Page 51 of Omega Sanctuary

I put my face against his chest.

"If you want, I can stay with you in the Sanctuary."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I didn't want to be this emotional, but now that I'd felt him with me, I couldn't lose him. I didn't know him that well, but I trusted him.

"You won't get in trouble with the other guardians?"

"My duty is to the omegas." Valens gave me a small squeeze, and the pressure was reassuring, like he was solidly there.

I forced myself to look up at him. "You love being a guardian."

"I can stay with you." His eyes looked so blue, deep pools of water. "If you want me to."

"Yes." It was selfish. But I needed him. "Maybe after I'm done, we can travel together."

He raised an eyebrow. "When you're done, you could be an adviser to a king."

I wrinkled my nose and he laughed. "I would rather travel the kingdom with you."

"Once you're bonded and your magic comes in, it will be easier for you to plan your future."

I bit my lip. "About that."

He cocked his head, but didn't say anything. He looked at me like what I was about to say was the most important thing in the entire world.

Maybe that's how he'd already carved space for himself in my heart. Valens knew how to listen with his entire attention.

"My magic has sort of already come in."

He waited for me to keep talking. I let out a breath. And told him the same story I'd told Nova.

It didn't get any easier.

By the end, Valens frowned and sat down at the table. He pulled me into his lap, but kept looking out the window. Hashir's townhouse was in a wealthy district, so our view was a beautiful park across the street.

Valens let out a great sigh. "What can I do?"

"You're not upset I didn't tell you sooner?"

Valens shook his head. "I've been transporting omegas for years, Zara. If something happened I would have negated it."

I rubbed my hands on his chest. His calm capability was making me hot again. "With your guardian magic."

"Yes." He looked at me. "You trust this spirit guide? Kivai?"

I nodded. "He was right. And he's been helping me keep it in check."

"The Sanctuary will have a teacher for you, but it's not going to be easy." He looked at me with a frown. "It's a hard road to travel, spirit magic. I wished it was something easier."

I shrugged. "I'm more upset Priestess Sabine pretended like it was all in my head until I forced her."

"She's not very powerful," Valens said.

I stared at him. "I always assumed..."

He shook his head. "She's a good Priestess but she doesn't have much personal power. Which is fine, you don't need a lot of magic to be an effective omega. But it makes it harder to detect more subtle magic."

"If spirit magic is rare and powerful, you would think it was easier to detect."

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