Chosen One

by Scarlett Dawn

  I sighed heavily, and stared at the table for long moments as he came back to himself, effectively telling me he couldn’t see shit about our journey. “When they arrive, I’ll want you to make sure they’re not spelled. And in the meantime, I’ll think on two others just in case they’re being used somehow.” I rubbed at my forehead, pulling my notes in front of me. “For the time being, I’d like to move forward without these doubts. You’ll each be separately guarding me, but I want you to stay relatively close to your four for funneling, which will be,” I flipped my sheet, reading my scribbles, “Elder Farrar, Elder Merrick, Elder Bridges, and Sin in the first group. Elder Samson, Brann, King Zeller, and King Collins in the second.” I paused, then stared between Elder Merrick and Elder Farrar. “You two will be my point guards while Sin and Elder Bridges do…their thing. I’ll want you near at all times.”

  I placed the pad of paper down, staring at it a moment. “I know none of you know what you’re stepping in to. You’re all extremely excited and can’t wait to see what lies ahead.” I cracked my neck, damn tired. “And the Temple is beautiful. Amazing. Beyond words. Each of you will be dazzled and learn a lot…but,” I ran a hand over my face, “while the Temple is almost always peaceful, I need each of you to be vigilant. You’re going somewhere unknown, their powers mostly unknown to you. Spirits can be…cunning…on a whole different level there because it is so peaceful. While I am making the show with Leric that all is well between us, I’ll need you to do what you do best because I haven’t heard of an uprising in,” I shook my head, staring at the table, “hell, I remember someone saying something like, maybe hundreds of years ago, which means if there are issues, they’re serious and have been building for some time just waiting for a catalyst.” I chuckled quietly, pointing to myself. “Me.”

  Dropping my hand, I felt an enormous weight on the shoulder I shrugged. “While there are a lot of spirits who will more than likely want me dead, just because I’m the Chosen and I chose not to accept the Temple, and probably see me as a traitor, I worry more about the individuals behind any type of uprising against the peace, because they will try to kill me just to start conflict between the many who will automatically give me the respect my position affords.”

  Absently, I folded an edge of a sheet, watching my work. “While we’re there I’ll want nightly meetings and will expect your complete and absolute attention, even with,” my eyes flittered on each of them, pausing a moment on King Collins, then moving on, “any issues you may be having in your current life.” I paused, eyes tracking back to King Zeller and King Collins. “I don’t expect us to be gone for an overly extended amount of time, but it could occur. I’ll give you the option right now to step away, because while we’re there, I may need you and won’t be able to risk bringing you back.”

  King Zeller instantly shook his head. “I’m in. Elder Zeller and Elder Venclaire can handle business while I’m away.”

  I nodded, and then met my King’s brown eyes. His were hooded, his expression utterly blank. I waited. Queen Cooper was pregnant. I couldn’t say picking him hadn’t been a toss-up because of this fact. I hadn’t not picked her because she was, my decisions on the Mages firm, but I had stumbled a bit with him, and whether he would be able to leave her…and possibly miss the birth of what appeared to be their first child.

  “King Collins?” I prompted gently when he stayed quiet.

  His lips pinched the barest bit. “I believe I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t go.”

  My head cocked. “That’s a yes?”

  “That’s a yes,” he stated quietly. “But, hurrying has its advantages too.”

  I chuckled quietly. “I’ll see what I can do.” Peering back to my notes, I yawned, covering my mouth with a hand, speaking through it. “And lastly, I’ll need you each to…appear intimidating.” There were a few snorts and chuckles, because they already were, but I waved a hand, rubbing my eyes. “We all know image can be a useful tool. If you scare the shit out of them by just your appearance, it may keep the weak at heart from attacking. You’ll already be the oddity of the Temple, you’re already going to be stared at no matter how hard you would try to blend, so just work it fashionably however is needed to get your point across your impenetrable.” Sitting back, I grabbed my Coke. “Any questions I may be able to answer?”

  Brann instantly asked, “How will we be traveling to the Temple?”

  “I’ll be taking all of you.” That was all I could say.

  King Zeller flicked a hand, a scowl on his face. “The One said we would be bound to never communicate what we see. How is that handled?”

  “With a simple star.” My eyes flicked to Elder Farrar. “Don’t try to stop this from happening as you did with their memories. There are reasons why spirits are silent, which I’m sure you will eventually hear while at the Temple.”

  He stared for long moments, his gaze hardening to a rare side of him I hardly ever saw. “As I’ve said, I can’t see our path on this, but I can tell you I despise being bound to silence.”

  I inhaled with aggravation, and opened my mouth…only to choke. Instantly, false loving caresses flittered across my neck, my hair fluttering in a breeze of the unseen tender touch, an arm delicately around my throat. Fear instantly pulled on me, every single man in the room jumping to their feet, eyes glowing, but I held up my hands in a stopping gesture as I tried to push the fear back, to calm myself. I had slipped, the one tie that literally bound a spirit, the only thing we couldn’t willingly say I had been, apparently, about to speak on. Everything was a choice for a spirit, whether we wished to speak on our secrets and have our powers taken, except for this one. This one couldn’t be communicated at all outside the Temple.

  I closed my eyes, inhaling, shuddering at the gentle caresses, and after a moment, they disappeared as I calmed, my heart rate slowing, hair fluttering down, the unseen gone. I cleared my throat, and slowly opened my eyes. Everyone was watching with their glowing gazes, damn near on the balls of their feet, and I waved. “Sit down. It’s gone.” Slowly they did one by one. The Shifters sitting first, then Sin, grabbing my hand instantly, then the others. I cleared my throat once more, and opened my mouth, testing if I was about to say anything wrong, but when it didn’t occur again, I stated to Elder Farrar, “Some would believe us Gods, and use us as such, while we are not. The silence is a necessary evil to keep the balance.” I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s something you will have to trust me on, and if you do not, and do not allow me to do as needed, I will not allow you entrance to the Temple.” It was a simple statement of fact.

  His expression turned a bit smug, eyebrows lifting the barest bit. “You would choose another Mage over me?”

  “In a heartbeat.” My own brows lifted. “Be careful, Elder Farrar, you wouldn’t want to turn out like those other two powerhouses you spoke of earlier.”

  His eyes narrowed for a moment, then he rolled his shoulders, relaxing on his chair. “You’re right. Excuse me, that was rude.” He glanced to Elder Merrick. “Was she telling the truth during all that?”

  “Truth to all,” Elder Merrick murmured, his own brows lifting to Elder Farrar. “What the hell?”

  He waved an irritated quick hand. “I want to go to the damn Temple, but I hate that silence shit.” He pointed at his head. “I’ve never been able to see it and it pisses me off.”

  Elder Merrick grunted, brows still raised. “You sounded like a damn prig.”

  “Oh, fuck off. I apologized,” Elder Farrar muttered, irritated golden eyes swinging to me. “I won’t do anything to stop your silent…star.”

  My gaze flicked to Elder Merrick, and he stated, “Truth.”

  I nodded once. “Any other questions?”

  Elder Merrick’s wolf huffed. “Just go to bed so you’re rested for tomorrow. Anything else can be asked in the morning when Elder Bridges and Elder Samson are here.”

  I yawned again, glancing to the others. “Nothing needs to be asked right now?” They shook
their heads. “You’re all game?” They all nodded, so I sucked in a large breath, and then blew out quickly, my power flaring, six stars floating from my mouth, heading directly to each Lajak, hovering in front of their startled faces. “Open your mouth and don’t fight it. It’s for the silence.” Yeah, I wasn’t going to give them the option to change their minds about keeping quiet.

  Sin instantly opened his mouth. The star sailed inside it in a small flurry. His head flew back with the force, and he instantly choked, but he swallowed heavily, his muscled throat bobbing. “Fuck me,” he groaned, dropping his head forward into his hands, “That was not pleasant.”

  I patted his back. “I still need to give you…a breath of air…and by all accounts, that’s pleasant.”

  Closed mouth grunts around the table.

  “Love,” Sin cleared his throat, shaking his head still in his hands, “I hate to break it to you, but how will it stop them from countering it with their own power?”

  I was glad he asked, a small smile lifting my lips as I glanced to those still with their mouths firmly shut. “By accepting it, their power accepts it. Therefore, any time they try to break through it, their own power will fight itself.” I nodded toward them. “Accept it, and you’re truly bound to silence, gentlemen.”

  King Collins brows lifted, and he nodded approvingly, the others wearing a slight scowl, and he opened his mouth, the star flying in, choking him until he swallowed it down. He groaned heavily, sinking on his chair, his posture much like Sin, muttering hoarsely, “That…is…awful.”

  “Yep.” I waved a hand. “Hurry up, gentlemen. I’m ready for bed.” One by one they opened their mouths, accepting the star, every single one of them grimacing and appearing ill afterward, until Elder Farrar was left. I raised my brows, murmuring, “I’m sure there’s another Mage who would be thrilled to take your place.”

  He scowled, but he did eventually open his mouth, accepting the silence, then slumped a bit, appearing like he might puke. I stood, stretching and saying, “It should wear off shortly. No worries. And I’ll see you all in the morning before breakfast back in this room.” I pointed a finger to Elder Farrar. “Don’t forget to check Elder Bridges and Elder Samson for spells.” And with that, I helped Sin from his chair, throwing his arm over my shoulder, and hiked us to bed.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I slept the whole night through.

  And woke in my own bed, gratefully. Then, I gave Sin his protection, quickly hurrying into the shower when he had groaned drunkenly falling back onto the bed, trying to take me down with him. That was not about to happen, especially in whatever magical state he was in. An hour later as I was finishing packing a duffle bag, he had rolled out of bed, mumbling, “You can do that to me any time, love.” Stumbled toward the bathroom. “Any damn time.”

  I didn’t ask.

  A half hour later, we arrived in the conference room an hour before breakfast, duffels over our shoulders, both of us wearing black leather pants, black boots, Sin in a sheer tight, black long sleeved shirt, and me in a hot pink, silk blouse. We were in like company. Everyone already there, including Elder Bridges and Elder Samson, who Elder Farrar gave the nod of approval on and said they had been brought up to date on what I had said the evening before, both of them smiling a bit when they saw me, surely having seen my picture on the news…or internet…or whatever…but anyway, they had known and kept silent, kept time from altering.

  I stood in front of everyone, gauging their attire. I nibbled my lip, and then blurted, “Maybe we should go a little…less.” I waved a hand at them. “You all look like sex walking.” And my God, did they ever in their subtle, but deadly combat attire. “The spirits won’t know to run from you or jump on you.”

  King Collins cleared his throat, eyes sparkling. “Thank you, my Prodigy…but, maybe this,” he plucked at the black tight button up shirt, which he had paired with soft black, leather pants, “is just the type of man you prefer.” Blue eyebrows raised a smidge. “Your initial reaction about what the other spirits would think is probably the most accurate.”

  Instantly, like the only woman in the room, I flushed, my cheeks burning. “You’re probably right.” I blinked, fluttering a hand. “I mean about what the spirits will think.” Hopefully. “Anyway,” I cleared my throat, ignoring a few masculine chuckles from the end of the table, “first I need to get…the breath…done on Elder Bridges and Elder Samson, plus they need to accept the binding silence.” I glanced to them. “I’ll do the silence first, since the other will leave you…happier.”

  Sin choked on a chuckle, his eyes flaring a bit.

  Elder Merrick—the one I had only glanced at once, dressed in a black thermal long sleeved shirt, outlining every damn line of his gorgeous torso, and black cargos, which hugged his thighs and ass like a loving glove, and black boots, flicked his finger to Sin, asking me, “You’ve already given him the protection?”

  “This morning in bed,” Sin answered for me, resting his hands behind his head and leaning back like a well sated man. “And it was…delicious.”

  King Collins choked a few times, glancing to me, but I only sighed heavily, rolling my eyes at Sin’s theatrics…ignoring how Elder Merrick’s lids dipped, hiding whatever he was thinking…and peered back to the two gentlemen in question I needed to tend to. “Well, you heard it. It’s delicious, but not,” I inhaled heavily, “this first part.” My Core flared and two stars flew from my mouth to theirs, both their eyes widening a bit, never having seen my powers. “I know you’re new to a spirits gifts, but try to keep those expressions off your face when you’re at the Temple. Act as if this is all old hat for you.” I waved a hand at their closed mouths, walking toward them. “Accept it, then,” my lips twitched, “I’ll make it all better.”

  King Zeller laughed outright, shaking his head at me, then gazing to them. “Do as she says, and you’ll be very…pleased.”

  They scowled at the stars in front of their faces, but opened their mouths, swallowing, and choking it down. Elder Bridges groaned, “Dear God,” he shook his head hard, “that’s…”

  “Awful, I know.” I reached down where he sat on a chair, lifting his chin up, letting my Core open, glowing. “Now, open up.”

  He stared wide-eyed for a moment, then quickly blanked his expression, asking on a hoarse voice, “This is better than that?”

  Across the table, Elder Farrar muttered, “Definitely.”

  Appearing ill and pensive, he slowly opened his mouth, and I inhaled heavily, calling on my own unique brand of protection, then tilted my head, pressing my opened mouth to his, and began blowing slowly, and thoroughly, into his mouth. Almost instantaneously, his power flared in the room, hot and seductive and heady, so damn powerful I froze. And squeaked when my head span, suddenly on his lap, his arms wrapped around me tight as I continued my protection, not about to have to start this again with him. His Vampire growled loudly, shaking me a bit, and I felt his fangs lengthen, one fucking nipping my lip, cutting me the barest bit…and I firmly ignored the touch of his tongue dabbing over it before it healed as I blew the last bit of air from myself to him, quickly pulling my head back, muttering, “Don’t you dare bite me.”

  He shook his head hard, staring down at my face, the room silent as a graveyard, and he slurred, “Fucking,” another shake of his head, his lips lifting on one side, showcasing those amazingly frightening fangs, “Christ.”

  “Yep.” I patted his arm. “Let me up.”

  Brann had to give me a hand when Elder Bridges just blinked.

  I readjusted my shirt and inhaled a bit shakily, really happy Elder Bridges was on my side with that power show, and moved to Elder Samson, who eyed me apprehensively, even though he was still slunk on his seat, his gaze darting to Elder Bridges, then back to me. “Is this really necessary?”

  “If you want to go to the Temple?” I nodded once. “Yes.”

  “It’s good,” Elder Bridges muttered on a slur, head on the table. “Really fucking good.�
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  Sin was chuckling quietly now at the other end of the table, but I ignored him, staring down to Elder Samson, flicking a finger around the room. “You want to do this?”

  Instant. “Yes.”

  “Then open your mouth.”

  He glared for a moment, and I knew he had all kinds of reservations, but he did as I said.

  I inhaled heavily, and bent…and couldn’t help winking at him…then pressed my lips to his, blowing slowly my protection. His eyes instantly flared and his skin glowed unpretentiously, then his lids dipped as his hands…Christ…touched my face very gently, cupping my cheeks softly, a quiet, masculine groan emitting from him. I hadn’t pictured him a gentle lover, but apparently, he might just be because his touch stayed utterly soft until the last of my protection flew into him, and I pulled my head back, and stopped glowing.

  He blinked slowly. “Huh.” His glowing hands dropped from my face, and he quietly put his head on the table in the crook of his arm while he continued to glow.

  My brows lifted as I stared down at him for a long moment, utterly surprised. Tugging on my shirt after a moment, I turned on my heal and headed back down to the end of the table, hearing a few clearings of masculine throats, apparently, I, not the only one surprised by that softer side of him. “Alright,” I fixed my shirt again, “now that the formalities are done,” and firmly ignoring Elder Samson’s glow, I asked, “Elder Bridges, Elder Samson, are you able to listen?” I got a Vampiric grunt and a flicked glowing finger in response from their prone positions, leaning on the table. “I’ll take that as a yes, so on to an important issue. Listen and learn our Laws. If you are charged while you are at the Temple, it won’t matter if you didn’t know you had done something wrong. The Law will stand. And you won’t like those consequences, and I won’t either, because I’ll probably be the one extracting the punishment.” I stared pointedly at those in the room. “Understand?”