Rage sighed, leaning down and kissing my collarbone and up my neck, leaving a trail of fire behind. My mind fritzed again, but before I could kiss him back, he rolled off of me.
“This sucks,” he grumbled, staring up at the ceiling while I scooted off the bed.
There were so many things I could say to that. “Yes, but—”
“I know,” he said, and the rumple of fabric indicated he was not far behind me.
Pulling the door open, I found Reyna dressed in full battle gear with a black duffle bag by her side. Her dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and her tight expression made me feel like if I hadn’t pulled open the door, she would’ve come in and hauled me off.
Pointing at me, she shook her head. “Emergency High Mage Council meeting. All high mages and their first heirs must attend.”
I looked over my shoulder at Rage and smiled apologetically. “See you tomorrow? Four p.m.?”
He waved me off. “Yeah, yeah. You’d better go.”
Reyna scooped up the bag and took off down the hall at a sprint, leaving me to race after her.
“You can’t spend all this time on Shifter Island when you’re the future high mage of spirit!” she snapped, slowing her pace as we exited the castle. “You have responsibilities on High Mage Island.”
“I know, but—”
“No, you don’t. You don’t know shit.” She turned to face me with a wild look in her eye. “Listen, I think your grandfather said he had a few months, so he wouldn’t pressure you. But you don’t have months, okay? You have a hell of a lot to learn, and you havedays, maybe weeks to do it, or all of his magic goes to Kian and the others. You need to focus.”
I wanted to snap back at her, but … I couldn’t. She was right. Dammit! She was right. I gave her a curt nod, and she shoved the duffle bag at me.
“When we get to the office, you need to change. You look like you were just interrupted while having sex.” She grinned.
I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. “I just saved Justice’s life … but I understand what it looks like.” I shook the bag. “Thanks for bringing me clothes.”
She sighed and jerked her chin toward the Alpha Academy campus. “Sorry to bust your balls, but the council’s in a panic.”
I nodded. “My balls are fine. Let’s go.”
With two smirks, we ran the rest of the way to the library portal.
Time to face up to my responsibilities. Again. Because there was no way in hell I’d let Kian get one ounce of my grandfather’s magic.
Only after we crossed through the portal did I remember Honor. I’d just have to pick him up later. After this stupid meeting.
* * *
“The blood mages are back,”Kian announced, and then he paused dramatically to look at each of the four high mages.
The five of them were seated at a circular table in a private room off of the library, near the area grandpa had sent me to in my spirit trial. As soon as Reyna saw me duck in, she started chatting outside with the other shields. I could see her back through a large glass window between the room and the library. Each of the other three walls was unadorned with various artworks, with the exception of one or two rows of stadium-like benches.
My attention jumped to my grandfather in time to see the shock register on his face. He sat propped up in his chair with the aid of several pillows, holding on to his cane. His eyes widened and nostrils flared, and my gaze skipped over the other high mages. Orion and Heath looked surprised as well, but Snade merely nodded.
Interesting.
I’d slid into the first bench, only after realizing I’d sat down next to Kian’s son, Julian, and two other heirs: a brunette female whose voice I recognized from the library, and a young guy with blond hair. I was guessing this was Jane and Xavier. There was a final male heir I didn’t know, and that made five of us. We watched silently as our elders argued about the matter at hand.
“Well, it was bound to happen eventually,” Orion stated. “But it’s not really our problem.”
Grandpa tapped at a piece of paper in front of him. “If they’re picking off the mages in Dark Row, that’s very much our problem,” he croaked. “Look at the report, Ori.”
Kian laughed, the sound harsh and cruel. “The mages in Dark Row are the alpha king’s problem, Geoff. Old age is addling you.”
I stiffened, but Gramps cleared his throat as his gaze flicked to me. “We do pay them handsomely to honor our security contract.”
