“Shielding requires a constant controlled flow,” Remi said. “Sustainable energy.”
“How long will it take for him to learn control like that?” Angel asked.
“Most fae take a century or more.”
“I’m not fae. I’m not going to live that long.” Fuck, was there any hope of controlling this crazy curse? Angel squeezed my knee, his proximity keeping me grounded.
“But you have an advantage most of them don’t have,” Remi waved at Angel. “A shifter mate.”
“And how would using Angel help that?” I didn’t like the idea of pulling death magic or something from him.
“Shifters have a ridiculous amount of energy,” Angel said, unwrapping a slice of rainbow cake and shoving it my way. “It’s why we heal fast, adds to our strength, et cetera.”
“That,” Remi agreed. “Instead of your energy alone, you’d be pulling from him.”
“Draining him,” I shook my head. “No. He said shifting is a little death every time. I’m not going to force him to shift.”
“You’re not using your death magic; you’re using his energy as a focus. A valve, per se, to direct and control the flow of the energy you can pull from the world around you. It would be a low-level pull, and only until you work up enough endurance to hold a shield yourself.”
“I’m okay with it,” Angel said. “I’d rather you safe than struggling like we did crossing the river.”
“But what if something goes wrong?” Like it often did with this crazy power of mine.
“Then we cross that bridge when we come to it,” Angel said, unwrapping his own slice of cake.
“Your mate bond is unlikely to let you hurt each other,” Remi added. “I’ve heard stories of mates able to share power. Angel might be able to help you hold a shield or control your power if it goes wild.”
“Could I shift into something?” I asked.
“It’s not as cool as you think it is,” Angel said.
“Better than dragging bodies around and chattering ghosts keeping me from sleeping.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone borrowing their shifter mate’s ability to shift,” Remi said with a shrug. “But you’re full of all sorts of unusual surprises.”
“Like one of those blind-box toys that never give you the right collector figure,” I grumbled. “What do I have to do for Angel to help with my shield?”
Remi reached across the table and traced a symbol on the back of my hand. I shivered, surprised by the cold bite of his power and his fluttering, light touch, which felt more like a caress than a lesson. “Follow the line I’m drawing.”
“Fucking runes,” I sighed as I watched him trace the symbol a few more times. With my gaze half-lidded, I could almost see it glow with silver-blue light. Angel’s grip tightened on his fork as Remi’s fingertip left a glowing pattern on my skin, and his touch, the memory of a caress.
“Think of the energy as running through you like a river,” Remi’s touch trailed up my wrist, leaving goosebumps as I pressed further into Angel’s side.
“Uh...”
“A redirection of energy, like a port on the edge of the river as it winds through you.” He began to push my sleeve up, but Angel clamped his hand on Remi’s wrist.
“Enough.”
Remi’s power vanished in an instant, and I could breathe again. “Just trying to help.”
“Your help last time pushed a few too many boundaries,” Angel growled.
“And saved all our asses,” Remi snapped back.
Ezra appeared from the front looking annoyed. “The lovebirds are on watch up front.”
I’d never been more grateful to the grumpy shifter for giving me an out.
