was precious little. He'd never been around when we were younger, allowing Gregori to stay with me or Ushna. After puberty, when Gregori's potential became clear, Kassian promptly pulled Gregori into training for the Order. That's when Gregori's rebellion had started in earnest. I'd make sure to step in if it looked like Kassian was doing something to harm Gregori.
"Why not just kill you? Why take Ushna away?" Gregori asked.
"I haven't, to their knowledge, exhibited signs of the royal line. It could've been a fluke when Ushna listened to me while he was Lupe. Elder Koller believed Ushna viewed me as a mate and that's why he came away when I called. The easiest solution would be to take Ushna away. He's my anchor. With him gone, I'd fade and die."
Gregori took my hand in his. "Was your hold to this world so tenuous?"
"It was until a couple of months ago. By the time Caspian invaded my home, I was healed enough I'd have pursued if they took you and Ushna. I'm not as fragile as they perceive me to be." Ushna kissed the side of my neck. It was time for a change in topic. "What did you want to do with security?"
Gregori's face lit up with excitement. "The Magi have four disciplines; Earth, Air, Water, and Fire."
"Gregori," I said, "you're going to have to break this down because I don't know anything about magic. I never expected to be anything more than a warrior and it has been pointed out, repeatedly, I ignored all my other studies because of it."
"Okay." Gregori ran his hand through his lank hair. "As I said before, all Lycans have a natural affinity to Earth. That relationship is what makes it possible for us to manipulate certain elements of it. This also means the Magi have a natural ability for certain spells and enchantments that revolve around it.
"All Lycan Magi are strong in the Earth discipline, the First Control. The secondary disciplines are Air, Fire, and Water. They only have one secondary discipline each, and that discipline is weak and limited compared to the Earth discipline. Magi cannot work many secondary spells because they draw more energy, magic, from us than primary spells.
"I'm unique to the Magi because I can work all three secondary disciplines. I see and understand Auras, which is Air. I'm one of the better Healers, which is Water. I can work with Heat, which is Fire.
"I refuse to practice offensive magic. My choice has always caused me problems with some of the Magi." Gregori smiled and looked at his hands. "The thought of harming another makes my stomach roll. I'd be terrible in battle because I'd hesitate to strike someone. I'm good at defense, but I'd rather do something good with my magic."
Ushna took Gregori's hand. "Have you been pressured into hurting others with your magic?"
Gregori became very still. "There's a group within the Magi who have approached me several times over the last ten years or so. They've been progressively more aggressive the last two years. They're very powerful, and I've done everything I can to stay away from them, but it doesn't matter where I go. They always find me."
"Have you told your father?" I asked. I wasn't surprised Gregori would refuse to hurt someone. It wasn't in his character. What concerned me was Magi who did and they seemed to be recruiting.
"I did, and he took to me Elder Koller. The Elder is the one who arranged for me to come here to you. My father is influential within the Magi, but he cannot take on the Triad."
I may not know much but I did know the Triad was the three most powerful Magis.
"How did Caspian end up coming with you?" When I'd talked to Janus after Ushna went Lupe in Seattle, he'd told me he would send Gregori to help with Ushna. There was speculation as to whether Ushna would change again and if I would be able to successfully control him if he did. Janus had given us ninety days to make sure Ushna was safe enough to be in the human population. Our tribe had only two people and neither would leak Gregori's whereabouts to the Magi. It
"Why not just kill you? Why take Ushna away?" Gregori asked.
"I haven't, to their knowledge, exhibited signs of the royal line. It could've been a fluke when Ushna listened to me while he was Lupe. Elder Koller believed Ushna viewed me as a mate and that's why he came away when I called. The easiest solution would be to take Ushna away. He's my anchor. With him gone, I'd fade and die."
Gregori took my hand in his. "Was your hold to this world so tenuous?"
"It was until a couple of months ago. By the time Caspian invaded my home, I was healed enough I'd have pursued if they took you and Ushna. I'm not as fragile as they perceive me to be." Ushna kissed the side of my neck. It was time for a change in topic. "What did you want to do with security?"
Gregori's face lit up with excitement. "The Magi have four disciplines; Earth, Air, Water, and Fire."
"Gregori," I said, "you're going to have to break this down because I don't know anything about magic. I never expected to be anything more than a warrior and it has been pointed out, repeatedly, I ignored all my other studies because of it."
"Okay." Gregori ran his hand through his lank hair. "As I said before, all Lycans have a natural affinity to Earth. That relationship is what makes it possible for us to manipulate certain elements of it. This also means the Magi have a natural ability for certain spells and enchantments that revolve around it.
"All Lycan Magi are strong in the Earth discipline, the First Control. The secondary disciplines are Air, Fire, and Water. They only have one secondary discipline each, and that discipline is weak and limited compared to the Earth discipline. Magi cannot work many secondary spells because they draw more energy, magic, from us than primary spells.
"I'm unique to the Magi because I can work all three secondary disciplines. I see and understand Auras, which is Air. I'm one of the better Healers, which is Water. I can work with Heat, which is Fire.
"I refuse to practice offensive magic. My choice has always caused me problems with some of the Magi." Gregori smiled and looked at his hands. "The thought of harming another makes my stomach roll. I'd be terrible in battle because I'd hesitate to strike someone. I'm good at defense, but I'd rather do something good with my magic."
Ushna took Gregori's hand. "Have you been pressured into hurting others with your magic?"
Gregori became very still. "There's a group within the Magi who have approached me several times over the last ten years or so. They've been progressively more aggressive the last two years. They're very powerful, and I've done everything I can to stay away from them, but it doesn't matter where I go. They always find me."
"Have you told your father?" I asked. I wasn't surprised Gregori would refuse to hurt someone. It wasn't in his character. What concerned me was Magi who did and they seemed to be recruiting.
"I did, and he took to me Elder Koller. The Elder is the one who arranged for me to come here to you. My father is influential within the Magi, but he cannot take on the Triad."
I may not know much but I did know the Triad was the three most powerful Magis.
"How did Caspian end up coming with you?" When I'd talked to Janus after Ushna went Lupe in Seattle, he'd told me he would send Gregori to help with Ushna. There was speculation as to whether Ushna would change again and if I would be able to successfully control him if he did. Janus had given us ninety days to make sure Ushna was safe enough to be in the human population. Our tribe had only two people and neither would leak Gregori's whereabouts to the Magi. It
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