The urge to spin in his arms and crawl right up his big body was so strong that I had to grit my teeth and plant my boots. There was no time for that. But all the love rocketing around inside of me had to go somewhere.
Constantine didn’t argue with us, and oddly, looked happy with our declarations. “As much as I wished differently, I knew to hide you at birth, to keep you safe, until you were strong enough to keep yourself safe. I’m sure it means nothing to you, after my years of silence and absence, but I’m proud of you, Emmeline. You’re a gift from the goddess, and our one chance to save shifters.”
All along, I’d rejected any concept of being thechosen onein this battle, and despite his take on it all, I still believed that. This was real life and not a book, and I had my pack surrounding me, showing that if anyone waschosen, it was all of us.
“I guess it’s time for me to learn how to use my magic, then,” I declared, forcing a lighter tone.
As if the very thought excited my magic, tingles raced down my hands and through my center. It wasn’t the first time I’d felt them, but now I recognized exactly what was happening: my witch and shifter sides were merging to fill my blood with energy.
Constantine’s slow smile was my only warning as he flicked his hands up, facing his palms toward me. A warm tingle raced over my already heated skin, and magic fizzed inside me, as if it had been shaken up suddenly.
“We start by bringing your magic to the surface and then forcing it out into the world.”
Slade pulled away from me, and even knowing I had to face this alone, I hated the loss of contact.
He turned to shout at his enforcers still training. “Everyone out! We’re using dangerous energy, and I don’t want any shifters hurt.” Not to mention my magic was still a closely held secret that not even his trusted team would know about.
No one questioned Slade, the most dominant shifter here, leaving without another word. “And none of you better mention Constantine to the council,” he added. “Those fuckers don’t need to know what’s happening here.” He received salutes and cheers in response, and then the field slowly emptied.
With Kellan and Finley having left for hockey training a few hours ago, it was only the three of us now. Ready to learn magic.
CHAPTER 22
EMME
I’d thought my first shift, when my wolf and I were virtual strangers, had been the toughest transition in my life. But today, two hours deep into my first magic lesson, I was once again on the ground breathing through what felt like cracked ribs.
Magic was going to be my toughest transition. I could already tell.
Slade had been forced to do intense workouts on the other side of the field, so his dragon didn’t growl and threaten to snap the witch-wolf like a twig every time Constantine had to attack me with a spell. Beyond my ribs, the real travesty here was being too winded to even admire Slade’s firm ass as he trained.
“You’re fighting against the magic,” Constantinesaid for the fifth time, yet somehow still not sounding irritated with me. “Whenever you get close to drawing on it, your wolf steps in. Since that side of you is the strongest, it slams the magic down. You have to learn how to mingle both sides of yourself. Turn them into allies.”
Do we really need this guy?I projected into the group, sending the message to all my mates for once.
Want me to kill him for you?Slade offered, his dragon all puffed up in the bond, smoke billowing from his lethal jaws.
I laughed, fairly sure he was half joking.
Not even close to half, he drawled.
Talon’s laughter filtered through as well, and when I caught a glimpse of sky, I knew he was still flying. There’d been no strain from our bond, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t missing him.
I hated any of my mates being away from me.
I vote we kill him too, Finley chimed in, his bear rearing up with a bellow.Emme survived just fine without him. Just fine was probably a stretch since Constantine had been keeping me magically hidden.
Aw, Shortcake. Come home so I can rub your shoulders… and other parts of your body. You need to relax, and I haven’t finished my weapons training.
Hunter’s beast released a warning growl, as if he wanted to jump on Kellan and tear him in two.If you mentionyourweapon, annoying pup, you’ll be neutered in the same breath.
I snorted out loud, relieved at least that having all of their voices in my mind hadn’t brought on the nausea and headache again. Constantine was watching me closely, but didn’t say a word, as if he knew I was focused internally with my pack.
You don’t have to use your magic if it feels wrong to you, Hunter said, always the voice of supportive reason.We’re strong enough without it. Maybe there’s a reason you’ve never had it in your life before now.
A great point, but there was one part I needed to clarify.It doesn’t feel wrong, I admitted, and it wasn’t as painful as I expected to acknowledge that.It’s familiar enough that I must have been interacting with it all along, even if only in small increments. It was enough to build a bond. I just need to figure out how to release it.
After so many years of being caged by Constantine and my beast, that was always going to be the hardest task.Thanks for your unwavering support, I said as my wolf brushed by each of their beasts.I’m going to try again.
