Envy (Protectors of the Elemental Magic Book 4)

by Marnie Cate

  Envy

  Protectors of the Elemental Magic

  Book IV

  Marnie Cate

  Copyright (C) 2017 Marnie Cate

  Layout Copyright (C) 2017 by Creativia

  Published 2017 by Creativia

  eBook design by Creativia (www.creativia.org)

  Cover art by http://www.thecovercollection.com/

  Edited by T. A. Crow

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Connect with Me

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to those who believe in the magic during times when it seems gone.

  Without you, the stories would not have continued.

  ♥Meg ♥Julie ♥Jane ♥Tommi ♥Lil ♥Dame Judi Dench

  And for ♥Gram - you are always and forever in my heart.

  “Envy eats nothing but its own heart.” - German proverb

  Prologue

  “Grandmother?”

  Taking a deep breath, I rested my hand on her shoulder. She did not turn to face me. She just stared out the window. The tightness in her shoulders relaxed the smallest amount when I called my element – Air. Silently, I prayed for Air to release her tension. I hoped it would coax her into being honest with me.

  I had taken a chance coming here. Being back in the home of my grandmother gave me an uneasy feeling. For the first six years of my life, I had been raised in this cold, lifeless mansion as Miles Drygen. It was not until I went to live with my half-sisters, Mara and Meg, that I began to understand what family meant. My new family immediately welcomed me and I felt at home. In the Drygen Mansion, I had been taught to only speak when spoken to, focus my mind on becoming an educated young man and always use proper etiquette. In all the time I was here, I could only remember a handful of tender moments with my Grandmother Drygen.

  Blanche Drygen was a complete contrast to my maternal grandmother, Mae Veracor. My first introduction to Mae began with her insisting I call her Gram. Of course, both women were beautiful and intelligent. However, where Grandmother Drygen was always formal and icy towards me, Gram wrapped me in love for the brief hours I spent with her. Even though Gram truly was a stranger to me, her death cut me to my core. This small glimmer of love had awoken my heart. I decided then that I would never be a Drygen. Instead, I would become the man Gram would want me to be.

  I not only felt loved by this new family, but they taught me about the Goddess Danu and the elemental magic she had gifted our families with. I learned, like Mara, I had a connection to Air, not just the scary dark magic the Drygen maid, Hazel, had taught me to hide.

  “I know you hear me, Grandmother,” I said, forcefully. “I want to talk to you about our family. I need to know more about him. I need to explain —”

  “He was a good man, Miles,” she said, interrupting me. “He just never knew how to break the bindings she put on him.”

  I stood still, not wanting to stop her from talking. If I listened quietly, she might tell me what I needed to know. She might tell me why the Drygen family had become so dark and cruel. Why they had betrayed the Goddess Danu.

  “It was all because of their ridiculous promise to Protect the Magic,” she sneered. “If they would have just left it alone, things could have been different. If they would have said, `No, thank you', they could have lived a happy mortal life.” Her shoulders slumped and she sighed. “No, that isn't true. The truth is, it all had to happen or Jameson would never have known I existed.”

  Kneeling next to her, I softly touched her cheek. Her eyes glistened with tears. “Please tell me why our family is so cursed, Grandmother. I killed him. I need to know. Am I bad?”

  “You are from Mae's blood. The Silver line has drowned out any drop of Drygen you had left in you,” she said softly. Her words were not hateful. Instead, she sounded full of regret. “Please get me a sweater from my room and I will tell you how the Drygen's became cursed to never truly love.”

  Chapter 1

  My mother sold her soul to the Goddess of Winter and mine along with it.

  Camille Drygen was Starten's most powerful woman, and I was my mother's biggest disappointment. As she brushed my black hair, I could almost feel her eyes boring into the back of my head. I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes as the bristles dug into my scalp.

  “You have embarrassed me for the last time, Blanche Adriana Drygen,” she hissed. “Roger will have nothing to do with you after such an outburst. Do you want to be a spinster? Do you want to end up alone and penniless?”

  Grabbing my shoulders roughly, she forced me to turn and face her. Her hazel eyes locked on my violet ones. Her eyes held more than anger, I could sense her fear.

  “You cannot marry me off to get rid of me. I am barely nineteen-years-old and far from a spinster, Mother. We have plenty of money, more than anyone can ever need. Why do you insist on trying to send me away with such horrible old men? Roger Kingston is almost sixty years old. What kind of husband would he make?” I argued.

  “He is a well-respected business man, and stop exaggerating. He is only fifty-three years old, not to mention handsome and physically fit. There is no reason for your disdain. I have done nothing but try to protect you. Why can't you believe me?” My mother said cupping my face. “You have no idea what I have done to protect you. Everything I have given up.”

  “Mother, I know you lost your elemental magic, but that has nothing to do with me. Besides, why does this matter? You don't need it anymore. We have plenty of money and you are the most influential woman in this town.”

  My mother had told me how she and her three friends had saved a goddess and were gifted with elemental magic. Her friends were so jealous of her they bound her Fire magic. She never forgave them, and especially despised Genevieve Silver. `Viv', as the girls called her, had always been the leader of their small group. Of course, my mother didn't follow readily, but like the others, she usually relented to the calming guidance of their friend. In the end, Viv had been the one who decided to take my mother's magic.

  “Blanche, do you see your father?”

  “Of course not, he's dead. Why would you say such a horrible thing?” I asked, glaring at her. Bringing up my father to prove a point confirmed she was a cruel person.

  “My decision to go against her is the reason I lost my magic. It is the reason your father an
d your brothers are not here today. It is my fault! I am to blame. Their deaths were no accident. The machinery at the cannery did not cause the explosion. She warned me. She gave me a chance to listen and I ignored her words. She took your brothers', your father's lives as payment for my disrespect. She has told me you will be next if I can't convince her you will produce powerful children.”

  I paled at the thought. “What do you mean? I don't understand what you are trying to tell me. Who are you afraid of?”

  “I need to see you married and with child – sooner than later. This is the only way. It will buy us time.”

  “I don't understand, Mother. Who are you talking about? Why is she targeting our family?”

  “When I was seventeen, Danu's sister, Snowystra, approached me after an elemental blessing with my friends. She told me Danu had decided to remove the magic from all four of us, citing we had been too careless with the gift. She told me of all the girls I should not be punished. I should be allowed to keep my magic. If I pledged loyalty to her, I would not only have my strong Fire magic but she would bless me with the magic of Winter. I accepted her gift naively. I did not know who she was. I did not know she was a cruel goddess. As her cold magic ran through my veins, the joy I once felt from Danu's gift was gone. I blamed my friends for how my life turned out, even though I knew it was my own fault. They had kept their promise, but I was the one who was so full of greed I couldn't see the truth.”

  “Why have you never told me this? Why have you never shown me your magic?” I asked. “You told me yours was bound and it was Genevieve Silver's fault.” I dug through the drawer of my vanity and pulled out a small candle I had saved from my sixteenth birthday. “Show me your magic.”

  My mother wrapped her hands around mine. Her eyes filled with tears. My mother was crying. Even when my father died, I had not seen one drop.

  “I cannot,” she said softly. “I told you the truth. My elemental gift was bound and is forever gone.”

  “Show me the gift from Winter then.”

  “No!” The tears in her eyes were gone and the cold stare of hate I knew returned. “I will never use her gift. And, you must never accept it either, Blanche. You will carry the child she wants and turn it over to her. She will release our family from this curse if you do it.”

  “You can't be serious? You want me to have a child and give it to her? Mother, I think you have lost your mind,” I shouted.

  Slap. The cold sting of her hand across my face brought tears to my eyes.

  Narrowing her eyes, she hissed, “You will listen to my words, Blanche. If you don't, you will end up like your brothers and father. You will marry someone you don't love. You will give away the child. Then, I will find a way to free you, and you can live a new life. A good life. Maybe even with someone you love?”

  She set the candle down on my vanity table and walked out of the room. Stopping in the doorway, she said, “I am sorry, Blanche. I never wanted your life to be like this. I never wanted my life to turn out this way.” She inhaled deeply, lifting her chin with determination. “You are a beautiful woman. We will try again. You can fix this.”

  * * *

  The dress my mother chose for me was too tight and cut scandalously low. It revealed much more cleavage than I would ever dare. She insisted it was necessary. She said I must be every man's desire in order to make Roger realize the mistake he would make if he didn't pursue me again.

  “Tonight is the night. He will be unable to resist you,” she declared.

  My efforts to tempt Roger were futile. He had not even shown up to the dance. I shouldn't have been surprised considering this event was aimed at the younger crowd. Even my mother, who lived for all occasions, didn't make an appearance. Roger's only reason to come would be to pursue me or another young woman. I wasn't sure if I should be offended or relieved.

  I was not going to let Roger be my only option. After all, he was not the only option in Starten. I would find the man I would marry on my own. I searched the room for a potential husband, but the selection was grotesque. I would not settle for an old man eager to takeover my father's businesses or a young man with no ambition, except to get me into bed. I had given up and decide to go home when I saw him. My heart fluttered when he smiled and waved at me.

  Chester Veracor stood over six feet tall and had the most enchanting blue eyes. He met every one of my requirements: height, strong build, dark hair and a strong work ethic. He had his own business making exquisite furniture. Yes, he did manual labor, but I could change that. Under my guidance, we could build his small business. He could leave behind the hard work, which only roughened his hands, and he could teach others instead. He was older at thirty-four years old, but this meant he would be ready to settle down.

  As he walked towards me, he gave me a crooked smile. I forgot how charming he could be. One look and I was hooked. My mind began to fill with dreams of our future. Maybe, I could have love with Chester. I had no doubts we would have a strong child to give to the Goddess. I also knew he would be strong enough to deal with a loss of a child.

  I recalled a conversation from earlier that day. When I asked how I would explain giving away my child, Mother said we would say the baby was stillborn. Whoever my husband was, he would, of course, want to comfort the distraught mother who had lost her newborn. Mother was a talented manipulator. It appeared I would soon find out if I had inherited her trait or not.

  “Good evening, Blanche,” Chester greeted in a husky voice. “Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

  Giving him a seductive smile, I answered, “I would love to.”

  When Chester took my hand, I felt a tingle of excitement run through me. My future would not be dark and dreary. It appeared I would fall in love and marry. My mind raced as he twirled me around the dance floor. When the song changed to a slower song, Chester slipped his arms around me, pulling me in closer. I took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of cut wood with a slight hint of vanilla and cinnamon.

  Vanilla and cinnamon? My body tensed as the slow reality slipped in. Hours before he must have been holding Mae Silver close. Her scent was all over him. How could I have been so foolish? Of course, he had been with her. He had been dating her for months now.

  When the music stopped, I curtly said, “Thank you for the dance.”

  As I turned to walk away, he took my hand. “Why are you running off? Don't you like to dance?”

  “Dancing is fine, Chester. However, I prefer not to dance with taken men. We wouldn't want to upset Mae,” I responded coldly.

  “Oh, she is not the jealous type. Come on, dance with me. Maesi would want us to enjoy the party. She would say her silly cold shouldn't ruin a nice evening for everyone,” he said, beaming at me.

  He really had thought it was just a dance between friends. I had been a fool. Once again, Mae Silver would get the last laugh at me and my family.

  “Sweet offer, Chester,” I said. “I think I put in enough babysitting hours though. Why don't you ask Janet Ward? She looks desperate for someone to dance with her.”

  With those cruel words, I stormed away from him and outside the building … one of many mistakes I would make because of my temper.

  * * *

  “Hello, Blanche,” a woman's voice purred. “I have been hoping to have a small talk with you, darling.”

  The owner of the voice stepped out of a cloud of black mist. A breeze of cold wind blew ice crystals straight at me. As she walked towards me with long, slow strides, I stared in awe. Her ankle- length dress was made of black crystal. Her snow-white skin shimmered as if she had been dusted with frost. The dress she wore was daring with a plunging crystal beaded neckline that fell below her belly button. Through long lashes, her blue-grey eyes met mine.

  “Your mother's dress selection is quite interesting,” the woman said, trailing her long nails down my cheek. “Has your mother told you about me yet?”

  “You are Sn-Snowystra?” I questioned. My body began to t
remble in fear.

  “Good, you do know me. I am so glad silly introductions can be skipped. I must admit I have been quite displeased by your family for some time now, but you have put in a real effort with your dress. Did you scandalize the pure citizens of Starten? How delightful.” Snowystra threw back her head and laughed at her own joke.

  “Did she tell you why, out of all the girls, I chose her? No? Well, I'll tell you then. She had such potential. She wasn't swayed by the tranquility of Danu.” The Goddess looked pleased as she explained, “Camille craved passion and success. So, I gave her the greatest gift one could have, and do you know how I have been repaid? I haven't!” Her smile was replaced with a sneer. “She has given me nothing in return for the blessings I bestowed upon her.”

  Circling me, I could feel her icy breath on the back of my neck. Gripped in terror, I couldn't find the words to respond to any of her questions.

  “Did she tell you my magic flows through your veins, too?” She placed the palm of her hand on my chest. “The beating of your heart is because I gave it to you.”

  My skin began to burn and I jerked back.

  With lightening reflexes, Snowystra was suddenly behind me, and she had a tight grip on my hair. She tilted my head and whispered in my ear, “I can stop your life with the blink of my eye.”

  I froze in fear as my lungs began to painfully fill with sharp icicles. My breathing became labored and I was consumed with a coldness like I'd never known before. Mercifully, Snowystra released her hold on me and I dropped to my knees. I panicked, sure she was going to kill me. I clutched my neck, as if that simple movement could have done anything to save me.

  “Play dead. Submit,” a silky male voice whispered.

  I had heard this voice before, but where? I had no choice, except to listen to his advice. So, I closed my eyes and dropped to the ground. Forcing myself, I refused to suck in air. Instead, I accepted the burning pain in my chest, suppressing my screams as it became excruciating. I heard her cruel laughter ring out as I neared unconsciousness