by S. L. Morgan
It began after dinner when Dom was talking to Lusa about the oracle who tried to kill me, and then bam, Ethan started tripping out. He’d seemed fine ever since Dom had told him about what the oracle had said to Vannah, or so I thought.
“E, listen to me.” Dom took him by his shoulders, “Look at Jenna.” He turned his cousin to face where I stood next to Vannah, confused as to why Ethan was questioning the oracle’s final words about him. “She’s alive because of you. You, Ethan.”
“Dominic, you hated the oracle. I am the oracle now.” He shook his head, eyes staring widely at me in fear.
“And thank God for that.” Dom stepped in front of Ethan. “Look at me, bud,” he said calmly. “I’ve never been prouder of you than I am right now. We know oracles are very pure and good. It’s an honor to be part of their work. She handed the baton to you because she almost did something very bad.”
“What if I do something bad like she almost did?” Ethan asked him, calming some. “What if I make the wrong decision, and I kill Jenna?”
“You’re not going to kill my mate. You already promised me that. E, look at me,” Dom said when E’s sorrowful eyes looked at me. “Your owl is wise and extremely powerful. It knows when something or someone goes fully dark and wouldn’t come back from that. That oracle didn’t know the difference. They’re not created to know anything other than what they sense at the time. It’s why she’s gone.”
“She made the wrong choice,” Ethan nodded.
“She definitely made the wrong choice, and that’s outside of what she did to screw with Jenna and me while we grew up.”
“She had to protect you from each other Dominic. She did good protecting you, but your wolves always found each other no matter how she tried to keep them from it.”
“That tells you something right there, bud,” Dom smiled at Ethan. “No matter how bad she screwed with us, we found each other every time.”
“You and Jenna have to merge your wolves.” Ethan transitioned into oracle talk suddenly. “You both need that power. You know this, Dominic.”
“Don’t worry about that. Listen, just because you’re all high and mighty with your oracle promotion,” Dom softly chuckled to keep Ethan calm, “doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do with my girl.”
“Dominic, I am serious.”
“I am too.” Dom put his hand on Ethan’s shoulder, “Listen, Jenna and I have a plan.”
“A plan like the one we hid from the demon inside her?”
“Yes, just like that one.” Dom’s eyes found mine, then went back to Ethan, “We both will know when the time is right for us to merge the wolves. Right now, it’s dangerous, and I think you know that.”
“The school will target you.” Ethan looked at Dominic like he had his own revelation.
“To say the least,” Dom answered him. “Why don’t we stick to the original agreement, and not kill Jenna…ever. Let’s worry about helping this school, not making it worse.”
“I will protect Jenna. I will protect you, Dominic,” Ethan said.
“I hope I’m on your new oracle protection list.”
“Oracles do not have lists, Lusa.” Ethan looked over at her in confusion. “I will protect the school,” he finished.
“Good, then let’s stop talking about the oracle, and focus on what we need to do before we leave here.” Dom looked at me, “How’s it going with the magic?”
“I think you know that answer, but if you wanted to hear it come out of my mouth, it’s going pretty shitty.” I folded my arms, frustrated I couldn’t get this down.
“You’ll get it down.” He smiled. “We’re all going back to this school not knowing exactly what’s up since getting rid of that demon. The oracle said that the school is probably awake and that Jenna and I needed to merge—well, that’s what we could determine before she got smoked by her authorities and pulled out of the game, anyway. So, I don’t trust anything she said, but I do know we’re most likely up against something none of us are ready to take on.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Lusa asked with concern.
“We have to go back to the way it was before we came up with the lies to get Jenna out here. I need you and Vannah to brag about how awesome it was to follow Jenna on her master's quest. I’ll be right behind all of you in going back. E will be with Jenna until we’re all back and moving forward.”
“And if that monster is alive and well and waiting for us?” I asked. “What do we do then?”
“We hope it doesn’t take you an entire day to form a magic ball, for starters,” he winked as he teased my lack of skill and control over my fairy-witch genetics. “We all stay relaxed. I have a feeling that things are going to be fine, but we can’t be distracted while we work to end this once and for all.”
I rubbed my forehead. “How much time before I fall to my death on my personal quest to become a master?”
“We have twelve hours before we split up. I need to leave in about five to catch up with the shifters at their third checkpoint,” Dom answered.
“I can’t believe you virtually snapped your fingers and set all of that into motion.”
“I wish it were that easy.” Dom grinned and walked over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. “I had the professors set and ready for a random quest to test the students on skill when they were unprepared. It was set up in advance, kind of like a pop-quiz, and I’m pretty sure most of them have already fallen into a trap and are back at the school, pissed off at me for it.” He laughed.
I wound my arms around his waist and lifted my chin. He answered my aching need to feel his lips on mine, and we were successful in forgetting everyone in the room who was subjected to our rated-mature kiss.
“They won’t last,” Vannah said after clearing her throat. “I don’t know why you’re going to do this to each other. Look at you both. Are you going to do this is some classroom? Maybe in the dining hall?”
We both looked at Vannah at the same time.
“Vannah, we’re taking this time to enjoy our closeness before we head back to that horror show of a school,” I said.
She folded her arms, and her expression was unwavering. “Really? That’s why you’re attacking Dominic right here like none of us are in the room?” She smiled, “I feel so horrible for both of you, trying to ignore your natural instincts, but if this is something you’re going to do, you need to always be on alert—especially with each other.”
Dom rubbed his forehead after releasing me. “You’re right,” he said in frustration. “Okay, plan B.” He grinned and looked over at Ethan, “You’ve gotta keep me in check, bud. You know I’m not perfect, but I’ve never let myself get caught off-guard. That kiss was a good reminder that this whole thing might kick me in the butt.”
“It’s because you know you should merge,” Ethan answered.
“No,” Dom argued, “and I need you on the same page with me. If I ever do something you know I wouldn’t normally do with Jenna, you get to step in and tell me it’s gross.” Dom laughed.
“It is gross,” Ethan said. “It is also natural. You are both shifters who’ve found your mates.”
“That’s not the help I need right now, E,” Dom answered.
“I’ll help you,” Lusa finally stepped into the conversation. I could tell her mind was more preoccupied with what was waiting for us when we got back to school than policing our kisses. “You’re both going to be the talk of the school if you kiss like that in front of anyone.” She grinned, “If you think you’ll be a target when the wolves merge, wait until you kiss like you’re ready to head to the next level in front of everyone. I’ll be the first to make you, my strong and sweet brother, look stupid in front of your students.”
Dom grinned. “Then that’s that! All it takes is my sister questioning her brother’s strength, and now I have a great reason to keep it in check when I’m around my girl.”
“And me?” I asked.
“Don’t worry,” Vannah came in as
my personal mother witch. “I’ll make sure you don’t rip his clothes off in the dining hall.”
“They don’t have enough pie for that!” Dom teased.
“You two are going to wish you’d just gone through with it.” Lusa shook her head.
“Really?” Dom’s eyebrows shot up in humor. “Did you forget about shifters and their mating habits? We’d be so caught up with each other after that the school could burn down around us, and we wouldn’t care.”
“True.” She studied both of us. “Why don’t you both use the next twelve hours or whatever time you have left together to get it under control. I think that’s the pressing issue right now, not Jenna trying to suddenly open up genes she’s got no control over. We start with the basics. Jenna and Dom keeping it low key when we get back to school, then in between studying for classes, Jenna can use that free time to pick up some new tricks.” She rubbed her head, “Oh, my God, we’re so screwed.”
“Listen,” Dom’s voice was more authoritative now, “I’m not going to lose it again,” he said to Lusa. “A lot of that was just us being out here without consequences. I’ve got a lot riding on this working and us getting the hell out of this place. So, let’s not fall apart because you think I’m going to go crazy with Jenna. I was only teasing.”
“I’m not naive, Dominic Rossi,” Lusa said. “I heard it in your voice. You’re worried, and I’ve never seen you act like this.”
“I’m only concerned that if we make the slightest mistake, it’s going to make it harder on all of us to beat that thing at the school. Everyone relax. Jen and I are going to take this time to let the wolves run together—they need the closeness as much as we need it. Everything will be fine. Let’s all agree on that and not fall the hell apart, or we might as well give up our plans for success in beating that thing right here and now.”
“Take it easy, Master Dominic,” I said, feeling the rage igniting in him. It was rage that was directed at himself more than anyone else, but he needed to relax. “You’re right. Let’s let the wolves run and get ready to head back to school.”
The last thing we needed was Dom going back to school and acting like a legit douche bag, punishing his students because he was fighting off what his natural instincts were driving him to do. I wasn’t feeling the desire as hard as he was, only because I wasn’t in on the whole magical merge process, so I really had no idea the depth of what Dom was dealing with. What I did know was that we definitely had to make sure Dom was happy. I was still his student, and the last thing he needed was to piss me off with his bad attitude.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Dom took off before the sun greeted Vannah’s magic cabin. His tasteful kiss goodbye was lingering on my lips as I dressed to go out and fail my mission that he’d set up as my personal decoy for not being around anyone while they worked to fix me.
I had felt the strong need to be with him but also knew that was my wolf’s personal mindset, needing her bond to exist with his wolf permanently. Thank God that even though my inner wolf ran with a mind of her own again, I maintained control of everything. I no longer had the demon screwing with both of us, and I had never felt more in control of my wolf’s inner emotions than I did right now.
I knew if she was running my show, and I wasn’t in control of her, I would feel Dom’s absence more profoundly. God only knew how he was handling it. From what I could pick up from my wolf’s emotions, the only way to compare this sense of loss of a severed merge was losing your claimed mate to death. I grew nauseated by tapping into those emotions. Dom would’ve been the strongest shifter in the books if he could get through this without it changing him in one way or another.
We let the wolves run up until an hour before he left. He was right, I felt my inner wolf’s pull to Dom’s wolf was stronger than ever, and it was calming to her spirit to be with his. We’d run it all out of both the wolves’ systems and wore them down enough to keep that longing for each other at bay. I had no idea how the wolves would deal with the lockdown of us only able to shift for an hour each day once we got back to the school.
“Jenna,” I heard Ethan say from the other side of my door.
“Be right there,” I answered, sliding my foot into my boot and tying up the laces before heading to my door. “Hey,” I smiled at his relaxed expression. “You look a lot calmer than yesterday. Feeling better?”
“Yes. I flew my owl to check on the school. The oracle said that the evil was awake now.” He smiled. “She was wrong about that too.”
I patted his arm. “See, you have nothing to worry about with taking her place. Though, you could have been caught checking on the school in your shifter form.”
“I know Dominic’s plans, and the school isn’t searching for me. They’re expecting you to come into view on your quest today. They also know Vannah and Lusa are following you. They don’t worry about the owls when shifters go on quests. I’m safe.”
“Sounds like you’ve been working on your excuse as to what you’ll say to Dominic when he finds out you flew back to check on the school without him knowing.” I grinned. “You’re awesome, man. I’m glad you didn’t get caught, and I’m totally relieved you didn’t sense the darkness alive and well again at that place.”
“It gives us more time for you to learn your magic so we can destroy it,” he said triumphantly.
“True.” I chewed on my bottom lip, “I wonder if we could cloak me or however you and Vannah conceal mine and Dom’s bond and all your secret working on getting spells to get that thing out of me and kill it.”
“Your magic is too powerful. The only person who can cloak it is yourself,” he said in his matter-of-fact tone. “You need to work on learning that first. Vannah and I can tell you how, but you are the only one who can cloak your magic.”
“That seriously sucks.” I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. “Well, before I learn the hardest part of working with magic, let me go on this suicide mission and get back to school.”
Ethan laughed. “Dominic said you would like the adrenaline of the fall. Melanie did a very good trap when he asked her to make this one.”
“Melanie?” God, I forgot about that leprechaun who was so obviously into Dom. “Shit!” I growled. “Why would Dom pull a leprechaun into all of this? Any fairy’s trap would have worked.”
“It had to be believable and surprise you,” Ethan said, studying what I knew was my pissed off expression. “Melanie helped him help you, Jenna.”
“I’m sure she did. Nothing like helping some dude you’re crushing on ax his ex-girlfriend on a quest. I’m certain that girl was more than happy to build the trap to kill me off.”
“She is nice.” Ethan’s voice was stern.
Okay, Ethan was not the one to go into detail on how screwed Dom and I were if Dom led a leprechaun on and gave her the slightest hope of a chance with him. I wasn’t going to stress the owl shifter out. She was cool to him, and that’s what mattered.
Crap, then there was Bradley. Maybe it would’ve been best if we came back and just faced the demon head-on instead of facing people that we probably both gave too much hope of having a relationship with. Glad the demon was roasted after screwing with my mind like it did—now, we have to deal with the fallout that was waiting for when Dom and I came back to the school as a couple.
A freaking leprechaun, though, Dominic? Really?
“What are you thinking about?” Ethan asked. “You must leave, but you are staring at the trees like you are afraid to end your quest. Dom said you would like this fall.”
“I’m imagining seeing the look on sweet Melanie’s face when I fall into the trap that she designed for me.”
“She will be excited she beat a shifter. It was a test for her too. Dominic said the school is watching to see if she is really smarter than her age.”
“That’s so awesome.” I forced a smile on my face. Luckily, Ethan wasn’t one to pick up on sarcasm because I couldn’t help myself. “Glad we can help your leprechaun fri
end.”
“Yes.” Ethan nodded.
The sweet, pure, innocent owl had no idea how this all was going to screw Dom and me in the end. Whatever, time to give the girl some high marks for being a freaking tricky, evil leprechaun.
“So, where’s the trap?”
“You follow the trail. The hawks will appear when you get back into the range of the school. When the hawks appear, you’ll be at school soon. I will be there waiting for you. The school is safe,” he reminded me.
“Got it. Well, let’s go kill Jenna.”
Ethan laughed while I clenched my teeth. I wasn’t looking forward to giving a leprechaun any satisfaction of beating me out, much less one I knew had a thing for my guy. Freaking Dominic, he’d better have a good excuse for using her to set a trap and leading a damn leprechaun on just to make my death on this fake quest look believable.
I took off running through the thick forest in my wolf form. I had my wolf pushing as hard as she could go until the trees ended and the cliffs were waiting for me on the other side. This is her creative trap of death for me?
Flipping leprechaun trying to impress your guy, Jenna. This will be an evil trap, to say the least. Focus.
Being in my wolf form, I was feeling my wolf’s call to Dominic stronger than being in my physical form. Her desperate longing for his wolf was devastating to my judgment and mindset.
I slowed to let my wolf take in the landscape beyond the cliffs. It was majestic and beautiful—natural—not one trace of a fairy on the glistening waterfall in the valley a thousand feet below the ledge I was on. The skies were bright blue with fluffy clouds, floating like feathers above the lush green mountains on the other ridge.
My wolf seemed to quiet, knowing she still had her mate, he was just distant. I focused on when Dom would be back, and we would be close again, feeding my wolf with the hope she already knew existed. Maybe that was the trick, continuously filling that miserable void my wolf carried with her by giving her the hope of being close to Dom again.