Page 54 of Second Shooter

“Well, I can make you an alpha or a delta. If I were you, I would pick delta. Just as tall and strong as an alpha but a better temperament and no knot.”

Alexi blinked. “You can do that?”

“Sure, I just have to do one teensy thing at the Stronghold. I should get that out of the way in a few weeks.”

“I don’t want anything from you.”

“I know, but if you want a physical upgrade, I can do it. Hell, I can even give you a beast, and Alita can ride you around.”

He stared at her. “You have that power?”

“Not yet. No. I will get it after my next visit to the Stronghold.”

“What?”

“Magic is magic. The dragons were strong enough to scatter and hold onto their power. Those who lost their energy surrendered it to the world until there were alphas strong enough to contain it again. That time is now. The huge wave of exceptional alphas is localized here because here is where the original gathering of the elves was. The Stronghold was the archive and study area. That is where magic was honed and developed.” She glanced at Wellyn. “It is also where it blew up in their faces.”

Wellyn smiled. “It did.”

Alexi paused and slowly raised his camera. “Sorry. Can’t help it.”

He took a picture of her and Wellyn.

Alexi smiled softly. “So, you kick ass, and then we have a date?”

“Yeah. Unless we bump into people while I am photographing a wedding in the meantime.”

He grinned. “Going to use the new camera?”

“Of course. And my second best one for my second shooter.” She smiled.

He blinked. “Second shooter?”

She mirrored herself and put her other self next to him. “Hello.”

He looked at her in surprise. She had used her beta form and was waving at him. “Are you okay?”

“What? How?”

“This is one of the things I learned to do. I am not really in two places at the same time. I have a portal under my feet and am moving rapidly between them. So, both are me, but I can shoot all parts of a wedding at the right time.”

He slowly grinned. “I did wonder how that worked.”

She extended her hand. “Just like that.”

He took her hand. Where she thought he would clasp it in a handshake, he lifted it to his lips. She blinked. “Um. Thanks? The reciprocation leaves my mindboggling.”

He grinned and placed a kiss on her palm. Both of her shivered, and Wellyn laughed.

When he let go of her hand, she bobbed a curtsy and returned to one body.

Alexi was smiling and a little smug. She looked at him and didn’t know what to say.

She cuddled up against Wellyn, and he obligingly wrapped his arms around her.

Alexi took a photo. “I thought she was tall, but now I see. She’s just right.”

Wellyn grinned. “She is.”

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