“Fine, I’ll wait! Better be worth it.”
“Oh, it will. Trust me. And you won’t be the only one surprised.”
*
Noah walked into the gym and found Blue and Kalen in their usual spots, waiting for him at the far end. They’d been reserving the place to themselves for the same two-hour period every day and, like Nix, others were getting curious about what they were doing.
Oh, he knew his meager abilities were next to nothing compared to the Fae prince or the Sorcerer. Nor could they compare to his Pack shifter friends. But he was proud that he fit in with them somehow, no matter how small the degree. It gave him a feeling of connection, of belonging, that he’d never had growing up, or working in Atlanta.
“Ready, squirt?”
He knew Kalen didn’t mean anything by the nickname. There wasn’t a mean bone in the man’s body—unless you were threatening his friends or family. Then he had the power to destroy mankind.
“As I’ll ever be.”
The brothers put him through the paces, and when they were finished, Blue leaned against the bleachers and waved a hand at Noah. “We’ve taught you everything you need to know about how to tap the well of your power. It’s stronger than you think. Just keep practicing and give it a chance to grow.”
His throat closed with emotion. “Thanks, guys. You’ll never know how much this means to me.”
Kalen shared a look with Blue, then said, “Oh, we have a good idea. Trust us.”
He had nothing to say to that. “Thank you. I’ll keep practicing.”
“You must,” Blue said, suddenly serious. “I have a feeling your abilities are going to be more important than you ever dreamed.”
Noah shivered in spite of himself. He hated when these guys got all mystical and shit. “I’ll remember that.”
Blue’s words stuck in his mind, and he couldn’t forget them. Especially not coupled with Nick’s warning as well.
Still, he managed to savor the days with his mate. As Saturday approached, he grew more and more excited. He was sure that this was the day he’d prove himself worthy. Nix would see him as more of an equal.
And maybe he’d finally claim Noah as his Bondmate.
*
Power sizzled in the air over the Shoshone. Brand-new, unlike any of the others he’d been watching over the past few months. Nowhere close to his own abilities, but . . . malleable. Those wielded by perhaps a novice. He’d felt it a couple of times now, and his curiosity was piqued.
Jinn rose, gathering his cloak around him and walked to the windows of the old house. Staring out, he expanded his senses to pick up the direction from which this new energy was emitting.
It was as he suspected—the crackle of raw power was coming from the direction of the Alpha Pack’s compound. Their haven, the one they believed Jinn couldn’t breach. And he couldn’t—at least in physical form. That damned Sorcerer of theirs had the place too well warded.
But Jinn was every bit as accomplished as Kalen, the nemesis he’d almost killed once. Probably should’ve finished him off, but that was the nature of a dark genie, or trickster such as himself. Sometimes he did what profited him—and sometimes he simply did what amused him.
Leaving Kalen alive fell into the latter category. The man was a worthy adversary, and a rarity.
Closing his eyes, he let himself relax. Opened his mind and let his own energy wrap itself around the new thread and follow it over the miles to the source. Through the forest, past lakes and streams, all manner of wildlife. All the way to the compound and into the main building. Once there, the thread grew wide and bright, leading him to a large room the humans called a gym, and inside were Kalen, Sariel, and another male Jinn didn’t recognize.
“That’s it, Noah!” Kalen shouted. “You’ve got it!”
The young man, Noah, wasn’t entirely human. That much was clear, as he was the source of the power that he was apparently practicing to improve. Noah’s hands were in front of him, palms out, as he concentrated on levitating a barbell. A fairly heavy one, if the huge weights at either end were any indication.
The weight rose and when it reached several feet above their heads, Noah lowered his hands slowly. The barbell started down accordingly. At the last second it landed with a loud clank. Though Noah winced at the noise, his friends slapped him on the back and gave him one-armed hugs.
“That was most impressive,” Sariel said, smiling.
“You think so?” Noah bit his lip, looking uncertain. “I want Nix to be proud of me.”
“How could he not?” The Fae prince shook his head. “You’re going to knock your mate’s socks off, as you humans say.”
“Hey, I’m a Halfling, remember? You said so yourself.” Noah looked pleased about that fact.