by Donna Grant
“We’re going to return home,” Braith told the group.
Carac nodded. “Ravyn and I are, as well.”
“Shall we travel together, then?” Leoma asked.
Ravyn smiled. “It would give us some time to catch up.”
“Then it’s settled,” Braith said. “What of the rest of you?”
Lachlan looked down at Synne and smiled. “We’re returning to my clan now that things have been solved with the Coven.”
“I’ll be training Hunters,” Synne told Leoma and Ravyn.
Leoma nodded in approval. “Because there will always be evil witches.”
“With all three of you training others, there should be more Hunters than ever,” Carac said.
Braith’s gaze swung to Brom and Runa. “What of you two?”
“We’re going to Blackglade,” Runa said as she looked at Brom.
Brom smiled, lacing his fingers with hers. “Aye. Blackglade.”
“It’s good you’re returning with us,” Jarin said. “There’s a lot more to learn.”
Ravyn said, “Then this is where we part ways.”
Everyone said their good-byes. Once the six of them had set out, Brom faced Runa. “Do you still wish to see the loch?”
“I do,” she replied.
Armir drew in a deep breath. “We’ll go with you.”
“What of the old woman?” Runa asked.
Jarin glanced at the cottage. “I’ve not seen her since last night.”
“Who is she?” Helena asked.
Armir shrugged. “I’ve no idea, but she had a place and offered us shelter.”
“Interesting,” Brom said.
The five of them set out. The trek up the mountain was without incident. When they reached the place of the battle, there was no sign of the snow nymphs, though Brom had a feeling they were always around, watching. They didn’t stop, though Armir’s gaze lingered on the last place he had seen Malene.
It wasn’t until they were on the other side of the mountain and descending that they saw the first signs that there had been a battle. They moved around the body of a dead Gira. The farther down they went, the more nymphs they found. When they reached the loch, the sight was tough to take in.
“Water nymphs did this?” Helena asked in shock.
Brom had to agree. The Gira were ripped to shreds. He was thankful that Runa hadn’t been here with this happened, because he knew she would’ve probably been attacked, as well. That made him look warily at the water. “Should we be here?”
“We mean no harm,” Armir said.
Runa quirked a brow. “Perhaps, but I do have Gira blood.”
“I’m not sure this was about the Gira exactly,” Jarin said. “The water nymphs have had plenty of opportunities to take out the tree nymphs if they wished. Instead, they waited until now.”
Helena twisted her lips. “When the Coven was trying to take over.”
“But the Gira were no longer aligned with them,” Runa said. “And if it was about a bone, I’m the one who had the sword.”
Brom saw the still water begin to move as if something just below the surface came toward them. He wasn’t the only one who noticed. Soon, they all stood facing the water. But it wasn’t a water nymph who came out. It was Asrail.
She smiled when she saw Runa. “You survived.”
“I did,” Runa said and walked to her grandmother to embrace her.
Brom waited until they had stepped back before he asked, “What happened? Lachlan and Synne said the Gira were attacked.”
“They were,” Asrail said. “When my kind put me in the water to torture me, the nymphs spoke to me. They kept me alive. And they told me what they had planned. I wasn’t sure where I fit in, but I knew I had to get those I cared about out of the camp in case the water nymphs couldn’t tell who was friend or foe.”
Armir’s face was lined with concern. “But why the Gira?”
“Because the balance had been tipped. It needed to be set right again. And, unfortunately, that involved the cleansing of my kind.”
Runa shook her head. “You’re lucky to be alive. Synne thought you were coming with her and Lachlan.”
“I was, but I realized that my place was here. I fought alongside the water nymphs, and they offered me a place with them,” Asrail explained.
“But you’re a Gira,” Runa argued. “You should take over as queen again.”
Asrail smiled and shook her head. “I’ve had a long life. I’ve been queen and then lived many more years in solitude, hiding. Now, I just want to enjoy what time I have left. I don’t know how long I’ll remain with the water nymphs.”
“You deserve to be happy,” Brom said.
The Gira’s dark eyes slid to him.
“You were right,” he told her. “I did have to kill Runa, but it saved her.”
Asrail bowed her head to him. “Good luck to all of you. And, Runa, this won’t be the last time you see me.”
They watched as Asrail returned to the water and slipped beneath the surface. Brom faced Runa and waited until she met his gaze before asking, “Do you feel better now?”
“Much. I wish Synne had been here.”
“You can still tell her.”
Runa glanced at the water one last time. “I guess it’s time to go.”
The five joined hands. Brom kept his gaze on Runa as the four of them began the spell. He gave Runa’s hand a squeeze. In the next breath, they were in Malene’s room in the tower. Brom caught Runa before she fainted. He barely lowered himself to the floor before he too passed out.
When he came to, he remained still, waiting for his stomach to settle. He gradually sat up, and once he was sure he wouldn’t be sick, he lifted Runa into his arms and carried her to the bed. Then he put a bucket near her for when she woke.
Brom stood as the door opened. He turned as Armir walked in, looking grimmer than usual. And that’s when it hit him. Armir had held out a thin shred of hope that Malene had returned to Blackglade. Now that hope was gone, and Armir had no choice but to face the fact that Malene wasn’t returning.
“Where are Helena and Jarin?” Brom asked.
Armir walked to the hearth and stroked the fire. “Jarin is worried about Helena losing the baby. They need some time alone to recoup.”
“Do you think she’ll lose the bairn?”
Armir shrugged and rose to face him. “I think using magic as we did to get to Sybbyl and then back here will take a toll on the babe. I also believe Helena is strong, as is her child. But only time will tell.”
“And what of you?” Brom asked.
Armir blew out a breath and walked to the table. He closed one of the many books Malene usually had out and sank onto the bench. “I think I lost out on the best thing that ever happened to me. You were right. I am angry at myself for not telling Malene how I felt. There isn’t anyone out there who can take her place. I’ve never hesitated to carry out my duties, but I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
“I think we all need some time to recover. Sybbyl is gone, and a great many Coven witches are dead. We have several bones of the First Witch, and we stopped Sybbyl. That’s a win to me.”
“We lost a great many along the way, too,” Armir said as he briefly looked up to meet Brom’s gaze. “But you’re right. We did win. The balance has been restored once more. There are rooms for you and Runa in the tower.”
Brom started to speak when he heard Runa behind him. He spun and hurried to her side, helping her through the horrible side effects of magical travel. When he glanced up, Armir was gone.
“I’m not sure I ever want to do that again,” Runa said as she reclined against him on the bed, hours later after she had rested and eaten.
Brom chuckled. “It gets easier the more you do it.”
“I’d rather not find out.”
“Armir said there are chambers for us here.”
Runa lifted her head to look at him. “That’s good, right?”
“Aye. I�
�d love to see more of the city as well as learn more about being a Varroki.”
“We can stay here for as long as you want.”
He grinned. “Are you sure?”
“You told me you didn’t care where we were as long as we were together. I feel the same. I don’t have a home, but you do. You know where your people are, and you haven’t had the option to be here before. There’s nothing pulling us anywhere else. So, we stay.”
“Have I told you how much I love you?” he asked as he kissed her neck.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around him. “Actually, you haven’t. At least, not recently.”
“I’ll make up for it,” he said as he claimed her mouth.
Epilogue
Six months later…
Runa still couldn’t believe that she had now been Brom’s wife for over four months. She smiled at the sunlight coming through the window in the tower as she rolled on top of him, kissing him awake. He grabbed her hips and ground against her.
“Now that’s how a man likes to be woken,” he said with a smile as he looked at her.
She grinned. “We’ve been married for four months now.”
“Aye. Are you happy?”
“Deliriously so.” She tossed back her blond locks. “And you?”
He eyed her before grinding his arousal against her. “I think that answers your question.”
Runa’s smile dipped. “You didn’t wake me when you came to bed last night.”
“Nay.” Brom pulled her down so that her head was next to his. “Jarin and I still have no’ found Armir.”
“He may never return.”
“We’ve come to realize that.”
Runa sighed. “I hope he finds peace out there.”
“Jarin willna be leaving the city anytime soon with Helena so close to giving birth.”
“Maybe it’s better that you let Armir go. If he wanted to stay, he would have.”
Brom kissed her temple. “He’s needed here, though. I hope he finds his way back.”
“Well, as much as Armir is needed, I’m glad you and Jarin aren’t going out anymore.”
“Why?” Brom asked.
Runa rose up on her hands and looked down at him. She’d tried to stay awake last night to tell him, but she had been so tired. She rolled off him onto her back. Then she took his hand and placed it over her stomach. He frowned at her for a moment, then his eyes lit up.
She laughed and nodded. “Aye, my love. We’re going to have a bairn.”
He pulled her against him and held her. “I couldna be happier. We should celebrate.”
“First, this.” She pushed him onto his back and straddled him as she kissed him.
Armir wasn’t sure what exactly he looked for, but he couldn’t remain at Blackglade. He had lost many Ladies, but none of them had affected him like Malene. She had been different. Because he had fallen in love with her.
And now she was gone.
Somewhere out in the world, he’d find some peace. He had to. Otherwise, what was the point? He’d lost the only thing he’d ever loved, the only person who had opened his heart. Every time he thought of her, he wanted to bellow his rage. Because she was gone.
He kept putting one foot in front of the other.
Elin took in a deep breath as she stared out over the wild sea. The isle suited her. No longer did she have to hide. If any Coven members wanted to find her, then she welcomed them. She wasn’t going to live in fear anymore. Too much had happened for her to do that.
She had betrayed those at Blackglade because she wanted a family again. Because she was tired of being alone. Asrail had been good company, but she hadn’t always been around. Now, Elin was truly alone, and she was coming to terms with that. She wasn’t exactly at peace yet, but she was getting there.
“It all worked out,” Asa said to her pet owl, Frida, as they stood on the west coast of Scotland. “Somehow, everything fell into place.”
Frida turned her head to Asa and blinked her big, yellow eyes.
Asa chuckled. “Aye, my beauty, we were lucky. Very lucky.” She drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. “What’s in store for us next? We could go to Blackglade. We could also visit Leoma, Ravyn, or Synne.”
Frida looked away.
“I don’t want to go home. I left Norway for a reason.” But Asa knew she had no other choice. She had to go back. There were things left undone.
Thank You!
Thank you for reading EVERSPELL. I hope you enjoyed it! If you liked this book – or any of my other releases – please consider rating the book at the online retailer of your choice. Your ratings and reviews help other readers find new favorites, and of course there is no better or more appreciated support for an author than word of mouth recommendations from happy readers.
Looking for more historical paranormal? Check out book one in the Sisters of Magic series, Shadow Magic!
With a past soaked in sin and darkness slowly closing in around him to claim his soul, Drogan only wants to live his life in solitude. Years in the king’s service and his numerous deeds directed by the crown have left Drogan with horrendous nightmares and immeasurable guilt…
Serena is a witch, cursed and forever alone. She accepts her future. Until she meets Drogan. With Drogan a passion deep and unyielding awakens inside her. She is willing to sacrifice herself for his love, but can he put his past to rest and embrace the future?
Order SHADOW MAGIC now!
Donna Grant
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