“She’s much stronger than her mother,” Orion said, shaking his head. “I gave Nai an F5 tornado. Elia struggled with an F2.”
My heart thudded as indignation flooded me.
How dare they?
“Any idea what Geoff is having her do?” Snade asked, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing. “More importantly, could we send someone to oversee them?”
“He said they’d be at his castle, same as each of us,” Kian said.
Apparently, them isolating me at their castles cut both ways. While Rey wasn’t able to be in their territory, they wouldn’t be able to sabotage me in Grandpa’s.
Halle-freakin’-lujah.
Orion huffed and then muttered, “He’s probably teaching her how to raise the dead.”
Kian slid into his seat, still glaring at Snade. “You should’ve burned her! Even if it appeared intentional, at least, it would’ve sent her to the healing ward so she couldn’t complete her final test.”
Glaring at the water mage, Snade slammed his fist on the table. “And why didn’t you drown her, eh? Why is this on me?”
Kian smoothed his shirt. “Everyone knows I have it out for her. I had to go easy, lest it looked malicious.”
Stunned, I stood there, gaping while they discussed their failed assassination attempts. The sense of betrayal pressed against my soul, and I turned away from their discussion.
Note to self: these high mages were d-bags. Except for my grandfather—and maybe the high mage of earth, Heath.
Maybe that’s why Gramps sent me here. Lesson learned.
At this point, I’d fetch Grandpa’s book title and then get the heck out of here.
“It doesn’t matter,” Kian said, flatly.
I started to slink away—
“We’ll have time to deal with her later,” Kian said. “We need to discuss the new king ofShifterIsland.”
—and then froze.
Shifter Island? They were talking about Rage.
Spinning back toward the evil asshats, I crept forward, dread sinking into my soul.
“He’s invited all of the other shifters back,” Snade said.
“He’s trying to unite them!” Orion growled.
Kian shook his head. “Worse, he’s training the lower mages to protect themselves!”
I had no idea what in the name of the Mother Mage they were talking about, but it seemed like my mate had been busy.
Silence fell, the air thick with tension.
“He can’t do that,” Snade growled, his eyes glowing with live flame.
“No, indeed he cannot. He’s rejectedallof our traditions,” Kian stated. “I’m not sure if Declan failed to train the boy or if he’s truly just that ignorant, but we can’t have him ruin our society.”
“The half-breed is hismate,” Snade said. “Andthey share a shield bond.”
Kian nodded. “But my sources say they haven’t sealed their mate bond. We must make stopping their mate bond from sealing our top priority.”
