"I should leave now.” She said, opening a portal. “I just wanted to make sure Art was all right." She told Cyn dragging her gaze away and then she was gone, before Cyn or I could stop her.
My brother shook his head, and took a deep breath focusing on me.
“What happened?” I asked confused.
"You have been unconscious for a week, brother. I stressed every effort, yet I was not able to help you awake. There was nothing wrong, except you would not open your eyes." His voice was filled with anxiety. It was then I noticed the agony in his eyes.
Letting go of Lia, I put my arms around him, and felt him return the hug fiercely. It had been two millennia since I last saw that kind of pain in my brother’s eyes. It was the day we lost our parents. "I'm sorry," I told both of them.
“What happened?” It was Cyn’s turn to ask.
I shook my head. "I'm not entirely sure. I was visiting Aigneis, bringing her food."
He nodded. “She came to look for me saying you had fainted in her hut.”
"Um… I didn't faint. I was there, and then I wasn't anymore…" I stopped myself not sure of what to say. Had it all been a dream?
“What do you mean, brother? Where did you go?”
I swallowed, sure I would seem crazy if I told them the truth, but I had no idea what else to say. "The Blessed Isles."
Lia gasped and I held her hand reassuringly. My brother sat straighter. “How is that possible?”
"I don't know, but is not the first time I've been there." His eyes widened. "At first, I thought I was dreaming. I saw our mother, and she hugged me, and said she was proud of the man I had become." My voice broke, and I stopped. Cyn squeezed my shoulder encouragingly. I cleared my throat. “She said she loved you, and that you had surpassed her wildest dreams.” Cyn’s eyes watered as I continued. “But this time, I saw the Goddess. She transformed in front of my eyes. She had so many beautiful faces," I whispered, remembering her transformation. M gaze settled on his once more. "We spoke for a while, and then she said it was my time to return to her side. She asked me to relinquish my immortal life to her."
Cyn leaned back, shocked. “What did you respond?”
“I did as she asked, surrendering my life to her, and then she drove her light spear through my heart.”
Cyn stood abruptly, taking a sharp breath. I watched him confused, obviously nothing had happened. “It wasn’t real, brother. I didn’t die. It was nothing but a dream.”
“Did she say anything else to you afterwards? A prayer perhaps?” He asked ignoring my words.
I frowned but nodded. “She did, but I couldn’t hear it.”
Cyn shook his head slowly, and stumbled back a couple of steps. He regarded me with such awe. I had never seen him look at me that way.
His eyes filled with unshed tears as he spoke. "A being, able to cross the Golden Gates of the Blessed Isles, and speak to the souls at rest. Able to find an essence wherever it may be. One that exists between the dead and the living, and harnesses the power to awaken a reincarnated soul... A Messenger of our Mother Goddess.”
With his words, the colors of the Blessed Isles suddenly shone on my skin, glowing from me like the Goddesses light had. They shimmered.
Lia gasped.
Cyn kneeled in front of me and placed his hand over his heart, as a tear spilled from his eyes.
“Welcome, Soul Hunter.”
EPILOGUE
ART
* * *
2 days before the Battle...
Lia’s soft lips trembled as a tear fell over them. It made my heart split in two.
“Don’t cry, A chuisle. I'll be here to pick you up two days after the battle is over, and we are sure the Romans have left.”
“I don’t want you to leave. I’m going to be worried sick over here.”
She gave me her best puppy dog eyes, and her bottom lip stuck out. She was adorable. I wiped the tear off her lips with a kiss, and repressed a smile while the silent countdown began in my mind. 5… 4... 3... 2...
“Don’t leave me here, Chewie!” She stomped her foot, and crossed her arms, pouting.
I tried not to laugh, I seriously did.
"Are you laughing at me, you bastard?"
She smacked my arm, and I couldn't hold it anymore. Lia whirled around, but I caught her in my arms, bringing her back against my chest, and held her tightly.
“I love you,” I whispered in her ear and kissed her neck. “Mmmm, I’m going to miss you.”
“Jerk.”
I chuckled and turned her around. Another tear fell on her cheek, sobering me up. “I’m sorry. I need you to stay here with the rest of our people. I have to know that you are safe, Lia.”
My gaze lifted and I looked at my land in the middle of the Montana Mountains. It was filled with tents, and all the provisions our people may need for the next three days. I took a deep breath seeing the Warriors walk the families to their tents, helping them settle. My lips returned to Lia’s, taking all I could from them and pressed my forehead against hers. I allowed myself to enjoy the feel of her in my arms. It was all I would have until I returned to get everyone.
“No one knows about this place except you, A chuisle, and there is no need for you to worry about me. The Romans can’t hurt me anymore. No one can. I’m kind of already dead.”
"Stop it, Chewie! Don't say that. It's so creepy." She shuddered, and I chuckled half-heartedly.
"I know. I'm sorry. It's the truth, though. I'm somewhere in between dead and alive now, which means you are never getting rid of me."
Lia sighed, resigning herself to it, and held my arm. Her thumb lazily grazed the leather bracelet on my wrist. It shimmered with a bluish-purple light, responding to her touch, then it receded. The leather wristlet had appeared on my body the night after I woke up from my meeting with our Mother Goddess. It had the symbol of our clan embossed on it, along with the Triquetra on both sides. The Goddess had unquestionably gifted it to me, maybe for becoming her Soul Hunter, or perhaps it was a way for me to communicate with her, it could even be some sort of key to the Blessed Isles. I wasn't entirely sure yet. All I knew was, it had come from the Mother Goddess, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t take it off. It seemed to be fused to my skin somehow.
“I can’t die anymore, A chuisle. There is no point in you worrying." I kissed her lips again, and against every urge of my body, I let her go. "I'll come for you in three days, just hang tight. I love you."
Lia’s arms wrapped around my neck as she jumped on me. I stumbled back a couple of steps, chuckling. I loved it when she did that.
"Fine, then you better give me a hot enough kiss to last me until then."
I grinned cradling her cheek in my palm. “Ok. Hold on to your panties.”
She chuckled as I claimed her lips.
The Meeting…
* * *
ART
* * *
“Are you certain you can do this brother?”
Cyn asked, looking into my eyes as we stood outside Eisha’s hut. I looked at the door taking a deep breath. It had been over a month since I was last here and almost made the biggest mistake of my life. The feelings I once held for Eisha were long gone, but I couldn’t help the guilt I felt. The memories of the time we had spent trying to be together rushed to me, making my chest tighten. Looking back on it, I couldn’t help but feel pain. I loved Lia, and Eisha was in love with Felix, yet we had struggled to make each other something we were not. I had the bigger hand on that, however, and I would always regret it.
What hurt the most, was knowing that I had ruined what was truly important to us. Our friendship. Would Eisha ever forgive me? Could she?
I nodded silently to my brother as I looked at Seima. She gave me an encouraging smile and kissed my cheek. I knew the possibility of Felix being here was high, but I no longer felt the rage that had pushed me to fight with him. Although I still hadn't forgiven him, Lia hadn't forgiven him, he wasn't a threat to us, and now that my min
d was clear again, I could easily see that. I recognized now that the cause of my unstable emotions had been Lia all along. Denying and repressing what I felt for her, while forcing myself to be with Eisha had truly hurt me, and as a result, I had ended up hurting those around me.
I only hoped Felix had actually changed as he claimed, and this new behavior wasn't all a farce to hurt us again. I didn't want Eisha to have to go through that. Her heart would never recover from it.
Cyn opened the door, and we stepped through it. My eyes immediately settled on Felix, then my gaze went to Eisha who stood by his side, and held his hand. I looked away. Seeing her again reopened the wound in my chest. She had been in my hut the day I woke up from the magical sleep the Goddess had put me under, but had left immediately after.
We sat at the table waiting for Cyn to begin.
“I’m sorry,” Felix said speaking first. “I don't want to interrupt your meeting, but I believe if I go to the Brotherhood’s camp with you tonight, and have a chance to talk to my father I can change his mind. I can stop this.”
I looked at my brother while he considered Felix’s words.
“Do you think your father would stop those soldiers from attacking our village?” Cyn asked, hopeful. "Can the head of the Brotherhood have a change of heart as easily as your father?”
Felix’s face paled. He shook his head. "I wish I could say yes, but I have to be honest. I know my father will believe me, but the others are a different story. Agustina will stop at nothing."
Cyn sighed and looked at us. We knew nothing would stop the Romans. Hoping for anything different was futile.
“I feared as much," my brother answered as his gaze returned to Felix.
"I can still help you," Felix added grasping at straws. I could see the disappointment in him. I guess he had truly believed he could stop them. “Tell you the tactics they will use to attack, and what you can expect. It will help you prepare the Warriors. Just please promise me you won’t hurt my father. I know what I’m asking after everything he has done, but he is my Dad.”
We stood from the table knowing nothing else could be done.
“I shall give the order that your father is not to be harmed.” My brother answered, and Felix let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you.”
Cyn nodded and headed for the door. I followed, but I couldn’t help my eyes from searching for Eisha. I found her staring at me, and the pain returned. She held my gaze for a moment, and I wished I could erase everything that had happened between us. That I could hold her like I once did, when our friendship brought her comfort. I blinked, breaking the contact and walked out of the hut.
* * *
“Art, wait!”
Eisha’s voice froze me in place. My heart lodged in my throat as she stood in front of me. We looked at each other again and her eyes filled with emotion. I couldn’t move because all I wanted to do was hug her, and have everything that clouded our relationship disappear.
I looked at her not knowing what to say. There were no words that would serve as an apology. She had meant everything to me for so many years. I counted on our friendship above all, and now… She didn't speak either, and my heart split in two. I nodded understanding her silence and began to walk away, but before I could get far, her hand gripped my arm. When my gaze settled on her again, the tears spilled from her eyes and the restraint I had disappeared.
Tears were the bane of my existence.
I pulled Eisha into my arms, and she clung to me crying. My arms wrapped around her like they had done for over two thousand years, and suddenly we were just two friends comforting each other. The dreaded words neither of us could say were no longer needed. The hurt was gone. The time away from each other was gone, and we were the same two friends that had grown up together, playing on the streets and training to be Warriors. Challenging each other, and daring the other to go further, helping one another stand when the burden was too great to carry alone.
The door of the hut opened, and Felix stood there, silent. Our eyes met briefly, and he smiled at me. He actually smiled. Felix seemed grateful, but the door closed behind him before I could recognize the emotion that had shone in his eyes.
My eyelids closed as Eisha fixed her cheek on my chest, and sighed in my arms relieved. We remained still. Holding each other in silence, while the love we had always felt healed our souls.
There was no pain.
No regrets.
Just two friends, who once vowed to always be there for the other.
"I love you, Art." She whispered, looking up at me.
I smiled, and kissed her forehead. "I love you too, A chara.”
* * *
THE END
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for reading Worthy of Magic, An Ancient Magic Novel Book 4. If you have enjoyed it, please show your support by leaving a review. Just visit my Amazon Author page:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Cyn, Bri, Art, Lia, Eisha, & Felix still have much to accomplish together, and they’ll need the help of the full gang. So I truly hope you will continue this journey with us. Absolute Magic, Book 5 and the last book in the Ancient Magic series is coming Jan 2nd, 2018.
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get the latest news about new releases, sales, upcoming books, amazing giveaways, Facebook events and everything regarding my world of Magic & Romance.
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NEXT IN THE ANCIENT MAGIC SERIES
ABSOLUTE MAGIC
An Ancient Magic Novel, Book5
Coming Jan 2nd, 2018.
* * *
How far would you go to fulfill your destiny?
Pre-Order coming soon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bestselling & Award Winning Author Stephany Wallace, published her debut novels Hidden Magic, (Paranormal Romance), and Chasing Time, (Adult Contemporary Romance), in late 2016. However, she has actually been writing since she was about 12 years old.
Thanks to the influence of her Literature Professor who was also a poet, she began to write Poetry, which allowed her passion for writing to grow. Writing songs followed as her love extended to music. An artist, at heart and soul, She enjoys all forms of Art and occasionally indulges in drawing, playing her guitar, singing, and of course writing.
As any die-hard Star Wars and Disney fan would naturally do, she moved to Orlando to be closer to Disney a few years back, where she lives happily ever after with her family. Stephany currently writes YA/NA Paranormal Romance and Adult Contemporary Romance.
Shortly after her NPR debut, she won two awards as Best Debut Author 2016, Hidden Magic won the award for Best Debut Novel and her Oh, so “#CynfullyDelicious" character Cynwrig Bresall won Best Book Boyfriend From Another Country. Stephany has also released Forsaken Souls, a Runes Universe Novella. So don't forget to check it out.
She has several books in the works for publication and below is her projected release schedule for 2018:
New Adult Paranormal Romance
* * *
Ancient Magic Series:
Renewed Magic, book 2.
Unwanted Magic, Eisha’s story, book3.
Worthy of Magic, Art’s story, book4.
Absolute Magic, book5.
(Coming Jan 2nd 2018).
* * *
The Winter Court Chronicles:
Forgotten Kingdom, book1. (Coming 2018).
Broken Kingdom, book2. ( Coming 2018).
Adult Contemporary Romance
* * *
A Love Through Time Series:
Chasing Time, book 1.
Destined Time, book 2.
Just in Time, book 3.
(Coming 2018).
* * *
Somewhere Inside Series:
Somewhere Inside My Mind, book 1.
(Coming 2018).
Somewhere Inside My Heart, book2.
(Coming 2018).
* * *
Stand Alone Nove
ls
In your Eyes. (Coming 2018)
Breaking Point. (Coming 2018)
So stay tuned!
You can also follow her on:
* * *
AmazonUS
Amazon UK
Goodreads
Bookbub
Instagram
Pinterest
OR…
You can stalk her, I mean follow her here, to know a bit more about her and her upcoming books:
www.stephanywallace.com
[email protected]
Worthy of Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 4) Page 27