I was also practicing with my fire ability, determined to strengthen it, I knew it would never be as powerful as my air ability, but also knew my air ability still had a long way to grow, so who knew how far I could take it? My mother had been reputedly a very powerful sorceress of fire after all.
I asked Aitheria with my mind, “Ria, I’ve still got a long way to go don’t I, even after my breakthrough the other day, I get the feeling I’m just getting started.”
She sent a mental shrug, “Yes, but at least you’ve gotten started now, you’re not sitting idle. All you can do is the best you can.”
I nodded thoughtfully and asked a question, it felt like it had been on my mind a couple of days now, but with everything that happened I hadn’t consciously felt it until now, “I feel like I’m missing something important from the other night, when you showed me who you were. That was… significant in some way, and I feel closer to you, although I’ve always loved you like family.”
Her mind voice aimed for neutral, but was slightly pained, “You are, but that’s okay Ben. You’ll understand eventually, when you’re ready. I can’t tell you, so please don’t ask.”
That really didn’t help, and for some reason I felt guilty that I didn’t understand, when she was the one that couldn’t explain it. I didn’t like the pain in her voice either, but didn’t know how to fix it.
It was then I made an intuitive leap, I couldn’t find my enemies because they were more powerful than I was. If I learned enough, grew enough, I’d be able to access more information as I exceeded the ones hiding it. In the scheme of things, I was still just a baby starting to teethe.
Aitheria, with the exception of the alley that first time I’d used my powers, never helped when I was in a battle. She wasn’t here to protect me from physical attacks, she was here to hide me from my enemies. If she wasn’t here, they could easily find out where I was and attack again. She was powerful, strong enough to keep me from my enemy’s sight. But as for who sent her and for what reason, I had no idea. That meant the first time they found me must have been through my mother, since I’d have been protected back then too.
It was frustrating, but at the same time comforting. Now I just had to make sure that while I gathered power to become strong enough to face my enemies, that it wouldn’t change me in the process.
The pack came back then, and Sierra raced toward me. She was a beautiful, if a slightly large and scary wolf, which I’d mostly only seen when she was in a fight. Apparently she was playful right now, and I had no idea it was coming when she leapt up and tackled me. I laughed when she sat on my chest and licked my face, despite the indignity of it. Nope, life with her would never be boring, and she’d broken me out of my deep thoughts, and I stopped thinking altogether when she changed back into a woman.
She laughed lightly at my expression, the run must have agreed with her. I guess she’d decided I was properly tortured and teased, because she got up and pulled her dress on. This time, I didn’t avert my eyes from her at all, though I was careful not to look at the other naked women in the yard going for their own clothes.
The day was extremely relaxing, and low key now that the danger had passed, outside of that one conversation with Aitheria, I didn’t give any thought to enemies or what might be coming. I’d worked hard, and it was time to take a break and have a good time with my new allies, friends, and girlfriend? Lover? I wasn’t sure what to define her as, she was Sierra, and she had a place in my heart and I had a place in hers, we were happy and that’s all that mattered.
Chapter 20
Saturday, May 21st, 2016, 10:44 PM
At first the ritual was disappointing. I was standing in a circle with the pack, holding hands with Sierra on my left and Selene on my right followed by the alpha. There was a fairly large sized fire pit in the center, with a good fire going, and the moon was high in the sky. I say disappointing, because at first I couldn’t feel anything as Selene chanted next to me and was I’d imagine, summoning earth magic.
But then her focus must have changed to fire, because I could feel heat building up in me, and a wave of magic start to go around the circle. It went faster and faster, leaving a trail of heat behind that connected us all together. I could already feel them all with air magic of course, but this was more than just feeling them, I felt like I was a part of them, connected to them.
It made me wonder a little wistfully how much stronger that feeling would be if I could sense the earth magic at work. I also realized this feeling of being connected and included was probably just a small echo of what they felt for each other with their pack bonds. She continued to chant, and I felt the fire burn hotter, but at the same time it didn’t burn my body at all. The fire started to go even faster around the circle, so fast I lost track of it, and then it felt like it was in all of us at the same time.
I could feel all of their emotions, and their welcome to the pack as an Ally. Abruptly, Selene stopped chanting and the fire burnt hotter for a moment, almost searing, and then it faded away. But only the fire did, I could still feel them all in my chest. I had to admit I was a little awed, as they came to me one by one, some hugging, some just touching, but I felt them all welcome me as an ally.
If this was simply some ally bond, I couldn’t imagine what a pack bond would be like. But then, it would have to be strong wouldn’t it? For the alpha to guide and control the pack. Sierra went last, and hugged me close and looked up at me with desire in her eyes. My heart sped up a bit when I realized this bond would increase our intimacy when we were… I broke that thought off when I heard a few light chuckles, apparently the bond worked two ways.
I’d have to get used to that, apparently my love life would not be a secret if I wanted to date a werewolf. It wasn’t a choice really, or really much of a sacrifice to have her in my life, so I leaned my head down and gave her a soft lingering kiss.
She looked up at me with twinkling eyes and whispered, “Take us home.”
I think I liked the sound of that. I smiled, pulled her a little closer, and drew the magic from the air around us, and had it take us home.
Afterword:
I hope you enjoyed this story, if you did please leave a review. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent authors, and I would appreciate greatly any constructive feedback or opinions. This story is complete as is, but is also part of a series of books about Ben Edwards. I tried not to leave any cliff hangers, or loose plots except for the overarching plot of his family’s enemies, but obviously character development and world building are a constant work in progress and will continue through other books.
About the Author: If you have any comments or suggestions you can send me an email at [email protected] If you like my work, or even if you don’t, please consider leaving a review of this book. I can also be found at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7456808.D_L_Harrison
Other books by D. L. Harrison:
http://www.amazon.com/author/dlharrison
The Formerly Dark Mage, by D. L. Harrison – This stand-alone fantasy book follows the life of Silvia and takes place in a world unique and separate to our own.
Silvia is a dark mage. Unfortunately, she finds herself about to be sacrificed. Someone must have told her evil master about her plans to kill him and take over. After that, things just seem to go downhill. She has no choice but to escape the kingdom of Zual, something that to her knowledge has never been done before. She will need to deal with many issues she never had to face before.
Among those issues, the white mages, and her conscience.
Celia Winters Novel Series
Witch’s Moon: A Celia Winters Novel Book 1
Celia Winters was raised by her single mother, and her earliest memories are of the store her mother owns and the nearby coven, who have always been her family’s close allies and friends.
She grew up believing her magic was weak, but she was satisfied with her life, and happy. She was a midwife, healer, and supplier of surrounding cov
ens.
Then her mother died, and she’s about to discover she isn’t who, or what, she believes herself to be, not completely. She will learn that her entire life up until now was a lie. She’ll need to figure out her place, who she is when she no longer recognizes herself, and try to hold on to her closest friends as she gathers enemies for the simple crime of her existence.
She’s stronger than she believes, but will it be enough?
Power of Air Series:
Just a Psychic: The Power of Air Book One starts off this series.
Ben has grown up with missing memories of his early childhood.
He has known he was a psychic since his earliest memories, seeing the future and gaining knowledge with his gifts.
Is it possible he isn't just a psychic?
Ben's world is about to be turned upside down as he turns twenty-one, all is not as it seems.
Book Description
It’s been nine months since Ben has found out the truth of who and what he is, or so he believes.
He’s about to find out that simply getting a handle on his magic and living life as it comes is not enough, the mysterious threat from the past won’t stay there forever.
Of course, he won’t have much time to deal with that right now, a new pack is coming to town, and they aren’t friendly. Add in a determined witch, missing children, a human that needs to be hunted down, a friend in need, and a very attractive but unpredictable female werewolf, all of which will make his complex life a little more complicated.
One thing is for sure, if he doesn’t figure out this sorcerer thing, he might not live to regret it.
Sorcerer: Trouble with Werewolves: Power of Air Book 2 Page 12