Page 43 of Shrine of Fire

Stefan shrugged. “You can. We could also try to buy time and possibly leave without making a commitment either way.”

Kalahar flipped through the book in front of him, which depicted brightly colored pictures of a jungle oases and giant waterfall.

“There are no oases in Fairuin, but there is a Shrine, in the highlands,” I said. “Perhaps we could be invited to see it, and I can claim my magic isn’t compatible with the Chief’s son.”

“A good reason,” Aki said, his peppery musk scent wafting over me as he circled the couch. It blended with Stefan’s lemon, Hashir’s spice, and Kalahar’s campfire scent and I took in a deep, calming breath. “Also, that gives us a good excuse to see if there are any new omegas or shaman.”

“We’ll discuss it before doing anything rash, but these are decent options.” I sighed, flipping the scarf around and starting another row. I didn’t love the idea of leading some poor beta on because we had a spirit to deal with, but I didn’t see another choice.

Hella Mora had to be imprisoned. If what I’d felt in the spirit world, when she was at half her power, was an indication of the devastation to come, I didn’t want to imagine her at her full strength.

Hashir sensed my mood and shifted the conversation back to sailing around the world. I leaned against him, grateful for his help.

Really, for all of them. These men had all already played an important part in helping me, not only in fighting against a spirit of grief, but in dealing with my own sorrow. I’d never expected to feel the quiet peace that came from being surrounded by men that cared about me while I crocheted and discussed problems, but the gentle serenity filled me.

The fire burned low. It was long past bedtime, but I couldn’t get used to the roll of the ship, not even after weeks.

We would make land tomorrow, arriving on the shores of Fairuin, in the coastal town of Falende.

Most of my assignments had taken me south or to the western continent. This one was much closer to what I thought of as home. Since there was no way to ensure Nova’s safety in a den full of strangers, I would have to stay by her side.

Stefan was proving to be better at politics than even Hashir, which was good since I was terrible at it.

I’d hidden myself away in the Order of the Silver Lion, content to live the rest of my days in solitude.

And then Nova had arrived, her flame calling me to her, like a moth drawn too close.

I was too broken to allow myself anything like love, and Nova had her own sorrows. I wouldn’t do anything to further fracture her already broken heart. I knew that if I pursued my feelings for her, I would do nothing but make her hurt.

I shifted my weight on the couch, as I continued to sharpen my weapons, bringing the oilcloth across a small knife. Sleep had deserted me this night, so I would make my time useful.

Hashir could joke about one bed all he wanted, but I could barely tolerate the claustrophobia of being in bed half a night with him and Nova. Adding in Stefan and Kalahar was a no go. I knew Nova was disappointed, in the way her eyes tracked me across the room, but it was another reason why being with her was a terrible idea.

If I’d had any sense left, I would have gone back to the Order of the Silver Lion and sent another delta in my place. She needed a delta around, both to deal with her empty pack bonds and the spirit magic rising around us.

My sad excuse for a ward had barely helped, but at least it was something.

But the thought of sending any of my other brothers to her side was impossible. I knew how to protect her body, if not her heart.

The door to the bedroom opened, and Kalahar slipped out. He paused when he saw me then continued.

I continued to work on the blade while I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he sat on the couch. He opened the books on spirit magic again, as if there were new answers he had yet to find.

The phoenix spirit still looked human, but he wouldn’t pass as mortal if any delta saw him. I could only hope we wouldn’t encounter one in Fairuin, or we would have some explanations.

Wrapped around his body was a living flame, like the magic inside Nova. I wondered how boring it would be, to not see spirit magic that filtered through the world. Now that the Shrines had allowed more magic into the world, it was like a brand-new layer had been added, a dimension previously unknown.

“Does my presence bother you, guardian?” Kalahar looked at me.

“No.”

In the past, deltas were used as protectors against spirits, aiding shaman in their work as conduits to the world. We could do certain wards to protect omegas and shaman alike from ambient spirit magic, or at least create a protection against too much magic.

Maybe deltas were so uncommon because the world had moved on from those times. But maybe that meant that now, with more omegas born with spirit magic and shaman to guide their path, there would be more deltas in the future.

I studied the phoenix. Flaming wings rose from his back, and around his stomach was a pulsing red wound.

“You’re still injured.”

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