Page 59 of Forging Bonds: Part One

River’s confused frown deepens, “What? Why?”

“Your alpha,” Raiden starts, and River’s eyes widen as he realizes what has happened. His magic snaps back to him, and we all stand back up.

“What the fuck?” River asks. He looks at Reed, “My alpha command was so strong that it affected you?”

Reed nods, “Yeah, man. You’ve never been that strong before.”

River frowns slightly as he stands up with Neith still wrapped in his arms, and I chuckle quietly at the surprise and then heat that flashes through her eyes. He reluctantly puts her down, although he doesn’t let go of her, and tucks her under his arm, pulling her close.

“I have never been able to teleport before either, and that’s what was happening. I was involuntarily teleporting all over our property,” River starts to explain.

“Just within the barrier?” Raiden asks, and River nods, “Was it your magic, or was someone doing it to you?”

River shakes his head, “No, it was definitely my magic, but it was stronger than it ever has been.”

Raiden nods, “It would make sense that your magic kept you inside the barrier where you are safe even though it was bugging out.”

“All of your tails were exposed,” Ransom points out. “None of them were hidden, and you still had a few months on that enchantment before it ran out.”

River’s eyes widen, “Seriously?”

I nod, “Yeah, I noticed it too.”

“The magic was strong enough to burn through your enchantment?” River asks, worried.

Ransom nods, “Yeah, it would definitely appear that way. Were you only teleporting?”

River shakes his head, “No, all of my gifts were going crazy too and were stronger than they should have been. I had a couple of new ones as well.”

Raiden’s eyebrows are high as he asks, “Seriously?”

“Yeah, I could make it fucking snow, and I was moving with shadows at one point,” River explains.

We’re all silent as we try to absorb what he’s said.

“Are all of your gifts still stronger?” Doc asks curiously.

“I have no idea,” River replies.

“What about the teleportation and the snow and shadows? Do you think that you could still do that?” Doc asks again. “It may be that because the teleportation is a new gift, it’s behaving erratically. My teleportation behavedlike that when I first got it. It might be the strongest out of all of your newly gained gifts, so it’s overriding any of the others.”

“It would make sense. I mean, gaining a new gift could easily trigger your other ones to misbehave,” Raiden agrees.

River shrugs, “I really don’t know, and I’m a little hesitant to try it again in case I get stuck in a loop again.”

“We won’t let that happen,” I reply. “Neith calmed it, right?”

River looks down at Neith and nods, “Yeah, she did.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Neith says, exactly the right words and what River needs to hear. “We sort of need to know; I wouldn’t usually put any pressure on you, but with the Choosing coming up I don’t want you to be in danger because of something like this.”

“Shit yeah, you’re right,” River replies, “and actually, it’s probably better to jump straight back on the horse, so to speak, than freak myself out thinking about it and put it off for even longer.”

“That’s true,” Raiden agrees.

“If, for whatever reason, you start flitting and can’t stop. I can cast something that will contain you,” Ransom adds.

“And I’ll bear hug you again,” Neith grins.

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