Page 97 of Bitten Shifter

I drop it onto the desk, poking it away from me.

“Precisely. You must not have that horrid thing near you; it will do more harm than good,” Mary exclaims, her voice edged with indignation. “So we will do better—no,you willdo better. Your magic isn’t limited to technology. You are powerful enough to fix these things yourself. Honestly, I hate to put someone out of a job, but if they are making rubbish like this, they deserveit. It’s shameful. Our educational system should be producing better mages.”

She pauses, her gaze sharpening thoughtfully. “Unless, of course, the Councilwantsthe shifters to have subpar magical tools. If that’s the case, Landon will have a very stern conversation with them.”

Her words strike a chord. My thoughts wander to Alice and her sensory band—the one that failed her when she needed it most. It never stopped her from shifting; it didn’t protect her. Maybe it even hindered her.

A wave of sadness tightens my chest, making me lower my head. How many young shifters like Alice might have lived if these bands had been better? If the enchantments had been stronger?

Mary’s earlier comment resonates in my mind: “You are powerful enough to fix them.”

If that’s not worth doing, an important calling, I don’t know what is. Alice may be gone, but maybe I can stop others from suffering the same fate.

Chapter Forty-Two

“Mary,”I say, lifting my gaze to meet hers. Determination sparks in my chest as I hold up the band. “Will you really show me how to make these? Something that actually works?”

Her features soften, understanding flickering in her kind eyes, and she nods. “Absolutely, my dear. It will be my pleasure to teach you. Together, we will create something far better than this mess.”

“Thank you.”

Mary smiles warmly and nods towards the necklace Merrick gave me. “Now, that’s a beautiful piece of work.”

I shift my focus to the necklace; Mary is right. It’s nothing like the band. The warding magic is intricate, layered with a precision that radiates protection and care. I can feel its strength through my fingertips.

“It’s beautiful,” I say, awe filling my voice. “Merrick gave it to me.”

“The Alpha Prime must truly love you,” Mary says with a knowing smile. “With your magic balanced and that awful band gone, let’s concentrate on your shifter magic and fix your sensory issues. You can’t craft effective magic bands if you are not fully in control of yourself. Close your eyes.”

I obey, letting my eyelids fall shut as I focus inward.

“Good. Now, tell me—how does your shifter magic feel now?”

“It’s not so wild anymore,” I reply, my voice distant. I sense the still-boxed energy inside me. “It’s calmer.”

“Excellent. You are already maintaining control. Remember, shifter magic can be powerful and unpredictable, but it does not have to be chaotic. I’d like you to pull a thread of that magic and direct it towards your ears.”

My ears?

Though hesitant, I concentrate, imagining a strand of magic moving to them. Suddenly, my hearing sharpens, overriding Mary’s boundary spell. “I can hear faint conversations far away,” I say in amazement.

“Perfect. Now pull it back.”

I focus once more, and the enhanced hearing fades, returning to normal.

“Well done. Now let’s try your sight.” Mary gestures at a bookshelf on the other side of the room. “Can you read the spines from here?”

I squint, but the letters remain blurred. “No.”

“All right. Push the magic to your eyes.”

I draw on that magic again, directing it to my vision. Instantly, the book spines come into sharp focus. I can even make out the smallest lettering, and beyond that, the wood’s grain, the texture of the stone walls, and faint silver filaments—tiny inscriptions carved into the stone.

“I can see them,” I say, wonder thick in my voice.

“Brilliant. Pull it back now.”

I let the magic recede, my sight returning to its usual range.

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