“Elizabeth? Is that you?” Reba called out from the back room when she heard the door close.
Smiling Elizabeth replied, “Yes ma’am and I brought friends!” Elizabeth and her three companions walked through the house slowly. The guest taking in the view of every item as if taking inventory of the home for an estate sale. “Come on, we have to talk to them.”
He shrugged. Wesley reacted without thinking, grabbing the man up by his collar and slamming him to the wall, “You will not test me, witch!” The elves amber eyes flashed with anger. He wasn’t happy that they were going to trust the trader of his love. He was angry and needed an outlet and dared Devlon to give him one.
“Dude, I was just looking at stuff. Chill out,” Devlon replied as he tried to pry Wesley’s hands from his clothing. Wesley's reply was a simple deep growl.
Placing a hand on Wesley’s shoulder, Elizabeth whispered in his ear, “I’m safe. He’s not a danger to me. Let him go.” Wesley turned his head just slightly so that he could see her eyes. She wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t angry. “I need to finish this, and he can help.”
Dropping Devlon from against the wall, Wesley turned to leave, “I need to get out of here.” Wesley didn't like that Elizabeth was playing into Devlon's hands with this, at least that is what he felt. The elf always felt Devlon would try and find a way back in, and he didn't know how to handle the situation without losing control. As soon as the door shut behind him, he transitioned into the beautiful beast inside him who was dying to escape. Elizabeth could hear the pads of the panther’s paws as they hit the porch and pushed off to run through the woods.
Jewel pulled Devlon by the shoulder, “Come on. You have some convincing to do.” Devlon straightened his clothes and started the short trek to the back room that seemed to extend miles. He was nervous about how the mother and aunts of the young woman he loved and manipulated would take to the idea of him being in their home, offering his help. In a few short moments, he’d know.
Elizabeth spoke to him silently, “He’s angry. A lot of people are angry. Hell, I was angry…now, I just want to peace. I need to stop this nonsense that has been building for decades inside our people. I just want peace.”
Devlon looked sad at Elizabeth as he listened to her speak and nodded. He couldn’t respond. He knew he was part of the problem for the woman who’d barely known magic a year. Devlon knew deep down he had to right his wrongs, and this was his first step. Turning, he followed Elizabeth as Jewel took up the rear. She didn’t trust him any further than Wesley and had no intention on turning her back to him.
“Are y’all all in the back room?” Elizabeth called out.
“Yep, back here. Come on back,” Raina replied loudly.
Sari was moving some plants around for a new set of seedlings to start growing and wanted the green room organized and cleaned. She looked up just a little when she saw Elizabeth round the doorway, “Hey honey, you come to help?”
Elizabeth glanced around at the mess they had created in their attempt to organize and laughed, “Yes. Well, no. Not exactly.”
Reba stood up and put her hands on her hips, “Well what kind of answer is that?”
“Um, well… you see.” This response had gotten all three women’s attention and now were all watching her. “Well…”
“Out with-it child, we haven’t got all day!” Sari snipped.
“Well, I brought him...” Elizabeth said as she stepped into the green room revealing the person standing behind her.
“What in all holy hell is he doing here!” Reba roared as she threw down her spade and took a step forward.
Elizabeth held her hands out in protest, “Just let me explain.”
“No, no explaining. I want him gone.” Raina’s voice deepened as she spoke.
Sari put a hand on both of her sisters to reign them in, “Elizabeth do you want to explain to us why you brought him here?”
Elizabeth turned and looked towards Devlon as Jewel squeezed into the room from behind him. Devlon nodded knowing what had to be done. He had to speak, "I’m here to help you.”
All three women in the room were angry. The man who had nearly destroyed Elizabeth stood in the threshold of their green room trying to say he was there to help. Sari held her sisters back. Her eyes furrowed as she eyed the young male witch. He was nervous and scared. Devlon normally showed a facade of strength and courage, but today he looked meek and humble. Elizabeth's mother just watched him for many long moments. No one moved, except the fumbling of Devlon's fingers behind his back. Sari noticed this, stepping forward she asked, "Why should we believe you? What do you have that we really need or want? Why now, Devlon, why now?"
He swallowed hard as all eyes were on him, "After you last saw me, I had to really reevaluate things. I even went and saw my mother." The older women all flinched in response to this. Devlon had stopped talking to his mother nearly five years ago. She was a wise woman and very powerful. Devlon's mom, Jade, never liked the path he took and worked hard to influence him to a better one. "She and I talked for hours. I understand what I've done was wrong. Really bad. So, I have to make it right. I have to fix the damage I caused," he looked at Elizabeth, "if that is even possible anymore."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cheryllynn’s vivid imagination comes through in all she does in life. Her writing started in junior high and although she never truly shared her work until the mid 2000's she kept them hidden away in an old tattered orange folder. Original works she wrote from 1984 still holding ink on the pages may one day be shared, but for now she shares her newer creations. Science Fiction and Fantasy are her favorite genres with mystery and thrillers in close running.
Born in Northwest Florida and raised in Southeast Georgia she gained a love for nature and the outdoors. Her experiences outdoors allows her to create universes with vivid detail. After a detour of almost twenty years in the health care industry and obtaining her Bachelors of Science in Healthcare Administration/Healthcare Information Systems she has returned to her love of writing.
Currently living in Central Texas with her family, she has begun a new chapter in her life that has opened her heart and soul to many great adventures.
More From This Author
List of works published at the time this book came out:
The Jein's Journey Series
Calastan (Book One)
Resolution (Book Two)
Kyluna (Book Three)
The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn
A Witch's Dream World (Book One)
A Witch's Reality (Book Two)
A Moment of Darkness (Book Three)
Stand Alones:
Born of The Veil
Multifaceted
The Shadow of the Mind's Heart
Little Measures
You can find them on her Amazon Author Page.
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Awakening Fate (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Fairbairn Book 4) Page 12