Page 127 of Omega Sanctuary

"They're bringing a group of untrained omegas away from the Sanctuary? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

I grinned. "It's along the Royal Road. One of the biggest regiments of the Royal Army is stationed nearby."

Nikki wrinkled his nose. "I better come, just to be sure."

"Okay." I bit my lip. "I was going to ask you to come anyway. I already asked Rayth and Asano."

Nikki's skin turned red, and he let out a breath. "Then you'll be perfectly fine, and I'll stay here."

Some of the joy deflated. "Okay."

"Don't want to ruin your date with your unavailable alpha and omega."

I crossed my arms over my chest, swallowing the hurt. "Right, and you always do exactly what you're told."

"Yes," he snapped. "That's generally how being an adult works."

"And you're so happy with your life right now."

"Yes," he snapped. "I travel the world, bring glory to the Ember Islands, and one day I'll take the Fire Throne."

"Sounds like everyone else had your life planned for you," I said.

"Look who's talking. They'll probably move you to a Shrine soon for training, and then your little outings with someone else's pack will come to an end."

My chest squeezed at the thought. I couldn't stop myself from making a little gasp.

Nikki frowned, but softened his tone. "Sorry. But it's true, Princess."

I looked out the window, tears stinging my eyes. It wasn't fair.

It was a childish thought. But still. After all the traveling, the stress and worry of not measuring up, it wasn't going to matter, because my fate wasn't my own anyway.

I was naive for thinking otherwise. Here at the Sanctuary I could pretend I had all the time in the world to train, to get to know Rayth and Asano, but that was an illusion too.

One that could burst any moment.

I didn't say anything else and went to class. I didn't bother with notes, or even paying attention.

It was all pointless. Futile. No matter how good I tried to be, pass their tests, Nikki was right.

They could decide what was best for me, just like they were trying to do now, and what else could I do?

The threat of losing control of my magic and hurting innocent people was enough to keep me in line.

Iwent through the motions with my training, and my utter detachment was helpful in a way. Nikki even told me I was doing a great job. I thanked him and went to my room.

I declined an invitation to have dinner with Rayth and Asano in town, and instead looked through old books on spirit magic. There might be some old techniques that could help, and there was even an omega who used her pack to help her direct magic.

Someone knocked on my door late in the evening. Probably one of the priestesses, here to lecture me for missing dinner.

It was Nikki instead, with a stack of books in his arms.

"I thought you would want these." He thrust them toward me.

"Thanks," I said, taking them. "I was reading Shaman Dellisk's memoirs."

Nikki shook his head and came into my small living room. "You want those accounts without the fifty-page detour into stone masonry, read this primer."

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