Page 27 of Omega Sanctuary

Instant pain shot through her, sharp enough that I felt it like my own. She shook her head. "They're dead."

"I'm so sorry." I should have realized, seen the signs.

"We were stationed along the border."

Nova didn't move away but her energy receded. I didn't blame her. I threw myself into baking when my parents died, didn't want to even look at another person.

I grew tired of people telling me the gods had plans for me.

"Sounds like a plan," I said. "Besides, there's some good foraging in the area."

Nova nodded but picked up the blanket she was crocheting.

I fell silent, picking up my own horrid attempt at a shawl, and slowly the afternoon faded into evening again.

We avoided towns until we couldn't anymore. My supplies were nearly gone, and judging by Valens's shrinking pack, so was what Valens had packed.

One morning he didn't hitch up the horses right away. Instead, he paced the small copse of trees we slept under the previous night.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Renner is about a morning's journey to the south. Can't put it off any longer."

"But you don't want to bring us into town."

He grunted, so I took that as a no.

He paced the clearing again. "The land here is good. Receptive. I'm going to put up a barrier, leave you girls here."

"That's fine," I said. "Will you bring me more salt and flour?"

"We'll stay here." Nova pulled a thick blanket off the cart and set up a sitting area.

I wanted to go into the market myself, and touch the grains, but it wasn't going to happened judging from Valens's face.

"Anything else?" He grabbed the brown horse and started saddled him up.

I wanted more spices, but I didn't want to push my luck, so I just shook my head.

He walked a circle around us, muttering and magic rose up around us like a warm blanket.

"I'll be back soon," he said, pausing. "You're invisible to almost all but the most powerful mages."

"We'll be fine," Nova said.

Valens didn't look pleased. He took off at a gallop.

The morning was nice. Butterflies flitted around, and there was a stream nearby.

I looked at Nova. "It's rude to ask in earshot, so now that he's gone."

Nova laughed, surprised. "What?"

"What do guardians do? If it's so dangerous without an alpha around why didn't they get an alpha?"

Nova cocked her head. "Did Sabine not explain this?"

"She didn't explain much." I made a face. "We had...there was...complications." I shook my head.

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