“Aye, beautiful,” he said with a wink. “A blood prophet, at your service,” he bowed again but kept his gaze trained on Davin and Jenira.
Jenira sucked in her breath. “Blood prophet?” Eden was confused, but Mac and Davin appeared to share her puzzlement. Jenira tapped the blade against her thigh. She glanced at Eden. “Is he trustworthy?”
Eden studied him, trying to look past the rakish, amused façade he presented. She nodded. There was no subterfuge in his aura, just comforting familiarity. She had felt him all her life, she realized with sudden clarity. He had been there, like a soothing song in the background. If she hadn’t been so shaken when her apartment was vandalized, she might have noted he wasn’t going to hurt her.
“Elijah,” she murmured suddenly, the name surfacing from a long-lost memory.
His grin grew as he looked at her. “Ah, little sis, you remember me. I prefer Eli, just as you prefer Eden. Easier to spell, you know. Now that we are all acquainted, how about that beer?” He looked pointedly at Davin again.
The giant shrugged and released a heavy sigh. “So help me, prophet, brother or no; if you betray this group, your head will be on a pike,” Davin growled.
“Perfect!” Eli chortled. “Just what I expect from the fierce warrior leader. I hope you will keep that in mind for all those who betray us.” For a split second, his eyes slid toward the second van where Elliott and the younger girls were still watching in rapt attention, and Eden’s stomach flopped with sudden premonition. Eli continued before anything more could be said on the subject. “So, am I to be invited into the wards?”
“Elijah, you are permitted inside the wards of Castle Ilona.” Davin didn’t sound happy about it.
“Excellent!” Eli laughed and sheathed the dagger at his waist. He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s go. I’m famished and thirsty. I believe I’ll walk. Eden, would you care to join me?”
With one last look at the others, Eden fell into step beside him on the gravel road ahead of the vehicles. She knew without looking that Jenira followed on foot, but the others had returned to the trucks. The small procession made its short way to the high gates. Eden glanced at Eli as they waited for Davin to open the gates electronically or magically, or maybe both.
“Do you know about our parents?” Eden's heart beat faster, and Eli’s happy smile slipped. Up close, his scars were like a map across his face. He was fiercely handsome if one were attracted to dangerous men. His magic was the opposite of his appearance though. It was soft and full of pain that called to her with keening sadness.
“Aye, sis,” he murmured. “But you’d be happier not knowing.”
Eden nodded glumly. She had thought as much. “What are we going to do?”
His impish grin returned as the gates opened wide and they walked into the welcoming embrace of Castle Ilona. Golden eyes met hers. “We fight, sister.”
About the Author
Serena has been writing stories since she was in second grade. Words, books, and stories have always fascinated her. She wrote her first novel when she was twelve and lives in a fantasy world filled with her characters far more than real life.
Serena’s favorite genres to read and write include Fantasy (Paranormal, Urban, High, Sword and Sorcery, Dystopian, etc.), Romance (New Adult, Paranormal, Reverse Harem, Polyamorous, etc.), Sci-fi, and anything else that catches her fancy. Almost all of her books portray characters that push the boundaries of sexuality, gender identity, ableism, and nontraditional relationships.
Serena currently lives in Upstate New York in a developing intentional community. She believes in true love, multiple soul matches, the beauty of starry nights, and the power of touch. Check out her other books, The Soul Tenders Series (A Reverse Harem Fantasy) and her short story in Shamrocked: An Anthology of Irish Shenanigans. She’d love to connect with you on social media!
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Magic's Divide (Magitech Book 2) Page 26