Page 47 of Unclaimed Bonds
“No one outside of us and the Alpha King and Luna Queen need to know of her true origins. As far as anyone knows, she’s just a teenager found in distress, and we rescued and took her in. From what I overheard, she wants to be in the guard. Let her. You can train her yourself, keep an eye on her. She won’t be far from home. The Langhlam twins are in the next group of recruits, so she will still be around them, as well as Charlie and Ean working full time with the recruits and their training. Once her magic comes in fully or after she finishes the recruit program, whichever comes first, then send her to the Asian territory.”
Anders eyes me wearily. “Jessica… Her name is Jessica. I can’t allow a female into the recruit program.”
I laugh. “That little person who walked through your office door just moments ago looked like a young man to me.”
Elias shrugged, and Chris smiled. “That just might work actually,” Chris agreed.
“Will it?” Anders snaps. “What the hell will you tell your daughters when they find out? Some of them wanted to be in the guard, and we flat-out said no. How many other girls have we denied? Remember the protest we put up with when one of their mothers turned out to be a journalist?”
Elias shrugs. “Fuck it. If anyone finds out she’s a woman, we can always say it was a pilot program.”
I shake my head. “Actually, you don’t need to lie. The Guard bylaws state that the recruits are to be male. However, a sectionstates that all royal heirs need to participate in the guard program. With Nathan as the Alpha King and Shakti the Luna Queen, that would make Jessica a princess. Even though she is adopted, it won’t change her given title. The royal clause does not specify male or female. Even if you were sued or had a huge protest, that clause alone protects the guards.”
Anders runs his hands through his hair. Elias laughs. “This is why you are the best guard we ever had.”
“And a soon-to-be badass guard lawyer,” Chris adds.
I see the wheels churn in Anders’s mind. “I need to speak with Nathan and Shakti first, make sure that this is what they want. I can’t force them to take on my responsibility.”
“Do you honestly think it will be a problem? I wouldn’t put it past Shakti. She already had a plan in place once Jessica is discharged from the clinic. Faith hasn’t asked me once to bring her home, and you know how she is. She kicked me out of my own home when I told Eugene I wouldn’t take his boy in. Did Tater say anything to you?” Elias looks at Chris, who stops pacing.
“Actually, she hasn’t.” Chris snorts, facing Anders with a smirk. “Talk to Shakti. I think it’s already a done deal. Little One isn’t going anywhere.”
Elias chuckles. “You may want to take him,” he says, jerking his head in my direction. “Chris and I can hold up shop here.”
“Before you all leave, I have one more topic to discuss—Sodie’s placement with the guards.”
I lean forward. “What’s going on with Sodie?”
“Nothing bad. He asked to stay on as an active guard. He wanted to be personally assigned to Jessica. I initially had no problems with it. However, given the circumstances, I think it will be best for Sodie to attend Ryuku for more training.”
I frown. Not everyone with magic needs to attend Ryuku. “Did his magic become stronger or change?”
Chris cocks his head. “You sensed his magic?”
“Yes. I wasn’t very concerned about him revealing himself. Most light manipulators don’t often bring attention to themselves and remain under the radar. Unless I am wrong…”
“I think there is more to him than maybe even he realizes, or he’s really good at concealing it. Either way, he saved Jessica’s life. As a thank you, I want to help him.”
“How did he save Jessica?”
“He’s a healer. If he wasn’t there, and did what he did, she wouldn’t be here right now, giving us hell to admit her into the recruit program.”
Chris’s face brightens. “He mentioned an interest in the medical field in his interview. Now I know why. Let’s give him every opportunity to make it happen.” Elias nods in agreement.
“I was going to mention this later, but we’re here so… I may have a potential candidate in mind who I want to discuss with you. I came across this candidate accidentally when I was in Territory Two. He was a little elusive, but I can’t blame him. He doesn’t exactly belong to a very forgiving territory, particularly when it comes to magic. He reminded me of Liam—a little broken, untrusting, bit of a loner. He is past the recruiting guard age. I would like to send him to Ryukyu.”
“What can he do?” Chris inquires.
“He can manipulate water, which is how I found him, messing with the water element near the falls.”
“Okay. So what’s the big deal? We’ve encountered a few shifters in the past with that ability.”
“Have you ever met someone who can manipulate the water element, shield kinetic energy, and neutralize magic?”
Elias’s eyebrows raise, and he leans forward. “You found a shield? That’s like finding a needle in a haystack.”
“It gets better. There’s something else he can do. I’ve seen it in his aura, but he hasn’t tapped into it yet.”
