Page 38 of Second Shooter

“Elite omegas are indigestible for their purposes. The magic doesn’t come out of me, and what I will part with is not good for them. It’s unusable for them. But their research and techniques on magic are very nice primers for my kind.”

Ymer asked, “How long were you there?”

“The closest estimate I have is five years.”

Ymer greyed. “You survived?”

“I stole grimoires and hid up trees. The trees have always been friendly to me. They concealed me from the searchers, and once I started knowing how to use the magic, I created my own little house in that space.”

Oren had a strangled note in his voice. “You lived there. You lived in the realm of dark mages.”

“Well, I was scarred up and carved up in my human form, so I knew what I was going back to when I exited. That was the first rule I read. You return to the point you entered if you were not using the realm for transit. I was going back to the Stronghold, and when I did, I did it with a bang.”

Ymer murmured, “You cracked the wards.”

“Yes. Keres followed and broke many of the prisoners out. I returned to the form I had left in, broken and bleeding, and I fought my way out and transported myself to a hospital near my home. My family moved us into the city the year after Keres was taken and fought her way out. Ruby had already started the barrier with her desire never to be hunted or see others hunted. The barrier flared with each addition of pain. My sisters grew up safe.”

Oren spoke, “How did you get out?”

Draven said, “She tore them apart. The chains they wrapped around her wrists became whips, and everywhere those whips touched, light Elite flesh parted. They were dead in eight minutes. She cried the whole way through, and then she screamed. The stone under my feet groaned and split. That is what slammed me through the walls of the Stronghold and put me on the floor of the women’s quarters. They got me to the treatment centre.”

She nodded. “And that is where you stayed.”

“Until you summoned me.”

There was a new voice. “And that is one of the fascinating aspects of this situation.”

A dark Elite with Keres and a slightly smaller male came in. “So, four omegas obtained in one mission?”

She looked at the man and put a face to the name now that she was moving through the thoughts left behind by the blood of the Elite. “Achilles, Dante, and Keres. Morning.”

The dark Elite were startled until Achilles got a look at her, and his eyes widened. “Oh, my. Would you consider posing for a battle Elite? I work with a gaming company, and I believe you fit their aesthetic.” He paused and smiled. “The omega you. Not the little beta you.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Which company?”

“Sityr games.”

Lyric laughed. “I am familiar with them. Lykon has made armour for their con costumes. His work is spectacular, and it will be very flattering. Sityr is insisting on unisex armour, but Yemeen is designing some of the other costumes. I think he is either exhausted or tired of working for weirdos by now.”

Win smiled. “Where did Lady Fen go?”

Iris smiled. “To get reinforcements.”

Lyric chuckled. “She took a hair and blood sample. I don’t even want to know why her driver had a kit.”

“Omegas are mysterious.” Win smiled.

Lyric grinned and blinked. “I will be right back.”

She left the room and returned with a black bag. “Alexi mentioned that you might want to have this with you.”

The moment the bag was in her hands, Win smiled. “Hello, baby.” She pulled out her camera and sighed as she checked the battery and the memory card space.

She lifted the camera and captured Draven, Atil, and Wellyn. “Other people I ask; you three don’t get a vote.”

The guys grinned, and each reached for her. She caught the scents of them when all three made contact and tried to fight the response.

Iris covered her mouth. “Oh, boy. I know that face.”

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