Grandpa held his hand up to stop my protests. “He said he didn’t know why you were there, or even that it was you. He asked me to pass along an additional message to your mate.”
“What’s the message?” I all but growled.
“Kian will require another shield from the alpha heir graduates,” Gramps said.
I snorted. There wasno wayRage would help that d-bag. “I doubt Rage will be very quick to make that happen, considering.”
Hadn’t Reyna told Grandpa everything last night?
Grandpa took a deep breath and then pushed himself up to standing. “I’m just relaying the message, dear.” Reyna jumped out of her chair and grabbed him as he started to wobble. Once he regained his balance with Reyna’s help, he looked me in the eyes. “Maybe he needs a reminder about choosing his battles … as well as the timing of those battles. Not that I’m telling you, or him, what to do, mind you. Just something to consider.”
He was probably right. Denying Kian a shield would be an act of war.
“All right. I’ll tell him what Kian wants, but no promises.”
Gramps patted Reyna’s arm. “Help me to bed?”
The two of them shuffled out of the room, and as soon as they were gone, Sariah cleared her throat.
“He’s worried,” she said. “Even if he doesn’t show it.”
I waited to see if she would elaborate, even though I was pretty sure I knew what she meant.
“My dad is nearly a thousand years old. He’s seen … a lot, I’m sure. He can see the writing on the wall, all the tension between the high mages and the alpha heirs. I think he just wants you to get all the training you can before…”
“Before all hell breaks loose?” I asked ruefully.
Sariah grimaced. “It does feel like it’s headed that way, doesn’t it? I really hope it doesn’t come to that. The last time the high mages and alpha heirs warred, it was devastating for both races. I don’t think it would be any better now.”
I shook my head, stunned. “Are you saying you’re okay with how things are? That Kian nearly killing me last night is okay?”
“It’s not,” she said. “Not at all.”
I frowned at the contradictions she’d said … or rather what I’d heard. “Then help me understand what you are saying.”
Sariah took a deep breath. “I want you to inherit my father’s power, but you can’t do it if you’re dead. You have to play the game with Kian for now until you get spirit power.” She stepped closer to me and lowered her voice. “Then, at the right time, you can take care of Kian.”
Whoa. My aunt was totally on board with me taking out Kian eventually? Sweet.
I nodded. “No one wants to jeopardize the power of spirit going to Kian and the other mages.”
Which meant we—both me and Rage—should keep the peace until after Grandpa died.
After giving Sariah a hug, I ran down the corridor toward the library.
‘Rage?’I loved that now that our mating bond was sealed we could speak to each other, no matter where we were.
‘Where are you, Crescent?’he replied.‘I’m not known for my patience.’His tone was playful.
‘Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!’
Picking up my pace, I ran at a full-on sprint through the high mage library, down the hall … and burst through the portal and into Rage’s open arms.
Our bodies collided, and I raised up onto my tiptoes to press my lips to his. One kiss became many, and my toes curled as he licked the outside of my ear.
“I saw my mom and bonus dad,” I said, breathlessly.
Rage kneaded my hips, coaxing our bodies closer.
