I assumed I’d be like my father and have fire affinity, which would be great. Then, I’d be able to light Rage on fire with my mind so he didn’t know who did it.
“All right,” I shrugged. “What kind of test?”
Tests and I didn’t usually get along. Like how Rage tested my patience; I was getting a C- there, at best.
Honor chuckled. “This one is easy. You just touch a crystal.”
I frowned, thinking back to the crystal I’d touched before getting on the boat and how it had zapped me. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
I could do that.
“What’s your affinities?” I leaned into Noble. “Or is that rude to ask?”
“Rage is right; she never shuts up,” Justice grumbled, stalking off, leaving me with Honor and Noble, the only sane ones.
“Dick!” I shouted at his retreating back, and a few students around us gasped.
Noble’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “Not rude to ask. I’m a water elemental.”
Whoa. So cool.
“I heard water elementals also have a smidge of healing ability,” I said.
He nodded. “Only smaller injuries and cuts, and it doesn’t work on myself. It’s one of those selfless gifts.”
Which explained why I’d want Noble around if I got called in for a “meeting” with the alpha king. Did he torture students? Could he be any more evil? I shook my head, dislodging the disturbing thoughts. “Being selfless must be the pits.”
We burst into laughter, only to be shushed by a teacher standing at an open doorway to a glass-domed building.
“Prince Noble…” Her gaze dropped to our hooked arms, and her mouth popped open.
“Madam Sherky.” Noble dipped his head to the tall, lithe, Midnight woman.
As we entered the open double-doors, Noble leaned into me. “Sorry, Nai, gotta scram. Enjoy the show. I hope you have a cool affinity.”
I let go of him, whispering, “If I’m a water elemental with healing abilities, then I’ll help you when you get hurt. I can be selfless too.”
I was half kidding, but the tender expression that crossed his face made me think he was touched.
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You’re too good for this place.”
I stared at his retreating back, his words pinging around my head. My stance remained solid: Midnight Pack was a bunch of psycho backstabbers …exceptNoble. That boy was sweet as honey. Honor was decent too, but I didn’t know him well enough to call him a friend yet. He was quieter than Noble.
“Psst!” Kaja hissed.
As I scanned the room for her, my jaw dropped.
Holy mage shifter babies.
This room reminded me of a meadow, only inside. Verdant flora occupied much of the space with white creeping vines growing up the sides of the walls all the way to the glass dome ceiling. Glowing white hummingbirds dipped in and out of the space above our heads. Like a magical wedding venue.
I squeezed in next to Kaja and followed her gaze to a raised platform at the front of the room.
Wearing their swirly magical robes, five high mages stood there. Recognizing the one from the portal, I swallowed hard. He’d allowed me to enter, but his magic felt like an inquisition. His deep blue cloak identified him as the most powerful water elemental.
“That’s the high council?” I whispered, staring at the five men.
