Page 60 of Dark Reckoning
“Where are we going now, Sage?” she asked, and she had her game face on and was dressed in a black track suit, no doubt a loan. But she looked ready to kick ass.
“You're going back home. Adrian and I are going to meet with the Council. Do not protest,” I interjected when I saw it written all over her face. She'd opened her mouth to do just that, but we didn't have time to argue. There was no point.
“So, now you're discarding me too?” she snapped.
I frowned, because I didn't like her tone or the meaning of her words. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adrian slink back. Leaving this for me to handle. And I would. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Her expression softened just a little, because she realized she'd pissed me off. “I... I just meant that I can help.”
“Oh? How? Explain to me how you can help, Shi. You need to get out of your feelings right now. We're not dealing with some territory battle with a rival pack or pride. Or some griezel coven. We are in the thick of a fucking war with a Dark God—a powerful one at that. What do you plan to do to help me?” I asked, because I wasn't in the mood for fake heroics. To me, she was sounding like Xavier at the moment. It wasn’t like I didn't get it. She wanted to feel useful to me, but the fact was, she was better equipped to stay safe in our home.
She turned and huffed, then looked back at me. “I understand you. I don't have magic. I can't conjure spells, so I'm just useless to you.”
I looked up and released the air in my lungs slowly, then walked over to her, taking her face into my palm. “You are never useless, Shi. You and every member of my pride mean the world to me. But I can't do what I need to do if you're in danger. If you were to die, or become one of those fucking things...” I trailed off, because I couldn't even fathom losing her like that.
She hugged me. “I know. I have the same fear, Sage. If I'm not there to protect you, and you get hurt… how do you think that will make me feel?”
I sighed and pressed my forehead to hers. “I can't lose you.”
“And I can't lose you. We can't lose you,” Shi said.
I kissed her forehead, then nodded. I released her face and stepped back. “Fine. I'll bring you with me, if it's allowed. I won't risk your life if it's not. They have one hell of a barrier on that fucking place. You might get instantly incinerated if you enter uninvited.”
Her eyes widened and she nodded. “Yeah, make sure they'll take care of that.”
I called Kakashi and told him what had happened since last night, then about Shi. “So, can I bring her?” I asked, wanting to get permission.
“If she agrees to not enter the restricted areas, yes,” Kakashi said.
“What are the areas?” I asked.
“Where our magic can't be tampered with by having a foreign entity in the vicinity. She will need to stay in the guest lounge only,” Kakashi said.
“Not a problem,” Shi said, having heard him through the phone. She did give a roll of her pretty brown eyes. I smiled, but continued my conversation.
“That will work. Hey, won't the members know that you worked a spell for yourself and Aldéric last night?”
“No, just like we didn't know you created the Seal of the Bound barrier spell and linked yourselves to it. I can't sense what you've done. In the past, I had used spells in order to spy on you, but you managed to block that,” Kakashi said.
Now, it made sense why he didn't care if they found out or not, because they'd never know if he didn't tell them. “So, are you going to tell them?” I asked, just because I wanted to see what he'd say. I doubted he would.
“What do you think?”
“No.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“I just wanted to know what level of bastard I'm dealing with regarding you,” I said.
He snorted. “Come, it is good that you have finally learned to teleport. We'll be waiting as we have much to discuss.”
“Okay, just one thing, how do I get there?”
“I will send you a thread. Once you locate it, follow it.”
“A thread?” I asked. “Anything specific I should be searching for?”
“Oh, you won't be able to mistake the sensation. I'll see you soon.” With that, he ended the call and I turned to Adrian.
