Page 90 of Omega Sanctuary

"I am," I said slowly. "So are you."

She grinned again, and it was all teeth. "I am. Why not come with me? You must have realized by now the Sanctuary doesn't have all the answers."

"That's for sure." It was the truth, but I didn't like the look in her eyes. "What's your name?"

She smirked at me. "So innocent. Haven't even had your first heat, have you?"

"How did you know?"

"When you get better at your spirit magic, you'll be able to tell a lot of things." She stepped closer. "Like who has a spirit protector and who doesn't."

"Protector?" My mind was blank with panic. "Why do people always talk to me like I know everything? I mean the assumption is flattering but—"

"Don't play dumb." Her voice was sharp as razors. "Tell me how you summoned it, and I can make all your dreams come true."

"And if she doesn't?" Nikki stood in the doorway, blocking the exit. "You'll what, give her nightmares?"

The omega smirked at him. "Hello. She has no bonded alphas, so you're not hers."

There was shock on Nikki's face at that, and the woman laughed. "It's shocking the Sanctuary has lasted this long."

"You don't belong here," Nikki said with a growl.

"Tell me who your spirit protector is, and I'll leave." She held her hands up. "Honest."

"What are you even—"

She lashed out quick as a snake. I flinched, throwing up my hands up like a shield, at the same time Nikki ducked between the two of us shoulder first. He whirled in the tight space like it was nothing, and the woman's magic exploded.

It turned to lights, harmlessly sparkling around us. Nikki's momentum carried him to me, and he whirled in front of me, grabbing for the woman.

She hissed and jumped back. "You! Of all the places for the Void Prince to be, you're in this grubby little temple." She shot me a dirty look. "You must have some serious energy for a spirit protector and the Void Prince to be at your side."

Nikki whipped out with a curved hook, but the woman clapped her hands together and released magic. A tsumani of power hit us. Nikki grabbed me, and dragged us to the ground. He created a shield, and as the power struck us, it washed up and over us into the wall.

I expected the ceiling to cave in around us, but the power dissipated.

I stayed crouched, my heart pounding in my chest. I had my hands outstretch and around Nikki in a second, like we were hugging, and readied myself for the woman's next attack.

She was gone.

Nikki looked over his shoulder. "Figures she would use that as her escape."

His face was next to mine, and all rational thought left me. He shimmered with energy that licked around me, like a watchful predator making sure I was okay.

He looked at me, and the moment charged. His amber eyes almost glowed, and heat raced at every point of contact: my chest pressed against his, my knee against his leg. I pressed my legs together to get some pressure in my core as everything pulsed inside me.

"Zara!" Aalina's sharp voice carried over the corridors.

Nikki sat up quickly and took two big steps away. "Here."

I was so close to finally getting Nikki's hands on me, and Aalina had to go ruin it. Stupid emergency.

Aalina came into the room, holding a thin metal wand. "Are you alright?"

I nodded at Nikki. "Apparently he's good for more than just dispelling energy."

He shot me a look. "Thanks."

---