“I’m thinking of joining Ian’s classes, if you don’t mind?”
“Mind? Cora, I’m thrilled. Come on, we’ll sneak you in in the middle of his lesson.”
“You like watching him teach.”
I smile. “I do. It comes so naturally to him.”
“And to you. You should see how deep the omegas can go with their affinities now. All thanks to you training with them.”
I’m sure that’s not all true. After all, the omegas have been practicing plenty on their own, but my chest still fills with a warm pride.
We’re giving them a fighting chance. All of them.
When I’m not workingwith the omegas that summer, I’m working on training of my own. We’ve finally moved back into the pack house for now, but I know Cassian will make us retreat to his family’s estate at the first sign of danger. In truth, I appreciate it. I feel safe there and enjoy being surrounded by the family Cassian gave me when he mated me.
My future sight is improving, much to my pack’s amusement. When I’m working on vision work in my nest, I often catch future sights of them coming upstairs to me—almost like mini visions. I race down to the kitchen and crash into their arms, showering them with kisses. I’m starting to think they make up excuses to come upstairs just for the hugs and kisses.
I’m working on calling larger visions, Cassian at my side, when I succeed and get my next vision. Pain spikes in myhead, and I murmur to Cassian that I’m falling into the vision just as I do. I feel his arms go around me, and then I’m gone.
It’s another peculiar vision, like I’m watching through my own eyes. I feel my hands curl into my fists at my side as my father speaks.
“You have no idea how easy it is to set up a clandestine facility like the one in New Jersey. Of course, I had plenty of practice when I was locking your magic.”
I bite my tongue despite wanting to lash out at him.
“But now you’ll see what we’ve built here. What you’ve beensocurious about. You flew all the way to New Jersey just to find out what I’m up to. Honestly, I’m flattered.”
The monster. Was he tracking us or watching us the whole time? We’re lucky we weren’t attacked.
Two Soldiers of Saint Aldous come up to my side and take my arms in theirs, shouldering me forward into an operating theater. “Now to show you what I’ve been doing. I’ve achieved a fifty percent success rate. You should know what my work entails, and you will, now that you’ll be helping me…”
Cassian holds me tightly as I emerge from the vision. The moment I stir, his purr kicks up in his chest, creaky at first, then a low rumbling sound I feel down to my bones. It soothes all the rough edges left by my vision, but I can’t help but dread what I know now.
“My father won’t stop. He’s going to find a new laboratory. A new facility.”
Cassian carriesme down the stairs to the couch, where my pack and Marcus have already gathered. They surround me, holding me close, my alpha mates all purring for me. As Marcus approaches, they part so he can come to me. I lookup at him through teary eyes, and he crouches before me to wipe my tears away.
“It’s all right now, Juniper. Remember, youcanchange the future. You’re strong and a brilliant mage,” he says in a low rumble.
Can I? How could such a grim vision come true? My father suggested I’d behelpinghim in his experiments, but I would never. Can I truly change this future? Can I changeanyfuture?
I shake my head to clear it. “I want to train. I need to move.” I can’t let this vision weigh on my mind as I have all the others. I need to be stronger if I’m going to change anything, let alone the dark future I’ve seen.
“That’s my strong mate,” Cassian murmurs in my ear. “Combat training?”
I can think of no better way to get moving. Combat training is both a physical and mental game, the stances so much more active than those of regular casting.
Luca, Simon, Cassian and I tromp down to the basement practice room. Though Luca and Simon both know some rudimentary combat magic, Cassian far surpasses them. I’ve only learned what Cassian has taught me so far, and I’m looking to strike back against the Soldiers with more than just my affinity.
Cassian stalks in front of us, pacing before the magical wall that will absorb our spells. “What I’m about to teach you, Junes, is illegal magic for omegas.”
“All combat magic is illegal for omegas to learn and use,” I point out.
“Some of these spells were recently called out in the new legislation. I’m teaching you the agonia hex today.”
I hide my gasp. That’s powerful magic. I can see myself using this spell in only the most extreme of situations. Could I truly cast such a horrific hex after seeing what it’s done toMarcus and Ian? I’ll have to, I realize. When I confront Baphomet’s Prince, and Iwillconfront him, I’ll need every possible tool at my disposal. I’ll have my affinity, the ability to spike pain in his mind, but I’ll need this too.
I nod. I can do this. I can at least practice the dark hex.
