by Alanea Alder
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Other Books on Amazon
My ANGEL
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Bewitched and Bewildered
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ALANEA ALDER
Copyright © 2017 Alanea Alder
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the address below.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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P.O.Box 280
Moyock, NC, 27958
Digital ISBN- 978-1-941315-20-0
Print ISBN- 978-1-941315-21-7
Sacred Forest Publishing
Dedication
~Omnia Vincit Amor- Love Conquers All~
Remember the best way to conquer the darkness is to turn on the light.
PROLOGUE
Etain stared into the golden flames that flickered in the wall-sized fireplace. The warm light usually calmed his soul, but he found that he couldn't close his eyes without seeing the tormented tears of his mate.
Sighing, he sat back in the worn, brown leather recliner and swirled the rare amber liquid in his goblet. Fae wine outside of Éire Danu was hard to come by, but lucky for him he was favored by their queen.
He took a sip and breathed through the warmth expanding from the wine as it traveled to his stomach. Usually, it only took half a glass to chase away the worries of the day. He was on his second bottle, with little effect.
For the dozenth time, he raised his cell phone and stared. He had never once asked for help in all the long, lonely centuries he had been in Noctem Falls. It made him feel like he was failing to call now.
He shook his head. This was his future mate. His pride be damned. She deserved every protective measure he could call to their side. With his thumb, he pushed the number two. After several rings, a soft voice answered.
"Hello?" his baby sister sounded half awake.
"Hello, Allia."
He heard her gasp. "Etain! Are you well?" she paused. "Do you know what time it is?" she demanded, sounding more like her usual spitfire self.
"I may need some help baby sister," he admitted.
"Who do I have to kill?"
He pulled the phone away and stared at it checking the number. Frowning he put it back up to his ear. "No one." He scowled. "Who is letting you fight?" His second call would be to her twin and his other younger sibling Ailain.
She humphed. "My only big brother in the entire universe is calling me at two o'clock in the morning for the first time in years. Years Etain!" her voice rose an octave and he winced. "Of course someone needs a beat down and if you're even thinking of bypassing me and calling Ailain I will come there myself to kick you."
Etain's mouth twitched. "By the gods, I have missed you."
She sniffed. "I miss you too. When are you coming home for good? Surely your duty to the queen as been fulfilled by now."
He chuckled. "It was fulfilled a long time ago little one. I stayed because I saw hope where once there was nothing but fear and I wanted to ensure that hope had a chance to bloom."
"Then why call? What is going on?"
"I believe my mate in on her way to me and could be in danger. Many things are happening right now in the city."
"Your mate? Oh Etain! That's wonderful news. What do you need from us? Should we come help?" she volunteered.
"No!" he barked. Images of his two precious siblings getting hurt or sick flooded his mind.
"You don't have to take my head off. I was offering assistance you know."
"It's not safe for the two of you to come here."
"But it's safe enough for you to be there?"
"I am a warrior. Besides I do have other fae here who can help. Belenos, Eoson, Vindonnus, Daire and Sulis also serve as unit warriors."
"Which Sulis?"
"Sulis Vi'Erlondon, Sulis Ri'Orthames is assigned to the Zeta Unit in Lycaonia."
"I always get those two confused. How did that happen? It's not common practice to name children after anyone, we're too long lived for it."
Etain chuckled. "The younger Sulis was named after his athair. Our Sulis walked around with his chest puffed out for months." He shook his head at the memory.
"Ailain and I have been training. We could help as much as the other warriors," she offered.
"Don't make me call father."
She snorted. "Go ahead. I bet it would be faster to come here explain everything, visit with mother and return, than to get him off the phone." She was quiet, then continued in a softer tone. "They miss you every day."
Etain swallowed hard. In truth, he missed them as well. Leaving the shining city of the fae had been hard, leaving his family painful, but leaving them both had been torturous.
"Can you ask the queen if she has anyone who can come visit for a few weeks, until things calm down?"
She sighed. "Of course I can. That's why you called me isn't it, instead of father? Because I'm her personal attendant."
"That and you're right, if I called father at two o'clock in the morning, I would only be able to hang up the phone with him after he traveled through a portal and stood knocking on the other side of my door."
She giggled. "True. I will pass along your request first thing in the morning. Is that crazy little human well? I know the queen will ask about her."
"She is fine. It amazes me that Meryn has captured the interest of our queen."
"I'm not amazed, do you follow her on Facebook? She is an absolute nut! We all love reading her posts here at court."
Etain shook his head. He wondered if Meryn knew exactly how popular she was, but then again, knowing her, she probably wouldn't care.
"She's even crazier in person."
"Bring her to visit along with your mate. You're long overdue to return anyway."
It was on the tip of his tongue to promise, but he hesitated. If his gut feeling was right his mate would be arriving to help with the children's sickness. If that was the case, she'd be needed here to help treat the children.
"I will bring them as soon as I am able," he promised.
"Etain, brother, everything is all right isn't it?" she asked, sounding younger.
He forced himself to smile and lighten
his voice. "Of course darling. If things were truly dire I would be calling the queen herself would I not?"
"No you wouldn't. Don't try to blow smoke up my bottom, I know you. You don't like ask for help, that's why I'm worried, because out of all of us, I know you feel I am the easiest to talk to. That's why I believe things are dire, you'd never ask for assistance otherwise."
He sighed. "When did you grow up?"
"While your huge ass was walking around that dark, horrible city," she retorted.
"I do not have a huge ass," he protested. He smiled when he heard her giggle.
"You know what I mean. I'm pretty tall but sparing with guards always makes me feel tiny."
Etain frowned. "Who have you been sparing with? Does the queen know?"
"Who do you think suggested the lessons?"
Etain rubbed between his brows. "Be careful." He knew he would be calling Ari Lionhart later to threaten his ability to reproduce if anything happened to his baby sister.
"Always."
"Goodnight darling."
"Goodnight brother, may the gods bless your dreams." She blew him a kiss and hung up.
He set his phone down and brought the goblet to his lips.
If only the gods could bless his mate instead, maybe, then his nightmares would end.
CHAPTER ONE
"I am starting a religion."
Etain looked across the breakfast table and stared at the small human. He and Micah had been invited by the prince himself to take their meals on Level One going forward. It was easier to get everyone's briefings done while eating than to have multiple meetings later throughout the day.
Aiden's head snapped down to look at his mate. "No."
"My furries need guidance. And, I'm bored." She looked over to Gavriel. "You've been around a while. How do religions start?"
Aiden's expression became more panicked as he realized that his mate was serious. "Meryn, you cannot start a religion. It just isn't done."
She looked up at her mate. "Why not?"
"Because!" Aiden sputtered.
"I think I would be a great religion." She turned to Magnus. "Right?"
Magnus' lips twitched. "There are worse examples of both religions and religious leaders out there. I do believe you could do better than they."
Aiden shot the prince a dirty look before focusing his attention on his tiny mate. "You don't even update your Facebook regularly, how could you run a religion. What are you basing it on?" The Unit Commander sounded absolutely flustered.
Meryn tapped her chin. "Good point. Other regions have martyrs and shit and I don't feel like dying. They're also usually really smelly, and my stomach is finally settling down. I don't need to make myself sick with my own body odor."
Aiden relaxed a fraction. "See, there you go."
Gavriel chuckled. "These things usually evolve over time Meryn. I do not believe you can just announce it on social media."
"But I've worked out my first commandment already," she said brightening.
Eva's eyes were dancing as she leaned forward. "Do tell."
Aiden growled. "Don't encourage her."
The air around Meryn shimmered, and suddenly she was dressed in a black monk style robe and cowl. "Thou shalt not be a douchebag," she intoned in low monotone syllables.
Across from each other, Colton and Declan folded their hands in front of their chests. "Amen," they said in unison.
Adriel frowned at the grinning duo. "These two should stay in different cities. I fear for Noctem Falls."
"Oh Holy One, your latte is ready," Ryuu said placing a tall cup in front of Meryn.
The hood was thrown back before the clothing shimmered to the sweats and tee shirt she had been wearing. "Yes!" She picked up the cup and inhaled reverently.
Kendrick smiled indulgently at Meryn amused by her wackiness. He then turned to Aiden. "She will need another guard. I am commandeering Law and the twins to work in the lab with me."
Meryn frowned. "My acolytes? Why?"
"Because they are twins and can run power between them, amplifying it like a battery. They will be needed," Kendrick informed her.
Etain cleared his throat. "I can watch over her."
Aiden look at him relived. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Of course. My queen holds her in high regard. It would be an honor to guard her."
"Perfect," Law said. "Kendrick told me that we would be delving into old magic. I don't know if I will ever have another opportunity to see it done."
"Does anyone have anything else to go over?" Kari asked looking up from her clipboard.
Meryn raised her hand and waved it. Kari smiled at her. "Go ahead Meryn."
"Y'all's iPads arrived yesterday with the shit ton of supplies that Marjoram strong armed that hospital into donating." She laughed. "I was there when she called, the directors were tripping over each other seeing who could be the most ingratiating because of that asshole who tried to kill Ellie. I could almost hear them genuflecting over the phone." She looked at Ellie. "Your gram is a serious badass."
Ellie grinned wickedly. "I know."
Meryn turned back to Kari. "I already set up the iPads and linked them to our network. They are ready to go." She looked behind her. "Ryuu?"
"I have them here denka." Ryuu lifted a small stack of silver tablets. He handed one to each person at the table. Etain frowned down at his. "What does this do?" he asked.
Meryn shrugged. "What doesn't it do? It can do lists, email, texts, FaceTime, video and audio recording, movies, music, books, internet browsing, lists, database records and more."
Adriel held his in his hands as if it were made of expensive, delicate crystal. "You said that it could also use a pen." He pulled out a ballpoint and went to write on the tablet.
"Stop!" Meryn screeched.
Adriel froze. "What?"
Ryuu handed him a thin white object. "I believe you are to use this."
Adriel frowned. "Where is the ink or lead?"
Kari shook her head. "I can show him Meryn. I use a tablet at work."
Meryn sat back. "Neanderthals I swear." She looked at her mate. "I added everyone to the same running contact list including email addresses."
Colton held up his tablet. "Meryn what is the app with the 'V' on it?"
"That's the Vanguard app I launched last year. I had Radek distribute it among his squad first. They forwarded it to every Vanguard they knew of with instructions to do the same. To register they have to meet up with another Vanguard squad for verification then both squads can proceed. Their personal information is then added to my database and I'm able to track them using a built in GPS feature on the app." She became thoughtful. "There aren't many of them."
Rheia smiled. "Of course there are. Radek said that there were multiple squads per state. Even if it was only one squad per state, that at least two-hundred and fifty men right there."
"Well, only eighty-five have registered," she said flatly.
The men around the table became quiet. Colton opened the app. "Why don't we have to register?"
"Because I know you're not feral. That was the whole point of the verification process." Her explanation did nothing to alleviate the mounting tension in the room.
Etain looked to Micah, Grant and Declan. They had many close friends among the Vanguard.
"I'm sure they're just off the grid," Colton said.
"Meryn why didn't you tell me about this?" Aiden asked scowling.
She rolled her eyes. "Tell you what exactly? That your friends didn't want to sign up for my app?"
"Baby, based on what Darren Williams was able to tell you about the current list of Vanguard members, how many are missing?" Aiden asked.
Meryn fidgeted. "About one hundred. According to his latest list, there are thirty-seven Vanguard squads, which equals to one-hundred and eighty five members."
Aiden paled. "That can't be right."
Rheia set her fork down. "Does my brother know?"
Meryn
nodded. "He said he would work on contacting anyone who is listed as 'unregistered'."
"Unregistered?" Declan asked.
She turned to him. "Those who have been invited to join but haven't followed up."
"Add that to our growing list of concerns," Magnus said, pointing to Kari's new iPad.
"What list?" Rex asked.
Magnus turned to Meryn. "What did you call it again?"
"The SGW list. 'Shit. Gone. Wonky'," she explained. "I moved a copy of that list to the iPads. It syncs among our group. So if someone adds something or solves a problem it updates for everyone."
Magnus nodded. "Yes, yes. Very apt name. Which reminds me," He turned to Kendrick. "Since the twins are reporting to you for the duration, can you have them check the city's refuse tubes? We have had multiple reports of slow or backed up drains. As you know, those two are some of the best earth witches we have."
Kendrick nodded. "I'll get them on it today."
Etain noticed that the prince looked more tired than normal. He had dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. "Sire, mayhap you could rest after breakfast?" he suggested.
Magnus shook his head. "Too much is being added to that damn list for me to rest."
"Don't make me call my grandmother down here," Ellie threatened.
Magnus smiled. "Her company would be welcome compared to what I have planned for my morning." He sat back. "I have meetings with the heads of the Founding Families today regarding the children. Speaking of which, were you able to call your friend?"
Ellie nodded. "Vivi? Yes, I called her this morning actually while feeding Benji. She said that she had to tie up a few loose ends, but she'd get here as soon as she could. Knowing her, that means this evening at the latest. I had barely gotten the words 'Shifter Virus' out when she started asking about the nearest portal."
Magnus' eyes softened at the mention of Grant's new son. "How our little gentleman?"
Ellie beamed. "He's teething, which means tons of drool and growling. Grant thinks it's adorable," she said teasing her mate.