of ability that Professor Lightpaw had to refer to dusty tomes from the oldest sections of the university library to figure out what I needed to do to foster it, and she’d learned that the only way was by focusing all romantic energies into my readings. Honestly, the sacrifice had been a no-brainer. There was nothing I loved more than performing readings and diving deep into the spectral realm. It was such a beautiful, warm, and fluffy place for me, like the coziest, most comfortable bed. I had no illusions about my chances for romance to begin with, so I didn’t think I was giving much up.
Could I say the same thing now? Of course, I didn't regret it—my skills had gotten me everything I had. I'd hitchhiked across the country for a while, doing free readings and meeting people, and after graduation, I'd pretty easily gotten my agency up and running. I knew that many of my former classmates were having a tough time becoming professional agents, but I'd had no trouble at all. Moonstar was now one of the most popular independent psychic dating agencies in Mir.
But… now that I was a little older, a little more well-rounded, and slightly less awkward, sometimes I did wonder what it would be like to be with an alpha. I’d studied plenty of books on love—not to mention plenty of books on bedroom technique. I had to be well versed in the knowledge. I was curious about what it would be like to apply that knowledge rather than just dispense it as advice. I didn’t even know what sex felt like! All I had to go by was what was written in the books. And after so many years of helping people find their mates, seeing the expressions of happiness on their faces and the return visits from all the clients I’d successfully helped, I’d begun to wonder what I was missing out on.
And then there was Markos, rubbing at my crotch with a dishtowel.
My cheeks went hot at the thought of it, and my glasses slid down my nose. I cleared my throat, readjusted them, and tried to focus on something else. I had an appointment in a couple of hours, so I picked up organizing the front office from where I'd left off with Elise.
I hummed absently to myself and pulled down a polished lacquer box of edsel flowers from the herb catalog. I carefully removed the oldest flowers and ate them—too weak to use from readings, but I wasn't about to let them go to waste—and then returned the untouched ones to their place. I did the same with every box on the shelf, either eating the old edible herbs or burning the unpalatable ones in the incense brazier. This took me an hour to do, and afterward, I shifted into my wolf form to do some acrobatic meditation I’d learned from a wonderful book I’d picked up from a local flea market all about revitalizing energy channels through the replication of various animal poses.
Our wolf forms were the conduit connecting us to the natural world. A long, long time ago, before we could assume human form, animal forms had been our normal state. Shifting was the best way anyone could deeply connect with the spectral realm and one of the best ways to open our energy channels. Meditating in animal poses was a great technique for sharpening my abilities and ensuring I got the best read possible.
While in my wolf form, I balanced on my hind legs, steadied myself, and then slowly raised one hind paw into the air while tucking my front paws onto my chest. I closed my eyes and held this. Bird pose! I cleared my head and concentrated on connecting to the flowing river of golden energy that was the spectral realm.
Tingling warmth gathered in my chest and began to radiate outward through my body—the first sign that my channels were opening and the energy was flowing properly. My mind was a black void, and out of that darkness, I could see the gleaming flow slowly growing closer and closer as I ascended out of my physical body and to a different plane.
Then I was taken by surprise by something I didn’t expect—a hazy vision of a man slowly appeared in the darkness. It was the kind of thing that only ever happened when I was doing a reading for someone. All I was doing was meditating. I shouldn’t have been getting visions,