Page 88 of Omega Sanctuary

Why on earth would someone be directing magic away from abandoned ruins? I popped back into the spirit world, another heavy wince, and followed the line of magic the temple made.

It took a while, but it pointed me to the Shrine of Cleansing Rains.

I stopped moving. Someone was redirecting magic, however far away, from the Shrine.

I didn't know what for, but it couldn't mean anything good.

After a few training sessions, I was getting used to Nikki being around. I focused on meditation, and he stayed at the round table, reading or drawing. Aalina was nearby, but after the third day she didn't bother sitting with us.

Sex with Kivai didn't touch the desire I felt around Nikki, and I supposed it wouldn't. I didn't know why I wanted to wrap my legs around Nikki until he was knot deep inside me, only that I wanted him.

In addition to my regular duties, Priestess Aalina wanted me to travel. She said it would be good for me to see other temples, but it felt like an excuse to teach me history.

Aalina arranged a large group of omegas to visit the surrounding temples, along with some other priestesses and some of the Royal Guard.

It was too many people. I felt like we had a giant bullseye painted on our backs.

If Priestess Aalina knew omegas were going missing, surely she wouldn't have agreed to the field trip. But I didn't ask, and now I was regretting that choice.

We traveled in horse drawn coaches much like when we attended galas, only this time we were going to a small temple to the north, tucked away into a cliff. It was a small but well-tended temple and boasted a giant library in an elaborate cavern.

Prince Nikolaidis came with us, as well as a few other nobles. Naomi had caught the eye of the Duke of Cypress, so she traveled in his carriage along with some of her friends. Nikki traveled in our carriage, mostly because of me, I suspected, to make sure I didn't accidentally release magic and destroy the outing.

I'd known Nikki was handsome, but watching the other omegas tease and flirt with him put my teeth on edge. At least he didn't appear to enjoy the attention, just answered their questions with sullen answers.

The Duke of Melotis had weaseled his way into an invitation, and he stayed near Nova's side the entire time. I tried to run interference, but there was only so much I could do.

We arrived at our destination after the longest carriage ride known to mankind. Naomi pretended to trip in Nikki's direction. He grabbed her arm roughly and shoved her upright.

I hid my smirk.

"Welcome to the Temple of Olmas," a short, squat priestess said. Her face was pretty and the sort of age that didn't give us any clue as to how old she was. "I am Priestess Ridgeway. You are welcome to peruse the museum we have set up. If you'll follow me."

We traipsed inside. I stayed near Nikki and enjoyed the vacation from body aches. Nova stayed near me, so we wound up traveling in a large group.

Priestess Ridgeway gestured in a large entry room, showing off shelves of antiques. There were small boxes like the anastatis, but also wands, cups, bowls, and thick tomes.

"Here you will see we have many relics from the civilization of the Ancients."

She held up the wand. "Who knows what this is?"

Blank stares. Nikki crossed his arms, looking bored at the back and muttered, "Priestess Avahvia's wand."

Shai sighed, her "I have to do everything myself" sigh. It was usually directed at me in dance class. "Priestess Avahvia's wand. It's a prototype of the wand they used to draw energy away from people. It's how the first Shrines were built."

I perked up at the mention of Shrines. Didn't Kivai say something was wrong with one of them?

"How many Shrines are there?" I asked.

"Twelve." Ridgeway smiled at me.

Naomi looked at me, whispered something to her would-be alpha Cypress, and giggled. I looked at her and stuck my tongue out.

The teenagers in etiquette class were rubbing off on me. I wished I could have gone with them, and not Naomi.

Priestess Ridgeway had moved on to other relics. She gestured at a cup. "The Ancients built the Shrines to better control the flow of magic over the land."

Nikki snorted softly. I shot him a quizzical look, but he shook his head at me.

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