“I’ve had six months of being the one to stay behind while others go off and fight. I don’t know if I can stand another day of it. If I never see a desk again, it’ll be too soon. Strength isn’t just about how much magic you have or how hard you can hit. So stop throwing that shit around like you’re not good enough. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known besides Kai.”
I curled into a ball, at once warmed by his words and hating them. “It’s not easy,” I said.
He held me tighter. “I know. That’s what makes it so incredible. Charles and I would be a million miles away by now. I keep thinking I’ll fall asleep and you’ll be gone.”
I nuzzled into his chest. “I’m never leaving you.”
“Damn straight.”
I looked at my hands. “I wish there was something I could do. But I’m human. Not touched by a seraphim or anything else. I don’t have the strength to do what she asked. Even if I gave up my soul–”
He growled at me for real this time. The nip on my earlobe was unexpected, making me jerk upright. “Hey!”
He fixed me with that alpha stare. “On what planet do you convince yourself that Lex would ever want you to throw away your life?”
“But she said–”
“I don’t care what she said! She loves you more than anything. Sometimes I even hate her, because in a choice between us, I’m not so sure you’d pick me. She would never in a million years ask you to risk your life like that. So stop acting like dying is the only thing you’re capable of doing.”
“That’s all the alchemy is good for.”
Blood and death. They went hand in hand. At least in my ancestry. I fisted my hands together, feeling nauseated at the thought of my great-grandfather promising my soul to Apollyon in exchange for power.
Max grunted in repudiation. “Really? Because you’ve transmuted a malachim’s essence, created a substitute for supernatural healing, and put the broken pieces of the Reserve back together.”
I swallowed. Now that he’d brought it up, I wanted to broach the subject. “Since we’re talking about transmuting malachim essences...”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “You want to try it on Professor McKenna.”
“Yes, please.”
“Why are you asking me?”
I scratched at my wrist. “Because if something goes wrong, I might need you to pull me out.”
“And what if I say no.”
I pursed my lips. “Are you going to say no?”
“As if I have a bloody choice!”
“Are you saying no, Max?”
He got to his feet, lifting me up at the same time. “I suspect that I’m not going to be able to say no very often anymore.” He tugged me inside. “Come and make it worth my while.”
I hadn’t counted on there being such an audience when I attempted to free Professor McKenna. My disconcerted look was only second to the irritation that marred Max’s face. Jacqueline raised her brow at us from the door of the private infirmary room.
“What did you expect?” she asked. Behind her, pretty much all of the faculty, the heads of the elite guard factions, and the Council were jostling with each other to get a peek.
It wasn’t long before Max’s temper exploded. “Out!” he shouted at everybody. Jacqueline and Professor Mortimer squeezed into the room which was already half filled with shifters. Durin was doing his best to be unobtrusive in the corner, a difficult feat when he took up half the room.
Max shut the door in their faces and then stood leaning against it. His scowl was going to become permanent if things kept up. “The whole point was to keep this quiet!” he snarled at Jacqueline.
She shrugged. “I only told Bruce.”
Professor Mortimer rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh, well I only told Peter. And he of course told Thalia.”
“Of course,” Max said.
Jacqueline gave him a quizzical look. “Didn’t you tell Durin?”
“I had to! He’s my alpha!”
“Alright!” I said, rubbing my temple. “Let’s just say that you’re all terrible at keeping things quiet.”
“What did I do?” Yolanda muttered. “I didn’t tell anyone.”
Max huffed at her, but she only smirked. I rubbed my damp palms on my jeans. It was all well and good to suggest doing this, but now that I was faced with the reality of it, I wasn’t sure what I was doing exactly.
There was a very polite knock on the door. Max’s eyes turned to gold instantly. He stuck his head out and there was a build-up of a growl but then Professor Suleiman’s very calm voice was heard.
“Actually,” I said, “can you please let him in?”
“There’s no room!” Durin complained.
“You’re very welcome to leave.”
He grunted. “One day soon we’re going to need to have a conversation about who is alpha here.”
I ignored him as Professor Suleiman squeezed himself into the very tight gap Max opened in the door. When he shut it again, there were too many supernaturals watching me expectantly.
“Stop gawking at her!” Max snapped. “I’m this close to kicking you all out.”
Sinking into myself, I sent soothing calm down the mating link. He narrowed his eyes at me, but the lion was always receptive to my touch. The gold in his eyes receded. I didn’t blame him for being on edge. Last time I’d done this, it had almost killed me. I went mute at the very thought of him being hurt. I couldn’t hold it against him for being agitated now.
“How dangerous is this?” Professor Suleiman asked. He stood at the base of the bed beside Professor Mortimer.
“I’m not sure.” I scratched at my nose. “Last time I did it, I had Lex’s blood to amplify my strength.” There was only one vial of Lex’s blood left. I didn’t want
