Page 73 of Omega Sanctuary

"You need alpha energy," Shai said and bit her lip. "Is there anyone?"

I thought about Valens and Kivai. Neither were available, nor were they alphas.

I shook my head.

"Okay." Shai's tone was businesslike. "It's not going to be fun, but the steam baths are a good way to go. We'll have you hydrate with broth, and there's a few potions to take the edge off."

"I don't understand," I said, my teeth still chattering. My lips and tongue felt too big for my mouth. "Training was supposed to help."

"You were training with pure magic," Nova said. "Since you're unbounded, you have no buffer."

Shai sighed. "Alpha energy would make most of this go away, but we can manage without it."

Shai wasn't kidding. I spent the day in the steam baths and then retreated to my room.

Aalina came to my room the next day looking amused. "How's the patient holding up?"

"I feel like death." I was hot and then cold and then hot again. I considered getting into a hot bath again, but I wanted my skin to dry out.

Aalina sat down in the chair next to the bed and handed me a bottle. "I've selected a new training location. One further away from the Sanctuary.

I took the bottle and drank it in one gulp. It was like muddy swamp water, but the effects came right away.

The burrowing pain in my joints, in my neck, even my hair, receded. Not completely, but it improved enough that I could take a full breath without pain.

"What did you do, there at the end?" Aalina watched me. "I felt the recoil of magic getting ready to release. You really might have leveled the Sanctuary."

I looked at her. I still didn't want to talk about Kivai, but maybe a part of the truth. "I saw spirits, absorbing the energy. Sometimes I see a little mouse or a raven."

Aalina nodded, pacified. "There's a gala coming up. I can tell Deja you're not up to it, but I suggest you go."

I made a face. "Isn't that where we present ourselves to the powerful alphas in the area like some sort of blood sacrifice?"

"Exactly that." Aalina snorted. "But you need an alpha bond sooner rather than later, so you best start looking."

I sighed.

Aalina laughed. "You're not going to settle, I’m not worried about you picking an alpha who can’t handle your magic. Might even consider more than one alpha."

I swallowed some more tea. "I already have a guardian."

"Oh? And where is he?"

I looked at her for a minute. "He's tying up loose ends."

"Well then. Hopefully he finishes swiftly."

I hoped so, too.

I could probably trust Sister Aalina with what Valens was really doing, but I also expected the Sanctuary to have all the answers. Who knew how the Sanctuary would react to me knowing about the missing omegas.

Better to keep it to myself, until I could figure out a better option.

"Alright then. Attend your classes and take it easy. You'll be well enough for the gala. Let me know if this season's crop of alphas are anything worth leaving the temple for."

I laughed. "Sure. I just assumed you had..."

Aalina waved her hand. "Oh, I have three alphas, each more stubborn than the last. But a girl can never have too many."

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