Page 59 of Unclaimed Bonds

Turning on the balls of his feet, he begins to walk back the way we came. “I would like to talk about what happened while you were meditating.”

Did you see it? The storm?

“No. I didn’t see anything, but I could hear it in your mind—the rain, the thunder, the whistling of the wind.”

No flashes of lightning?

“You saw flashes of lightning?”

I nod.Then I heard your voice, telling me to focus.

“I didn’t say anything out loud. You heard my voice?”

Yes, in my head.

“Have you ever experienced anything like this before?”

I start to shake my head but recall my fall from the rock wall.Well, actually, last night or early this morning. Don’t get mad, please, and don’t punish Liam. I wait until he gives me his full attention. He doesn’t make any promises.

I show him my memories on the wall.

Shock, rather than anger, registers on his face. “You pulled Liam up with your magic?” I nod. “Did Liam show you or tell you what he can do?”

I glance down. It’s a secret. I try to clear my mind.

“Jessica, I know. It’s okay. He’s not in trouble.”

I turn my face away, unsure of whether to reveal the truth, but I trust Anders.He showed me.

“Okay. Do you think you can keep your magic under control?”

I don’t know. I didn’t know I had any.

He nods. “Fair point. Do you still have the journal I gave you?”

Yes. I’ve been writing in it.

“Good. Keep track of anything else that occurs. We can work on control and building on your capabilities. It’s important we keep this to ourselves, except for Nathan and Shakti, of course. I want you always to be honest with them. Is it okay if I tell them?”

I hesitate.What if they don’t want me, once they find out?

“Trust me. That will not happen.” Anders guides me toward the mansion. Instead of using the front door, we enter through the back.

Tater greets us and fusses over me, placing a smoothie and my supplements in front of me at the table where I sit. She’s in charge of giving me my injections now. I thought I forgot them at the clinic. She places a small bowl of scrambled eggs in front of me.

I smile. I haven’t been able to eat real food. Her smoothies have real fruit in them, disguising the taste of the supplement I was given in the clinic.

“I think you’ll like my special diet a whole lot better than what they served you in the clinic. I’ll think up different things we can try until the doctor says we can introduce you to regular foods again.”

“Thank you,” I rasp. My voice is stronger today. I wonder if the meditation helped.

“Oh, and Alpha Agnus insisted that I cook all your meals with water from her territory. Don’t tell her, but I’m only going to useit in your smoothie.” She sets a glass of water next to me. “Of course, I’ll also make you drink it as plain water.”

Joe strides into the kitchen. “Good morning,” I croak out.

“Good morning, Princess. The Alpha King will join you shortly. The Luna Queen took the boys into the city for some school event. They look forward to seeing you later this afternoon.”

I smile.Were they worried I wasn’t here this morning?I ask through my mind-link.