“A little, but… but before my magic unlocked, I was seeing things. Baphomet masks like the Soldiers wear. I’d see them on students and staff—and I still see them—but ever since the day after All Saints’ Day, I’ve been seeing something else. A figure, always in the distance, tracking me. Wearing the same mask. At first, I thought it was just some sort of trauma response. That’s what Doc thought the masks were, but I’m not so sure.”
“Has anyone else seen this figure?”
I hang my head and shake it. “No. Alyssa even asked if I’d seen a ghost. But whatever this… this apparition is, itfeelsreal.”
He frowns. “Then I believe it is.”
“That’s it? You believe me? I see things no one else does.”
“That doesn’t mean they’re not there. It just means others aren’t perceiving them. Invisibility and concealment spells are strictly forbidden on campus, but at a time when omegas are being taken, I’m inclined to believe rules are being broken,” he says, his voice dry. “Or there’s something your subconscious wants you to know, like the memories that surfaced when you tried to call your magic.”
“I always thought that was because of the lock.”
“Juniper, I don’t know if anyone will ever be able to truly say why you experienced what you did when your magic was locked, but you’re an incredibly special young woman. I suspect, on some level, your magic—and your instincts—reflect that.”
The compliment is delivered so matter-of-factly that it doesn’t even register immediately, but when it does, I duck down to the book I’m meant to be reading.
“You’ll tell me if this keeps happening or if you feel there’s a threat to your safety. Promise me.”
I nod noncommittally.
“Juniper,” he rebukes, his voice stern.
“Okay, okay. I promise. Are you going to make me pinky swear on it?”
He fixes me with a level look. “If I thought it would help, I would in a heartbeat.” He sits back in his chair and shoves the book away. “Are you sure you’re up for this tonight? Would you rather work on your spellwork?”
“Can I take a few with me?”
“If you wish. If you don’t find anything of note in them, feel free to return them to the library check-in.”
“You don’t want to double check them?”
“Do you doubt your scholarship, Miss Rose? Because I don’t. I’m certain you’ll bring anything of interest to my attention. Now, would you prefer to work on stunning or shields tonight?”
We start with stunning spells, but I can barely focus. I cast stunning spell after stunning spell, from the most complex Ian has taught me down to the simplest, and none of them land to his satisfaction—or mine. When I finally relent and let us move on to shields, my attention is just as fractured.
For the first time, the horned figure did more than watch: it followed me, trailing me slowly up the path toward campus. Is it Rad? Following me to scare me? Keeping tabs on me to ensure I’m behaving as he expects his future mate to? Nausea rises in my throat, my shield fails me, and sparks hit the back of my hand.
I let out a hiss of pain and Ian instantly rushes to my side, taking my hand in his.
“Saints, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t actually trying to hit you. I thought—”
“It’s my fault. I was distracted. Doing the poorest casting I’ve done in weeks.” I flex my fingers in his grasp and the small burn stings.
“Let me heal this?” He’s close enough that he only has to whisper the words, and I swallow hard but nod, letting his scent wrap around me, lull me.
He casts a quick healing spell over the burn but doesn’t release my hand once the wound has vanished. He looks down into my eyes and for the first time since he unlocked my magic, I see him as he is, his guard down. Not just his alpha rising to the surface, but everything that makes the man in front of me who he is. There’s raw, desperate fear in his blazing blue eyes and I want so desperately to look away. But if he can show me his fear, then I can show him mine.
“I think it’s Rad following me,” I whisper, my voice rough with the tears I fight to hold back. “I thought it was someone else at first but Rad… he told me he knows where I am at all times. How… how could he?”
“He’s trying to scare you, Juniper.” Ian’s voice is just as quiet as mine.
“He’s succeeding. I’m terrified.”
“My darling,” he sighs, and that one word is the sweetest balm to all the ragged wounds within me. He touches his forehead to mine, holding both of my hands in his, drawing me close enough for our toes to touch. “I willneverlet you come to harm. Do you understand?”
“Say it again?” I beg, wishing I could curl into his arms, wrap myself up in his scent, cedar and citrus and everything I need right now.
