out of the room, returning with her notebook a few minutes later. “Okay. Brace yourself. I’ll go through a list of supernatural mental abilities one by one, and I want you to tell me if you have experienced any of them in the last twenty-four hours.”
“All right.”
“Cosmic awareness or precognition? Wait. Don’t bother. The answer is yes. You knew when the destroyers were coming nine years ago, so you already had that ability…Next is telepathic reception. You know, memory navigation, or sometimes referred to as psychic navigation.”
“I don’t believe I’ve been able to read specific memories in someone else’s mind, but I…he would kill me if he knew, but I read the Chancellor’s thoughts.”
“You did what? When?”
Kiera nodded sheepishly. “Last night. No. Two nights ago as well.”
“When exactly?”
“I was with Xander overnight… and then at dinner last night.”
“Wait a second. Did you just say you read the Chancellor’s thoughts from inside the shifter camp?”
“Yes. I was surprised too…I’m not sure, but I may have affected the containment spell around the camp too.”
“Holy hell, Kiera. That means you’re telekinetic…but even stronger than just moving objects with your mind. You potentially undid a spell, which takes a ridiculously intense burst of energy.”
Kiera ran a shaky hand through her hair. “Good Lord.”
“How about memory manipulation?”
“No.”
Coco continued down the list. “Mental manipulation…that’s a yes, because I felt it earlier. Ditto for pain inducement.”
“What?”
“I had no choice but to come to you. Trust me. I tried to ignore your call, and the second I did, it felt like an invisible hand twisted a knot inside my stomach, then came up my throat and grabbed me around the neck, wrenching me toward the fortress. It was awful.”
“Gosh. I had no idea. I am so sorry.”
She shrugged. “The pain only subsided after I changed course and started flying in this direction.” She looked down at her notes again. “What about psychic navigation?”
“Sorry, what?”
“Searching for and finding a particular thought in another person’s mind.”
“Is that even possible?”
“It could be, for you, along with psychic blocking. You must have done some psychic blocking, if the Chancellor does not yet realize what’s going on between you and Xander. If he knew you are no longer a virgin, or if it were to become public knowledge, he would have already announced a new Chosen.” She closed her notebook and set it down beside her. “You and I would end up with our heads on the chopping block.”
“No doubt.”
“You know what I think?”
“What?”
“You will only get stronger. Five days is not a lot of time. We need to prepare.”
“We are destined for death, Coco, aren’t we?”
Coco shook her head. “I do believe we have a brand new weapon against the destroyers.”
“Which is?”
“You.”
14
Kiera
The Chancellor was trying to get in Kiera’s head, but with her new abilities, the man got nowhere. She blocked him out completely at first, but with Coco’s help, was able to annex one tiny corner of her mind, where she only revealed the preparation spells he would expect her to be working on. She also let Minassus see the faces of the men who were scheduled to be included in this year’s transformation. That way, he would continue to believe that the ceremony, and their futures, weighed on her.
She and Coco acted surprised when the Chancellor entered the conjuring room where they had been working. Kiera had known he was on his way the very second he had willed himself to get up from this chair in his private study.
“Kiera? May I have a word with you?” the Chancellor asked from the door of the dim room. “Alone?”
“Certainly, your Eminence.” She motioned to Coco, who left quickly. “Is there anything I can help you with?” she asked, already aware of the man’s answer.
“No. There are a few things you and I need to discuss.” He entered and took a seat on the maple-colored wooden bench where the younger students sometimes observed the most experienced witches cast new spells or combine various potions. Probably to keep his distance from the waist-high table where she worked.
Kiera kept her expression neutral as she waited.
“I sense you have concerns about performing the spell.”
Kiera could tell he was lying, but tilted her head in feigned confusion. “Concerns? I supposed it is natural for me to feel apprehensive and somewhat anxious, given the stakes.”
“Don’t play games with me, Kiera.” The flames in the fireplace flared as though kindling was thrown on them. That telekinesis was the Chancellor’s handiwork, not Kiera’s. “You have changed. You are stronger.”
“I