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7JAIDE
“As I told Jaide,I don't know when the other tests will come. I only know that they will, and he’s not going to make it easy,” Elliot said.
I snorted, looking around the fire at faces that were becoming as familiar to me as my own. The Synians had remained silent while we caught them up on the finer points of what they’d missed yesterday before the bonding ceremony and the deep, happy sleep I’d fallen into afterward.
They now looked a little shell-shocked.
“So, you know. No big deal. I could burst into flames or get drowned at any moment. Because we didn't have enough going on already,” I said.
Garret leaned back on his hands, staring into the flames. “It makes sense.”
“Does it? Please illuminate me. Because I don't have the first idea,” I said.
He glanced at Parris, who also looked deep in thought. “We were able to bite you without losing control during the bonding ceremony.”
The fresh wounds where their fangs had pierced my skin tingled as if my flesh remembered. “Right. So?”
“So far, everything that's happened is pointing to the fulfillment of the prophecy. Finding our fated Omega. Completing the bond without needing to drink.” Again, he looked to Parris, who grunted softly.
“Feeding...it's instinctual,” he murmured. “And as we’ve explained, over time it's become compulsive. Without our Omegas, there was nothing to do but feed and fuck and discard our meal once it didn't serve us anymore.” He slid a guilty look my way, but I waved it off.
“And now? When you bit me?” I asked.
“I was in control of myself. I had to bite you, it was critical that I bite you. But I was also completely in my right mind. There was no blood lust, no losing my sense of myself.” Our eyes met, and the intensity I saw in him almost took my breath away. “I've never felt that before.” Garret said in agreement.
“That's all the proof I need. You are the one.” Elliot was intense, too, and it was starting to make my skin crawl.
I had to get up, move around, and work off some of the nervous energy setting off tingles in my chest, especially once Garret and Parris started staring at me the way Elliot did. Like there was something special about me.
“You are the one who's going to lead us to victory over Healynas,” Elliot added.
“Sure, I look exactly like the sort of girl who could lead someone to victory, don't I?” I threw my arms out to my sides and turned in a slow circle like I was showing myself off. Letting them get a look at the great champion. “I mean, I can barely walk without tripping and falling on my face, but sure, give me an army, and I'll kick ass.”
Elliot let out a sigh. “You need to think bigger.”
“You need to stop sighing like that. It's getting on my nerves,” I snapped back.
“Then stop giving me reasons to sigh.”
I had no comeback for that, because what was I supposed to say? So I settled for taking the mature route and sticking my tongue out at Elliot. Definitely the sort of thing a great warrior would do. I was feeling better and better about this stupid prophecy with every second.
“My point stands. I'm not a great leader. I don't care what the prophecy said. Can't prophecies be wrong? There must have been some massive cosmic fuck up,” I said.
I shot Elliot a warning look when his shoulders rose, his chest expanding like he was about to let out an epic sigh. At least this time he held back, but barely.
“First things first. You need to stop thinking of yourself as you were before. You aren't that person. You never were.”
“Sure, tell that to all the scrapes, bumps, bruises, and breaks I gave myself over the years. Let's not even get started on the spilled milk, broken glassware, and the one time I accidentally set my bed on fire...”
“How did you do that?” Parris asked, his lips twitching.
“Let's just say you shouldn't leave a magic wand running unattended,” I said. When all he did was tip his head to the side, I shook mine. “Forget it.”
“My point stands. Just because you've been...unfortunate...in the past, doesn't mean you're unequipped for what's coming. And don't pretend you don't have power. I've seen it. It's the only reason your head didn't crack open when Healynas threw you off that cliff,” Elliot said.
As he said it, a shiver ran up my spine before splitting into tiny little shocks that ran through my arms and legs and made my head buzz. Yes, I had controlled the wind, and even if I wasn't exactly a pro at it. I had still done more than any human ever could. That much was for sure. I had saved myself, and I had passed the test.
Which got me thinking, of course. “Okay. Fine. Let's say you're right, and I'm some prophesied, kick-ass warrior queen.”
