Zahara was officially queen of shutting down a room instantly. No one moved for an entire minute, including Kalinda.
“Why?” she finally forced out, looking at the witch doctor.
“Because you will be one of them … if you accept. You can become powerful enough to be one. If they find out, they will come for you.”
“I don’t understand. I’m Level 2. They have already swept me.”
“Things change. The old magic is in you. I can’t tell you more than that, and I don’t care for them anyway, so I won’t share your secret. You can’t hide this forever though.”
Romano stepped forward. “Can you tell what her magic is changing to? I’ve smelled something ancient on her, and it’s even stronger now.” At Kalinda’s dirty look, he added, “Ancient and delicious.”
Yeah, that helped. Not.
Romano moved and sat on the bed, wrapping his arms around her. Kalinda let him hold her, soaking in his strength for a few moments and acting like she had someone to lean on again—someone she could trust. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it. How much it soothed her. He didn’t disappoint. Rubbing his hands up and down her spine, a soft growl that was oddly soothing rumbled his chest.
Zahara shrugged. “I don’t know, but I would wager she is closer to me now.”
“What does that mean?”
Kalinda appreciated Romano taking the lead in questioning. She knew she was wide-eyed, but she couldn’t help it. It was all too hard to take in.
“A Level 9, if she can control it. It hasn’t manifested all the way, so it fluctuates. I can’t read past that, or her form. It’s still shrouded. I’ll take payment in my account before I’ve left the grounds. If I don’t receive, your pack lands will be gone.”
Dominic growled but wisely stayed silent and nodded as Zahara left. In the mage caste system, the ten levels didn’t mean a small step up. Each level jumped exponentially, depending on the skillset.
For example, a Level 1 one may have just a twinge of magic, enough to be caught in a sweep. The next level would have more of a spark and be able to manifest said magic in small ways. Like Zoey with her map magic which let her find her way anywhere and her ability to make flowers bloom, or Kalinda with her adding comfort to her food.
From there, the levels of power jumped up in larger manifestations. Levels 8 through 10 are Council levels, and a Level 9 would be able to challenge the power of an Alpha for a time. There was no way Kalinda would believe she was the same level as Dominic. None of this made sense, and she was sick of not understanding.
She had no interest in being tied up with the Council or the FBMC. They’d ruined her life to begin with, and she was not in the mood.
She wrenched out of Romano’s arms and stood on shaky feet. She felt bruised everywhere, but nothing was going to stop her from going home and leaving all of this behind.
“Where are you going?”
She ignored Romano. Instead, she stomped her way past a smirking Zoey.
“Ohhhh. Someone’s in trouble.”
Kalinda stopped herself, barely, from growling. “Can it, Sunshine. I’m done with it.”
“Can’t can it,” Zoey smirked. “I tried, and they told me I was too addicting. Besides, Dominic would just buy every can off the shelf and threaten to rip off the arms of anyone who thought to buy it.”
“Go have your baby already,” Kalinda retorted.
“Hey, friends don’t wish pain on friends.”
“I’m wishing a bundle of joy and lots of extra time lost here so you can’t bother me. Big difference, chick. Big difference.”
She didn’t know how she was going to get all her things home but she was going. She tucked her feet into her Chucks—the only time she didn’t wear heels was when she was home—and looked for her purse.
Zahara, the purveyor of the crazy times, simply walked out the door without a care while Zoey, Dominic, and Romano followed the tornado called Kalinda as she stormed through the house to pick up what she could carry.
“I’m going to ask again because I’m starting to worry that maybe your hearing isn’t working.” Romano stopped in front of her, his massive form blocking her from leaving the kitchen. Okay, the stuff in her arms was really heavy, and she was not in the mood.
Countdown to complete meltdown, starting now.
“Where are you going?” Romano quirked a brow.
