Her vision tunneled, and the water sloshed in the bowl.
“Kaeli?”
She couldn’t answer.She gripped the countertop, her knuckles cracking, and the mark on her wrist burning hot where Solan had marked her.Her magics rose up hot and fast inside her, like twin tornadoes, a whirlwind of protective energy.
She breathed her mate’s name, and the house shuddered, the windows rattling as a burst of heat poured from her in waves.Her North and South magics collided inside her, but they weren’t fighting for dominance; they were working together.
The whole house shook, and the wind roared, and heat shimmered across the house and out into the yard.
“Kaeli!Breathe!”Cinder yelled, her voice muffled by the roar of the wind.
Inhaling in great gulps of air, Kaeli forced herself to control her magics and not be controlled by them.She had felt Solan’s injury, and her magic had instinctively reached out to help him in his time of need.
Her magics wove together as one as she pulled them back to herself, her fingers tingling and her eyes burning.As the earth stilled and the house stopped shaking, the air went suddenly cold as her fire magic ceased.
She nearly collapsed to the floor but held on to the counter for dear life.
“Solan,” Kaeli said.“He’s hurt.”
“Your magic wanted to protect him,” Cinder said.She put her hand on Kaeli’s shoulder.“I told you that your bond to him is strong and unique because of your magics.Your wrist is still glowing.”
Kaeli looked at the mark on her wrist and heard a howl in her head and knew it was Solan’s wolf.
“How is that possible?”
“Because you’re a dual power, and that’s not something anyone can really define.Your mate was in danger, and you could feel it.”
Cinder’s phone went off, and she answered it on the first ring.“Are you okay, Adam?”
He answered, but Kaeli couldn’t hear it because her ears were ringing.
“Okay, see you soon.”
When her hearing cleared a few minutes later, Cinder filled her in about an attack from the anti-shifter people: one of the security team was unconscious, and Solan was injured.
Kaeli’s phone buzzed, and she saw a text from her mate.
Thank you.I’m okay, I’ll see you soon.
She pressed her phone to her chest and closed her eyes as tears stung.She suddenly knew she had come close to losing her mate, and her magic had answered the threat to his life with the combined power of earth and fire.
“We need to work on some protection spells, I think,” Cinder said.“Your magic wants to protect, and we need to let it.”
Kaeli didn’t answer; she just nodded.If she could use her magic to protect her mate and the pack, she’d do it.
Anything to keep the people she cared about safe.
Solan jumped up onto the porch and landed solidly in front of Kaeli, pulling her into a hug.She hugged him back tightly and then realized he was still injured when his shoulder twitched as she touched him.
“What the heck happened to you?”she asked, seeing the burn marks on his skin.
“Cattle prod.”He cupped her face.“You saved me.How did you do that?”
“I don’t know.We were just practicing basic spells, and I felt your pain.My magics had a mind of their own.”
“Thank you.I don’t know how it happened, but I felt your magic.The earth shook, and there was a heat wave that knocked a few of the males off their feet.It was incredible.”
“I want her to help keep us safe,” Cinder said.“Her magics want to protect.We can use her with the security team to reinforce our borders and fight when needed.Imagine the earthquakes and fire toward the enemy.”
