Page 29 of Omega Sanctuary

He passed Nova a bag, and inside was a ton of yarn in different colors.

"Ooo, thank you." She smiled. "You didn't have to. I know you want to travel light and all that."

He shrugged. "Plenty of room in the back."

We loaded the cart and headed back on the road.

Nova nudged me with her knee. "Were you always a baker?"

I shrugged. "Always, but when my parents died, I threw myself into it. Sabine was actually trying to get me to come to Penrith and apprentice under some hotshot baker before they figured out I was an omega."

"Now you can train under a hot shot baker all on your own." Nova smiled. "Some of the other omegas will think cooking is beneath you, but once they taste the food..."

"Thank you, but this is nothing. I used to spend hours making pastry dough."

"Pastry." Nova sighed. "Don't worry, you can display your skills when we get to the Sanctuary."

I wanted to ask what training as an omega would be like, but Nova was so happy. I assumed it had something to do with using the new magic bubbling up inside me, and probably boring etiquette lessons.

We spent the rest of the day talking about being girls. She'd grown up to the north of here, but had a similar childhood. Nova bullied me into learning a new crochet stitch after I made her promise me she would learn a quick bread, and the time passed.

We passed inns on occasion, but after that first day of us reassuring Valens we were fine sleeping outside, we didn't bother to stop.

I missed people, but the three of us traveling together would draw attention. I didn't know what terrible thing everyone was worried about, but I caught their sense of urgency.

I still didn't see any spirits, and took that as a sign that Kivai's magic had worked. My own energy was calmer, easier to manage than before.

The temperate changed, the air growing balmy. I pointed out plants growing by the side of the road to Nova.

Nova pointed at a pink flower. "That's beautiful."

I frowned. "I...I haven't seen those before. We must be getting far enough out of range that the vegetation is changing."

It was alarming. I was used to knowing what plants grew around me. Silly to feel betrayed by a flower, but still.

"It's Lover's Luck," Valens said. "Good for body aches, and pains."

I smiled at him, the bubble of warmth inside me expanding. "What about those trees?"

"A variation of sweet gum."

The afternoon passed, the air sweet and warm, until Valens frowned, and a shiver raced up my spine. The horses stopped. Sliding off the bench, he walked around the cart.

He walked around the area like he was hearing or sensing things we couldn't. It was a little bit scary, and very sexy. I watched him prowl the area like a hunter stalking prey. His face pulled into a thunderous frown, and I couldn't imagine anyone looking at him and deciding it was worth the trouble.

"Stay here." He put his hand on the cart and muttered a phrase. Magic leapt up at his touch, and the cart held the enchantment.

Valens paced into the woods until we couldn't see him anymore.

"I wonder what spooked him?" I looked around us. Maybe he could see spirits too.

Valens returned a few minutes later, from the opposite side of the forest than he entered in. He climbed back up on the cart and shook his head. "A large group moving further north."

Which meant we were going to start heading south.

That evening Valens stayed spooked. He was extra picky about where we camped, and moved the spot three times before he was satisfied.

"Are you hearing people or just following your instincts?" I asked as I set up the camp fire.

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