by Missy Jane
Guarding the kingdom is child’s play compared to guarding their hearts.
Gargoyle Masters, Book 2
As his month-long guard duty comes to an end, Master Wynnston should be looking forward to well-deserved time away from the king’s castle. Instead, he feels strangely reluctant to leave. When Zephara of the Pastelle race arrives, he realizes why.
The stunning, silver-eyed ambassador is the woman his heart, body, and soul have been waiting for. She’s also a powerful wizard who will endure the test of the Twenty. Wynn has never been afraid to woo a strong woman, but winning and keeping Zephara’s love will test him to the limit.
Meanwhile, pure chance has finally led Master Kephas to find the runaway Princess Theodora. But before he can return the frightened, skittish beauty to her father, he must win her trust—and her heart.
Physical strength will do Wynn and Kephas no good as they face their challenges. And two women will search deep within themselves for the strength, courage—and tenderness—to bring two powerful men to their knees.
Warning: If you’re looking for ugly stone creatures, move along—you won’t find them here. If you like hot, protective males who aren’t intimidated by strong, assertive females, settle in and turn the page.
Born of Magic
Missy Jane
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my wonderful readers. Thank you for asking for a sequel to Born of Stone. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter One
Master Wynnston stepped onto the small balcony protruding from King Kadmos’s castle and surveyed the land around him. Laughter echoed from the courtyard below and he leaned on the brick wall to spy on the humans beneath. They were so lively and energetic, so full of joy. It didn’t seem to matter that their lives were finite, or how many obstacles they faced on a daily basis. He’d watched them over his seventy-plus years of life and still marveled at their resilience.
His thoughts turned to the human woman who had resided in his home the past year. Astrid, wife to his brother Orestes. She was a lesson in both resilience and human strength of will. Despite years of abuse, she had thrived and now made Orestes happier than any of the twelve Gargoyle brothers had thought possible. Wynn wanted that kind of happiness for all his brothers, and himself. Nel had found his happiness in the arms of a Kevan woman. Phaidra was expecting their first child, while Astrid recently bloomed with her second. It was a time of great joy in the Gargoyle castle.
So, why was he leagues away brooding in the king’s castle? It wasn’t even his time to protect King Kadmos. His month-long duty had ended three days ago when Steinn arrived. Yet, Wynn had remained in this room and kept to himself in silent contemplation. A feeling of unrest had begun in his gut two nights ago. He felt as if he should be somewhere, but had no clue where he needed to go. Rather than fly off in possibly the wrong direction, he had remained and hoped for clarification on this sudden uneasiness.
A hard knock on his door finally pulled him from the balcony and into the bedroom. He opened the door to find Steinn waiting. “Brother.”
Steinn gave a nod and motioned down the hall. “The festivities have begun, brother. Will you spend another evening alone?”
Wynn ran a hand down his face and considered his options. The King and his wizards were well aware of his continued presence in the castle. Skipping another feast would be considered rude. He really didn’t want to offend his creators.
“Who else has arrived?” he asked.
“The Sidhe have been here since yester eve. A single Pastelle arrived this morning. Another has arrived within the hour but I haven’t been told much about her. The first looks almost human, except for his eyes and hair. The wizards took an immediate interest in the female’s arrival. When I left the throne room she was deep in conversation with Corbin.”
“Odd. Any word yet on who will replace Albain?”
Steinn scowled, much as all the Gargoyles did whenever the traitorous wizard’s name was mentioned. Not quite a year ago he had kidnapped their human staff, including a pregnant Astrid, and held them for ransom. Luckily they had been able to rescue everyone without having to give up the Wizard’s Stone, as it was the source of their power.
“No. No word yet, though Bastien said something curious the day I arrived. He told the king there was word of a female wizard in Lenara. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”
Wynn matched his frown and shook his head. “It was my understanding only men were strong enough in mind and body to become wizards. From what Bastien once told me of magical infusion, a human woman’s temperament was too…soft. They are wonderful creatures, but certainly not of the same caliber as the Kevan warriors. It is a rare human woman who can fight a battle against a man.”
Steinn laughed. “They don’t have to be tough. Haven’t you seen how Astrid can drop Orestes to his knees with a word, or a look?”
They shared a chuckle over how the little human woman had tamed their much larger brother.
“Very true. She is indeed strong for a human woman. And such a small one at that.”
Steinn’s grin faded. “Come, brother. Let’s share a meal and a mug of ale. Then if you still feel the need for solitude, I’ll say nothing of it.”
More to appease his brother than anything, Wynn agreed and followed Steinn down to the large dining hall.
She felt his presence the moment he entered the room. Zephara kept her hood on, covering her hair and pulled low so her eyes were barely visible. At most, he might see from her mouth to her chin. The deep blue cloak was clasped at the neck and the shirt below it buttoned over her throat. Black gloves covered her hands and breeches covered her long legs until her calfskin boots took over at the knees. Many had mistaken her for a slender man as she traveled, which had been her intention. Even for a Pastelle, a woman travelling alone could find herself in danger. She was easily able to defend herself with her magic, but walking in foreign lands where they held treaties quickly became tricky. It was always best to take the safest route.
“The Gargoyles have arrived,” Corbin said from beside her.
She merely nodded as the wizard gave a knowing smile. “The one you seek is the darker haired one on the left.”
Again she nodded, though she didn’t need him to tell her which one was Master Wynnston. She was drawn to him on a primal level, had been dreaming of him most of her life. The reality far exceeded her expectations. He towered over her at easily six and a half feet. From across the large dining hall she couldn’t see his hazel eyes, but they had filled her dreams and she knew them well. His dark brown hair was pulled into a loose tail. Her fingers ached to run through the thick strands.
“The other is Steinn,” Corbin said. “One of his eleven brothers. All are protectors of the realm and take on gargoyle form when needed. However, they spend most of their time as humans.”
“And they were created using the Stone?” Zephara asked.
He nodded. “The Wizard Stone is the strongest in any kingdom. It has harnessed the power of wizards for millennia. They were created with one large fragment that is now kept within their castle.”
“One fragment? So there is more than one Wizard Stone?”
He shrugged. “The one they have is called The Wizard Stone, however, it isn’t the only stone of such power.” He glanced around but no one stood within earshot. “Only the Twenty hold such knowledge. Albain’s memory of this and other such things was altered for the safety of all upon his banishment.”
That he would reveal such information to her was a good sign. Albain’s absence had left a
void, and her initial interview with the nineteen powerful wizards of Halstrid had gone well. She was here now to take the first test. If she proved strong enough to handle the infusion ceremony she would become a wizard, and complete the Twenty of Halstrid. It wasn’t unheard of for a wizard to grow weary of his role after hundreds of years and step down. They soon died after taking such a step, but some had chosen to do so in the past. However, Albain’s betrayal had sealed his fate and his dismissal had been forced.
Now that there was an opening, she would be a fool to let the opportunity pass. Would Master Wynnston want to court a wizard? That question had plagued her for scores of days as she contemplated the changes in her life that would come with moving to Halstrid. It was unprecedented for a woman to become a wizard, but their long history also held much variety among their ranks.
It had been centuries since a Pastelle had passed the rigorous screening process. However, there were currently two Sidhe among the Twenty. Maybe she would set a new precedent, and one day they could count a Kevan amongst their hallowed ranks. The wizards had certainly been receptive to her asking to be tested.
Corbin raised a hand and gained Steinn’s attention, but Zephara had felt Wynnston’s gaze on her from the moment they appeared. She kept her eyes averted, used to lowering her lids when not among her own kind. Many other species found the mercury-silver around her pupils disturbing. Combined with her pale pink hair, and there were few lands Zephara dared to travel in openly. Her looks were common in Pastel, but nowhere else on the continent of Lenara.
The Gargoyles drew closer and with each step her pulse sped faster. Would he recognize her from his own dreams? Did gargoyles dream in the way of other species? What if he thought nothing of the connection she knew they shared? Her species was raised knowing their eternal-mates were somewhere out there waiting to find them. As far as she knew, no other species shared that belief.
“Masters,” Corbin said when they drew close. “It’s my honor to introduce you to our esteemed guest from the kingdom of Pastel. Wynn, Steinn, this is Zephara of the Royal House of Caladon.”
Both men dipped their heads in a short bow.
“Madam,” Steinn said. “It’s an honor to meet a Royal from your esteemed kingdom. I fear I haven’t had occasion to travel that far south.”
“Nor have I,” Wynnston said.
Zephara nodded in return but didn’t raise her head to meet their eyes. If either man found offense, they hid it well.
“It is my honor to meet two of the Master Gargoyles,” she replied.
The hidden woman’s voice was lightly accented, her vowels longer than Wynn was used to hearing. Her voice was also a bit deeper than he’d expected, though still very feminine. Though her hood had hidden her face, he now saw the perfection of it clearly. Alabaster skin singled her out as different from everyone in the room, save her fellow Pastelle. They hadn’t met him yet, as he stood speaking to the King.
Wynn studied the beautiful female before him and wondered at the mystery of her. His heart thudded in his chest and he hoped she couldn’t hear it. The Pastelle were more of a mystery than anything. The king and his wizards knew of them, but as they had treaties with Halstrid going back centuries, the Gargoyles had never had cause to engage them. Pastel didn’t border Halstrid, so they rarely encountered them at all.
“Zephara’s father is one of the lower kings,” Corbin explained. “He has been appointed by the High King to create better communication between the realms. Zephara, and her brother, Zephyr, have come as the first ambassadors to Halstrid.”
“It is an honor to serve my father King,” she said.
“So, that is your brother with King Kadmos?” Steinn asked.
“Yes. We are two of thirty. My father has lived a long and prosperous life in the way of children. Two of his wives are currently expecting.”
Corbin must have seen the surprise on the Gargoyles’ faces. He chuckled and clapped Wynn on the shoulder. “The Pastelle culture is quite different from ours in some ways, namely family. The men live for centuries, and therefore have many wives in their lifetimes. Those wives inevitably bear children. King Raynard isn’t the one with the most children…yet.”
The corners of Zephara’s mouth turned up in a slight smile and Wynn ached to see more of it, more of her. The urge to grab her up and run back to his room with her was overwhelming. Never before had he craved to have a woman all to himself so strongly. “And the women? How long is their life span?”
“About a third of the men, on average,” she replied.
Which meant she would live longer than a human, though by how much? One fear that plagued both Orestes and Nel was losing their wives to the shorter lifespans of the human and Kevan species. The Kevan aged about half as quickly as humans, but could still eventually succumb to a natural death. The wizard Bastien had promised to try and find a way to lengthen their lives, but so far had made no progress in his efforts. The Gargoyles had been created to be immortal, at least from the ravages of time. It stood to reason something as drastic as a beheading would kill them. But no one was willing to test that theory.
“My line has always been long lived,” Zephara said into the sudden silence. “My great-grandmother is three-hundred and ten, and still quite lively.”
“Ah yes. Priscilla. Very lively and very lovely,” Corbin said with a smile.
Steinn raised a brow and Wynn stifled a laugh.
“Yes,” Zephara agreed. “She is both.”
“Well, I must speak to the king a moment before the meal begins,” Corbin said. “Come, Steinn. I’ll introduce you to Zephyr.”
They moved away and relief filled Wynn at the chance to be left alone with Zephara. She remained still with her head lowered and he stepped closer. “You are the first Pastelle I’ve ever met. Yet, you seem familiar.”
She looked up enough for him to see her eyes more clearly. His breath caught and she turned away.
“No,” he said as he clasped her shoulders. “Please, don’t go. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
She shook her head but didn’t struggle. His heart was in his throat but he didn’t question the sudden fear at losing her attention. He wanted to look into her beautiful silver eyes again.
“You didn’t offend me,” she said. “I’m sorry if my eyes disturb you.”
“Disturb me? Nothing could be further from the truth. I find them quite lovely.”
She lifted her eyes again and her surprise was evident. He slid his hands from her shoulders but she remained in place, less than a pace separating them.
“Most species won’t look into the eyes of a Pastelle. They believe we try to hypnotize others with our gaze.”
“Do you? I most certainly feel ensnared.”
The words slipped out without a thought. He cringed until he noticed her slight smile had returned. She didn’t appear to be offended.
“I’ve no more hypnotized you than you have me, Master Wynnston.”
“Please, just call me Wynn. Should I call you princess?”
“Our system is not like the human hierarchy. We have kings, no more.”
Wynn wondered why he knew so little of her culture. The wizards had created him and his brothers and implanted vast knowledge into their minds. However, it was obvious they hadn’t given them nearly enough about the Pastelle. How he had gone so long without realizing this disturbed Wynn.
“I was unaware. There is much of your culture I don’t know, and I’d be honored if you will sit beside me through the meal so we can remedy that.”
She graced him with a full smile and his heart stopped. She had gone from beautiful to radiant with that simple act.
“The honor will be mine, Wynn.”
He held his arm out as his pulse returned to normal, but when she placed her elegant hand on him it sped up again. Though gloves covered her long fingers, he still felt the wa
rmth of her skin.
They made their way to the table as the others in the room also took their seats. Because of the visitors, many of the wealthier residents of the kingdom had turned out and two long tables had been set up in the great hall. The Gargoyles were given places at the king’s table. Wynn longed to have Zephara’s attention all to himself, but King Kadmos made a point to engage both Pastelles and the Sidhe in conversation throughout the meal. Still, Wynn was able to learn much about the lovely dignitary and craved to know even more.
Zephyr sat to the king’s left hand while Corbin sat across at the right. Wynn noticed Zephyr made no attempt to hide himself like his sister. His shiny silver hair fell loose about his shoulders in a thick sheet to his elbows. It matched the silver eyes he shared with his sister.
“Do all Pastelle have silver eyes, or is it a family trait?” he asked Zephara.
“It is common among Pastelle, though few differ. My grandfather’s eyes are violet and my mother’s eyes are golden.”
“Yours are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”
A blush dusted her cheeks but she didn’t turn away as a human woman might. “Thank you. I find your eyes very intriguing.”
“Thank you, though hazel is not considered exotic among most.”
They fell silent as the final course was set before them, but Wynn had lost all interest in food. He wanted to spend every second indulging in Zephara, and nearly laughed at himself for the thought.
“What has amused you?” she asked.
“Hmm?”
“You were smiling but haven’t touched your dessert.”
He chuckled. “I was thinking of you, not the food.”
“Oh?”
“I want to know more about you and your home, Zephara. Are you very tired from your journey?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Wonderful.”
He pushed away his uneaten dessert and stood, giving King Kadmos a respectful bow. The king nodded but didn’t pause in his conversation with the others. Wynn pulled Zephara’s chair back and she stood, immediately capturing Zephyr’s attention.