chest. “Breathe.”
“You’re gorgeous with green eyes,” Kyte grits out. “But I’m going to need you to lay off using my skills for a while, okay?” he says it with his usual charm, but the strain is evident. “Especially when you do it way better than I do.”
I have to stop this, to do what they say and reel it all back in. At least the burst of power knocked Bartanz back. He stands and glares far beyond the edges of my spikes, though the soldiers watch me warily.
“If Bartanz tries to take you from me, I’ll just do this again. I can’t control it.” I close my eyes and try to will the barrier to fade.
“You can’t control ityet. It’s going to take practice and time.” Ceredes’s voice rumbles through me. “But it just so happens you’re a student at the Omega Academy, so we can do lots of practice before trying it for real.”
“Pull it back.” Jeren strokes my cheek. “You can do it. I can feel it inside you.”
“Okay.” I take a shaky breath and clench my eyes shut. “The water again. Take me to the water.”
I go there, and I don’t know if I’m conjuring it in my mind or if one of my Alphas is, but it doesn’t matter. The water is calm and clear, the surface still. I watch it ripple as I wade in. Smooth waves pushing out. At first they do, then it’s as if the image replays, because the ripples stop and return to me, lapping around my thighs, more and more waves until I’m floating, bobbing, and then, finally still again.
“You did it.” Jeren kisses my cheek.
I open my eyes, and Kyte is bent over, his palms on his knees as he takes in big gulps of air.
“Are you all right?” I rush to him.
“I’m good.” He straightens, though his golden glow is muted. “I mean, I just used more power in those few moments than I’ve ever had in my entire life, but I’m good.” He grins. “Pretty badass, really.”
I hug him, our bond igniting in a golden arc, and I can breathe again. He smells like academy soap and the ocean, as if Latrides, the Ghost Planet of mists and seas, lives in his essence.
“Stay back.” Ceredes’s voice rings out loud and strong.
“I give the orders here!” Bartanz sounds like he’s about to explode.
I turn, my three Alphas at my back, and address him, “I am not your mate. I’m bound to Ceredes, Jeren, and Kyte, and our circle is sealed. If you try to separate us or to arrest them, I cannot be held responsible for what I do to you.” A barrier flickers around us, then disappears. “Stay back.”
“Good. You’re already learning control.” Kyte strokes me. But not physically. His caress is something I can feel inside, somewhere only my three Alphas and I can go. We’re all there, some part of us always together.
“We can’t remain outside the academy grounds.” Bartanz’s words are clipped. “The Sentients could return in greater numbers.”
“The school’s barrier is compromised.” Ceredes steps forward. “Someone opened it and let them in.”
“Someone?Someone? You four are the only ones who weren’t at the ball, who snuck off in a stolen ship, who broke any number of rules and formed an unsanctioned power circle!” Bartanz’s voice rises with each word. “You are working with the Sentients and …”
My blood seems to heat, to rush and pound in my ears until I can’t hear Bartanz. “Kyte,” I whimper as my control seems to wither and die. Bartanz won’t let up. He’s going to hurt my Alphas. I can’t let him do that.
“Control that Omega, or I will do it myself!” His voice echoes and eddies, and the mass of power that lives inside me threatens to burst at the seams.
Jeren steps in front of me, his dark eyes locking with mine. “Fade with me. Do it now before it’s too late. Just fade, and we can walk away from here until you get a handle on it.”
“I can’t leave Kyte and Ceredes.”
“You can,” both of them say in my mind at the same time.
“We’ll be fine. Bartanz won’t do anything until he gets word from the council.” Ceredes kisses my forehead. “Go.”
“There’s perks to being royalty.” Kyte smirks, his color returning. “My mother will be here soon, and she’ll believe me.”
“Will she take your side?”
Kyte doesn’t move, doesn’t give anything away, but I can feel him wince on the inside. “She’ll do what’s best for the fleet and the people who depend on it.”
