Jupiter crossed her arms. “And if the bond starts to fade? What then?”
One of the officials, a thin man with glasses who’d introduced himself as Dr. Mercier, stepped forward eagerly. “If the bond shows signs of weakening, we have several reinforcement protocols prepared.”
“Without our consent?” Draco asked.
Director Waverly cut in before the situation escalated. “No decisions will be made without full consultation. Today is observation only.” She gestured to the center of the training room. “Shall we begin?”
As we moved through combat drills, I could sense Jupiter’s position without looking, and could anticipate her movements before she made them. When she called on her Ophis magic, I felt it echo through my own system, amplifying my Gemini abilities until I could create more duplicates than ever before. I’d gotten up to twenty duplicates of myself, all of them appearing completely solid.
It was exhilarating. The power flowing between us was intoxicating, but the intimacy of the connection left nowhere to hide. Every doubt, every fear, every moment of uncertainty was shared.
By the end of the session, we were all drenched in sweat but buzzing with energy. The bond hadn’t weakened, if anything, it felt stronger.
“Remarkable,” Dr. Mercier murmured, reviewing readings on his tablet. “Magical integration is advancing rapidly. At this rate, full synchronization could occur within weeks rather than months.”
Director Waverly nodded. “Good progress. We’ll schedule another session for tomorrow.”
After they left, Jupiter slumped against the wall, exhaustion finally catching up with her. “Does anyone else feel like they just ran a marathon while also being dissected?”
I reached out to help Jupiter. “Come on. You need food after using that much magic.”
“We all do,” Draco agreed. “Dining hall?”
Jupiter hesitated. “Maybe I’ll grab something and eat in my room. Less staring that way.”
“Fuck that,” I said. “They’re going to stare regardless. Might as well give them a proper show.”
That earned me a genuine laugh, and the feeling of her amusement rippling through our connection made my chest warm in a way I wasn’t ready to examine too closely.
“Fine,” she conceded. “But if Melissa starts something again, I’m not responsible for my actions.”
“I’ll hold her, you punch,” Aiden offered.
The five of us headed to the dining hall together. As expected, the room fell into that now-familiar hush when we entered before erupting into whispers. I kept close to Jupiter, feeling her discomfort through the bond.
“Ignore them,” I said quietly. “They’re just jealous.”
“Of what exactly? They are all literally here for the same exact reason, and there are plenty of shields left to bond with.”
“They’re jealous of you because we’re the most powerful shield Dominion has ever seen. That, and Aiden’s hair. It really is magnificent.”
She snorted, some of her tension easing. “It’s not that great.”
“I heard that,” Aiden called from ahead of us.
We got our food and found a table in the corner. As we ate, I noticed Jupiter relaxing incrementally, her shoulders losing some of their rigidity. I could sense her exhaustion but also her relief at not eating alone since her friends were still out.
“So,” Percy said after a while, “we need to discuss living arrangements.”
Jupiter paused mid-bite. “What about them?”
“Bonded shields typically share quarters. It helps strengthen the connection, especially in the early stages.”
“You want me to move in with you? All four of you?” Her disbelief came through loud and clear, both in her voice and through the bond.
“The shield quarters are designed for it,” I said. “Five separate bedrooms around a common living area. More space than the standard dorms.”
“Plus, it would be easier to coordinate training,” Aiden added.
