Marked Descendant
Page 17
“The Brakij is complete; you are now bonded in the way of witches,” Madalena said, beaming, and their guests cheered.
A shining and all encompassing joy swept over Naomi, and she leaned forward to press her lips to Alaric’s, sealing their future with a kiss.
Chapter 29
Elias hovered behind the other guests as Naomi and Alaric kissed, a pang of envy piercing him as they gazed into each other’s eyes, as if the world only existed for the two of them. He’d felt that way only once in his life, and he’d accepted long ago that he would never feel that way again. Still, he couldn’t help his envy; Alaric and Naomi’s pull toward each other had been clear since the moment he first saw them together.
As the ceremony came to an end, Naomi, Alaric, and the guests filed inside, heading to the drawing room, which Madalena, Fiona and Kat had converted into a reception space. Elias lingered behind, closing his eyes, taking a moment to revel in the fragrant scent of the garden’s flowers. These gardens were his favorite part of Alaric’s estate. He didn’t spend enough time at any of his homes to have proper gardens, which he’d always found peaceful. And he needed a final moment of peace before heading off to his next assignment. He’d already said his goodbyes to Alaric and Naomi; he was heading directly to the airport once he left here.
He sensed eyes on him, and opened his to see Madalena lingering behind, studying him. She was one of the few people who knew the details of his assignment. She approached with a sad smile.
“You’re leaving now, aren’t you?” she asked.
“I want to get settled in,” he said. He had history in the city he was going to, New Orleans, and he wanted to make sure his head was clear before he got to the meat of why he was there. Reaching down into his pocket, he took out a photo. Madalena took the photo, studying it.
“This is the first photo I’ve seen of her,” Madalena mused.
“It’s one of the few we have,” Elias said. “She’s been elusive.”
In the photo, a golden haired witch walked down the street, sunglasses shielding her face, her hair tucked back in a bun. It was clear she was trying to be incognito; the Alliance had actually found her by accident. They’d gotten a glimpse of her in Chicago before she went missing again.
Unlike Naomi, Bianca Ibano knew she was a Descendant, and went out of her way to avoid detection. The Alliance had only recently discovered her. She was a member of the powerful Ibano family, and a relative of the now deceased Order leader Raphael. But she seemed to want no part of the war between the Alliance and the Order. She had reappeared in New Orleans only days ago, and the Alliance needed someone to get to her before she vanished from the radar again.
“I can’t blame her for staying hidden,” Madalena said, shaking her head. “Look at what Naomi’s gone through.”
“Naomi chose to help us,” Elias reminded her. “And this time, we’re not asking for help. We’re offering our protection.”
The Alliance had kept the news quiet from Naomi and Alaric during her recovery, but there was another group threatening the relative peace of witches and vampires. This time, it was a group of vampires. Elias’s chest tightened at the thought of them; they were particularly vicious, and centered in New Orleans. A Descendant would be a prime target.
“Are you sure you’re up for it?” Madalena asked. “We could always find—“
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve been in England for awhile now on this assignment. I think Naomi and Alaric can take it from here. And I’m glad they’re both leaders, they deserve it, but Alaric’s going to be a really annoying boss,” he said, with an exaggerated groan.
“Naomi will keep him in check,” Madalena said, smiling. “And so will I. We’ll miss you. A lot. Who’s going to be the wisecracker of our group?”
“Casimir can be trained. And Naomi can be sharp tongued when she wants,” Elias said, grinning.
“Stay in touch, OK?” Madalena asked. At his nod, she continued, “And . . . you’re going into uncharted territory. Unlike the Order, there’s still a lot we don’t know about these vampires. Be careful.”
“I will,” he promised.
He and Madalena shared a long embrace, and he watched as she headed inside to join the others. It was only when she faded from view that he turned to make his way off the estate grounds and towards the circular driveway, where a car waited for him.
He studied the photo once more before returning it to his pocket, a question circling through his mind as he stepped into the car.
Who are you, Bianca Ibano?
THE END
of
MARKED DESCENDANT
Elias’ story continues in Book 3, DARK DESCENDANT. Want to be notified of its release? Join L.D. Goffigan’s newsletter HERE.
A Message from the Author
Have you read The First Witches? It’s a brief prequel short about the First Witches and the creation of the Incantation Stone.
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Thank you for reading Marked Descendant. I hope you enjoyed it! The story continues with Elias in Book 3, Dark Descendant, coming soon.
About the Author
L.D. Goffigan writes thrilling and fast-paced paranormal romance and paranormal fantasy novels. She studied film and dramatic writing at New York University. She grew up on the East Coast but now resides in a large city by the sea on the West Coast. When not writing, she enjoys traveling and dreaming of new fantastical tales to tell.
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Also by L.D. Goffigan
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