said.
He nodded. “Only smaller injuries and cuts, and it doesn’t work on myself. It’s one of those selfless gifts.”
Which explained why I’d want Noble around if I got called in for a “meeting” with the alpha king. Did he torture students? Could he be any more evil? I shook my head, dislodging the disturbing thoughts. “Being selfless must be the pits.”
We burst into laughter, only to be shushed by a teacher standing at an open doorway to a glass-domed building.
“Prince Noble…” Her gaze dropped to our hooked arms, and her mouth popped open.
“Madam Sherky.” Noble dipped his head to the tall, lithe, Midnight woman.
As we entered the open double-doors, Noble leaned into me. “Sorry, Nai, gotta scram. Enjoy the show. I hope you have a cool affinity.”
I let go of him, whispering, “If I’m a water elemental with healing abilities, then I’ll help you when you get hurt. I can be selfless too.”
I was half kidding, but the tender expression that crossed his face made me think he was touched.
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You’re too good for this place.”
I stared at his retreating back, his words pinging around my head. My stance remained solid: Midnight Pack was a bunch of psycho backstabbers … except Noble. That boy was sweet as honey. Honor was decent too, but I didn’t know him well enough to call him a friend yet. He was quieter than Noble.
“Psst!” Kaja hissed.
As I scanned the room for her, my jaw dropped.
Holy mage shifter babies.
This room reminded me of a meadow, only inside. Verdant flora occupied much of the space with white creeping vines growing up the sides of the walls all the way to the glass dome ceiling. Glowing white hummingbirds dipped in and out of the space above our heads. Like a magical wedding venue.
I squeezed in next to Kaja and followed her gaze to a raised platform at the front of the room.
Wearing their swirly magical robes, five high mages stood there. Recognizing the one from the portal, I swallowed hard. He’d allowed me to enter, but his magic felt like an inquisition. His deep blue cloak identified him as the most powerful water elemental.
“That’s the high council?” I whispered, staring at the five men.
Rumor was they lived for a millennia before passing on to whatever upper realm of honor the high mages received—allegedly better than what shifters, vampires, or even the “regular” mages inherited. We lived over a century easily, so I wasn’t going to complain. Much.
One of the dudes had silvery-white hair like mine, except he was so wrinkled he might’ve had one foot out of this mortal realm already. The other four were younger, and their scary-as-hell eyes were probably lethal weapons.
Kaja nodded and dropped her voice so low I could barely hear: “My sister told me they possess all of the elemental affinities, but each of them is the master of one.”
I studied their colored silk cloaks. Orange for fire. Blue for water. Brown for earth. White for air.
But the old dude … he wore an iridescent silver robe. Was he like the king of them all? Or so old he was merely honorific? There were only four elements, so something was up with him.
“What about…” I pointed at the old mage. “…that guy? What’s his strongest element?”
Kaja shrugged. “I heard he can raise the dead.”
Raise the dead…?
Chills skittered over my skin, and I spun toward Kaja, my eyes wide.
“Are you serious?” I hissed.
Her expression gave no indication of humor, but I didn’t know her well enough to really have a read on her.
“Just do what they tell you, and you should be fine.”
“That’s not very reassuring,” I muttered.
My attention flitted past the five members of the High Mage Council to the armed soldiers standing behind each of them. Those guys were the epitome of badass—from their modern breastplate armor to the shiny and sharp weapons they carried. Killing machines. One for each. I was admiring their black tactical suits when my gaze fell on the high mage crest patch, and I gasped, realizing who the soldiers were.
“Are those their shields?” I stared at them with hero worship and tried to contain my excitement. Next to the alpha king, these wolf-shifters held the highest positions we could have.
Kaja nodded. “Pretty cool, huh? My second eldest sister is one.” My eyes landed on the fierce redheaded shield standing behind the old dude with her hand at the hilt of a blade.
So freaking cool. I wanted to call my dad