Page 52 of Assisting the Alpha
I huff, irritated that I missed.
Ethan, though, smiles like I did well. “That was good.”
“I missed.”
“He’s in a heap with Raj, isn’t he?”
Sure enough, by the time Raj and Jet have untangled themselves I probably would have had time to run away or prepare my next spell if this were a real life-and-death scenario. As it is, Jet is now too busy looking forlornly at his tail, which is dragging on the floor, to be considered a threat.
We try a few more times, and I get better at taking them by surprise, switching up who I target and the spell I use with no discernible pattern. After half an hour, Ethan shifts and joins in. After an hour, they’re still full of energy and my magic is starting to sing, my moonstone practically vibrating against my chest. I can’t remember the last time I was able to use my magic to its full potential before the night I did the seeking spell to find Irving.
Had I ever? Not since my parents died, certainly. The questionable reliability of my magic back on the coven estate always meant I held back, never able to trust that I’d get the result I was going for. Sometimes I would, but then I’d try to show off to Nyoka to win his respect, and it would all go to shit.
Maybe I was trying too hard? Or maybe Ethan’s right and I just needed daily practice with an emphasis on bigger spells. I got treated to a lecture from him and Cal last week about how important constant training is, whether it’s magical, physical, or weapons-based.
My magic is building, wanting to show these men what I can really do. Whatever the reason I used to have problems was, I don’t now. I can do this.
I add a camouflage layer to my personal shield so that they can’t see past it to what I’m doing. They all pause, then start darting about, making themselves more difficult targets. Skye remains perched on Cal’s shoulder as the vampire blurs past too fast for me to see, but that’s okay.
I create a concussion ball in one hand and a water ball in the other. I send them up into the air, split both of them into three, and ready an airborne shockwave as well, since Skye takes flight every time I aim for him.
In reality, I wouldn’t have this much time, because one of them could have taken me down easily by now, but as Ethan keeps saying, one step at a time.
I wait until my water balls are rotating at high speed, the shockwave energy has built up, and the concussive balls are vibrating with power. Then I release them all at once.
The result is spectacular carnage. Howls, yowls, and screeches fill the room. Everyone gets knocked back by the shockwave, Kit and Raj get hit with water balls, Ethan and Jet are thrown against the wards thanks to a combination of the shockwave and being hit with concussion balls, and Skye flaps frantically, a water ball catching one wing before he can regain control and sending him tumbling to the ground. For a moment I think Cal has managed to remain unscathed, but he’s now still and shaking his head as if trying to clear it, so I think one of my concussive balls must have actually clipped him.
I drop all the magic except the ward on the room and give them all a ridiculously proud grin. Then my grin falters as I realise I might be in a room full of six pissed-off supes.
Fortunately, when Ethan shifts and rushes over to me, he takes my mouth in a dominating kiss. He tastes like coffee andthe Thai food we all ate together before coming down here, and with all his yummy muscles pressed up against me, I’m quickly distracted from everyone else’s potentially negative reactions.
He pulls back far too soon, a look of wonder in his eyes. “You’ve been holding back, sweet thing.”
I shrug. “Maybe a bit?”
Cal gives me a dry look as he helps a shifted Skye get up off the floor. “I’d say more than a bit.”
I can’t help noticing that Skye and Jet have the same tattoo on their left shoulder as Ethan—the Soldati Security logo of stylised wings and a central star with the head of a howling wolf above. I’ve noticed during previous training sessions that Raj has it too. Do they all have one? And which came first, the company logo or the tattoo?
Before I can ask about it, Jet comes bounding over in human form, trying to put his leg in his jeans at the same time so it’s more of a hopping balancing act than a run. “Bro! That. Was. EPIC!” Jet gives up on the trousers and throws his arms around me, hugging me tight.
Ethan’s low growl has Jet backing up fast, hands up, trying not to trip over the trousers around his ankles. “What, I can’t hug him?”
Ethan stalks after him, expression menacing. “Not naked you can’t. Get some fucking clothes on before you go rubbing your scent all over my ma—my boyfriend.”
What was he about to say? I frown, trying to figure it out, but I’m distracted by Skye, who has already re-dressed and comes over, a shy smile on his face. “That was dead impressive. I’ve never seen a magic-user able to hit Cal before.”
Cal looks less impressed, but then he winks at me so I know we’re okay.
Skye and I turn to look at Kit and Raj, who are so wet they’re dripping all over the floor and look utterly miserable.
“They’re all fearsome until they’re wet, aye?” Skye says, laughter in his voice.
“They do look kinda pathetic,” I agree.
I regret my words almost immediately. Kit and Raj seem to have some sort of silent conversation before they turn their heads simultaneously towards us. Skye and I back up, but we’re not fast enough. Kit and Raj run for us, Kit aiming for Skye and getting him first because he really is insanely quick, pinning him to the ground. Raj is on me almost immediately, knocking me to the mats and pinning me in place with a single paw.
Raj’s Bengal tiger is jaw-droppingly impressive. Sure, I could get him off with a spell or put up a shield, but letting him jump on me is probably fair after what I just did.
