Page 37 of From the Edge

Keres asked softly, “How did you learn about the garden and the lock?”

“When Aspen was cursed, a few of them decided that an omega was just too hard to ignore. I was like a mini version of Aspen. They attacked me, and when they were busy high-fiving or whatever, I crawled and ran into the garden where they decided to engage in round two. They started screaming before they touched me again. When their buddies tried to come to the rescue, the screaming continued.”

She felt a warmth on her hand, and Keres’ hand was glowing near hers. “Oh, elves are smart.”

“Yes, we also know pain. Aspen was incapacitated. Who came for you?”

Rowan smiled. “You are very smart. A friend of mine named Alora. She’s differenty but mostly beta. Mostly. Lots of tattoos. Excellent friend. She made sure Aspen was stable and got me to an emergency room. Then she went to start the process to keep the shadow mages out. The power wore thin now, and then over the years, which is how they got Mell, but after that fiasco, I got the hang of putting up wards myself, with some direction.”

She snorted. “I am a slow learner, but the property feasted again that day.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yup. This time, I kept them from coming after Mell again. I made her a fortress in the woods and visited her often, but when she started indicating she was in heat, I had to let someone in. I picked him carefully, but when he split into two people, I freaked out a little, and that is when he started the feud. I am going to be angry at him for a very long time.”

“You had activated your ward on your skin.”

“Yup. Every attack landed, and my body screamed. He was confused by my scent because I had to use a lot of witch-based magic to keep Mell safe. Sex magic is better for wards. I smelled like strange alphas the first time his goblin was loose. After that, I copied the goblin scent, but he couldn’t detect himself in the mix, and he attacked me again.”

She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Today, he attacked the wards I set up to let Mell settle into herself. I still feel every impact moving through me, but the healer says he can help me out of my little ward lock.”

“I can, but you will have to stay still. You move around a lot for someone carrying that much pain.” He was outside the garden.

“It’s distracting. I also need to keep it on until tomorrow. When Aspen is free, there is going to be a power backlash, and I don’t want to take anyone else with me. It’s going to be bad.”

Keres paused. “You have said your power is trapped against your skin.”

“Yup.”

“So, you are going to be pulverized in the backlash.”

The healer said, “Which is why it would be a very stupid thing to leave that barrier in place.”

Rowan made a face. “I am an omega. We are famous for not being smart. It’s a lie, but it’s what we are known for.”

Keres said, “I am an omega.”

“Bully for you. I am the petite kind, you galloping horse.”

She felt outrage behind her. “Hey, Dante.”

Keres chuckled. “Spitting like an angry kitten.”

Rowan stuck her tongue out at the lady. “I hope your kid can’t colour coordinate their clothing.”

Keres looked down at her in astonishment and then let out peals of laughter. Rowan smiled and looked at the woman who wore all black next to her mate, who was also wearing all black.

“I can deal with it. It will make them easier to spot.”

Rowan chuckled. “Right. Take one sample of any plant while I supervise, and you can play with it all you like.”

Keres smiled. “The wild roses?”

“Of course. Would you like me to cut it?”

“Please. Your plants are a lot.”

Rowan chuckled and walked to the plant, whispering to it and asking for a sample that would be helpful to the pregnant elf.