I waited, feeling uncomfortable without Stone nearby. I knew our separation wasn’t forever, but I couldn’t breathe properly.
“Audrey…” Xavier stood in front of me and touched my shoulder lightly.
I backed away, still not comfortable with him. No one’s touch but Stone’s had felt comfortable since I had arrived back.
“I…I was…waiting for-”
My father came out with his hands behind his back. He gave Xavier a loving glance.
“I have something for you, Audrey,”
Xavier smiled at my father as if he knew what was about to happen. When my father stood in front of me my stomached knotted.
“It’s a little later than I was hoping, but…” From behind his back my father pulled a black, raggedy looking stuffed dragon. Aiden. He was missing the same eye, and his face was scratched up.
My hands moved and I didn’t realize I was stepping forward until my fingers brushed the soft fabric. I looked up at my father with tears in my eyes.
“You,” I couldn’t get the words out, “You saved him.”
“For you. Always.” My father pulled me close and kissed my forehead as he pressed my old friend into my hands. The men in front of me looked as if they were slightly uncomfortable.
A door slammed open and I turned to see Stone taking huge strides toward us. He started to slow when he realized I wasn’t in distress.
“Stone, he saved Aiden,” I whispered. Stone pulled me into his chest, the only thing blocking me from his heartbeat was Aiden who was snuggled between us.
“Thank you, Drake,” Stone said reluctantly.
He pulled me away a little later and took us back to our room. I never let my grip of Aiden loosen. Aiden became a constant companion of mine in my room. He was safe. My father had saved him.
• • •
After the rescue mission, Elijah remained distant, but worked closely with Xavier. When I tried to ask what they were working on, Xavier would change the subject. I knew they didn’t quite trust me. I didn’t mind.
I spent most of my days with Stone and Nixie learning about the world that I had been a part of, but also separate and shielded from. I knew that Nixie still didn’t know about her father, and I had only learned about it through Stone. I wanted to tell her, but I knew that I couldn’t say anything. When it came to fathers, there was an unwritten rule between us. In the end, it was best for us to forget that we had fathers.
After learning about what the Braden and Vedenin clans were up to, I knew that we had to try and protect other elder races. When I told Stone that I wanted to stay and help, he just nodded and kissed my forehead. He told me he understood. We were called true mates. I didn’t care what kind of label was on it. All I knew for sure was that I loved him.
We were sitting outside, my head on his shoulder, his hand entwined with mine. He sang me his song again, the one that he sang when he thought I was sound asleep. And I fell asleep there. I was content. For now all was right in my world. For once, I felt completely free.
Epilogue
Elijah
I watched from the edge of the forest. They never noticed me. She never noticed me. I did not know what made me so interested in her, but I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her. She was going to be my downfall. It was a foolish mistake to wander in her mind for so long, to allow myself to become attached to certain memories. Granted they were memories she would be better without, but instead of stealing them as my source of food, I watched them. I lived them with her. I enjoyed every dark moment of her mind, and feasted on her agony. At times, I think, as she relived the memories, she would notice my spirit form lingering in her memories. She had clung to me at times. It was an odd feeling. One I cannot say that I enjoyed.
I couldn’t seem to get the feeling of her nails biting into my less than intangible form, off my mind. I would stare and think of how her slight frame touched every part of my body. How I wanted my form to curl around her and take in her shivering frame. I could not warm her. I did not radiate warmth but to feel that type of fear against my entire body was the most pleasurable experience.
And yet when I watched her trying to learn how to shift with her shape-shifter I couldn’t help but wish that her eyes didn’t sparkle quite so bright. I was entranced by the damaged woman. The one I watched now, while not completely undamaged, was not the same. She would not shiver in my arms as she once did. But I couldn’t tear myself away from the scene. I did not know what was wrong with me.
“I knew I would find you here.”
“You have been staring for a while yourself Xavier.” I stated, not turning toward him. I knew that his reason for watching were much different than my own.
“Yes, but I am still trying to find out your interest in Audrey.” Xavier moved a little closer, watching me with narrowed eyes. His form spoke volumes of his discomfort. His wings were folded tightly, his back tense, fist clenched, jaw biting.
“You disapprove?” I asked, watching Audrey and Stone.
“No. He is a good match for her. What I do disapprove of, is the way you watch her. You look as if you want to steal her and break her all over again.”
“Who says I don’t?” I answered, looking at him from the corner of my eye. I heard a growl slip from his tightly shut mouth. “You came here for a reason I suppose?”
“Yes. I have a mission for you. Far from here.” His voice was more gruff than moments before. I could tell that he was resisting certain instincts.
“She is not yours,” I said looking back at Audrey.
“No. And she is not yours either. Now, do you want the mission or not?”
“I will take it.”
The End of Book One
Appendix
Clan Names
Vedenin: Russian family that had captured Audrey - the clan that wants more power and to control the new emerging paranormals.
York Clan: One of the most powerful families – also where Audrey’s father is now – trying to protect the new paranormals, and wants to eventually reform the paranormal world again so it’s not so divided.
Braden: Stone’s family - the Clan that is trying to destroy the emerging paranormals in order to make the paranormal world’s power shift to the were clans.
Long Clan: Primarily Asian clans – one of the top families ranking next to Braden but still beneath York
Paranormals:
Dawon: A fancier term for a were-tiger – originally from Hindu mythology – they are slightly bigger than other were-tigers from different heritages. (earth)
Djinn: Genies, they have unlimited power, unless they are captured, and the line “Grant me Three” – then they become servants to their “master” until the three uses are used up. (spirit)
Dryad: Wood creatures who live in trees, and protect the forest, they can manipulate the element of Earth but rarely do. These creatures are nonviolent. (earth)
Dwarf: Short sturdy creatures that once lived in the base of the mountains, tend to be hairy, and silent. (earth)
Nepilim: Half angel- half human or Half demon-half human, stronger more agile than a human – live longer – wings that either are feathered or bat – depending on origins. (Air)
Gargoyles: Grey-toned skin creatures, wings, and fierce warriors. Once were the guards to the council. (air/earth)
Mermaids: Water creatures that cannot ever leave the water, with strange toned hair colors – usually ranges for dark blues, to coral like colors. (water)
Sirens: Water creatures that use their siren song to persuade people. They can live on land for extended periods of time but must go back to the water in order to regain their strength – usually their hair colors range from dark blues to blondes. (Green is a rare color) They have both a human form and a water form. Their skin turns scaly, fins grow from their feet, and their hands become webbed, and clawed. Eyes get bigger, and gills grow. (Water)
Shape-shifters: There are three categories. (earth)
Human-shifter: They ca
n change into any type of human form.
Animal-shifter: They have one human form and can change into any animal.
Shape-Shifter: They can change into any human or animal form.
Stone Giant: A-senee-ki-wakw - a race of stone giants, the first people Gluskab created but then destroyed because they crushed other animals and injured the earth with their great size. From Eastern Canada: Torngat Mountains. Legends from: Abenaki. (Earth)
Valkyries: Norse God warriors who are fierce human warriors that can strategize in seconds flat. (Earth)
Werecreatures: This is all type of animals. Werewolves, werecats, etc. These are humans with animal spirits entwined with theirs. They have more animal like instincts and characteristics. (earth)
Witches/Wizards-Warlocks – Witches are the female version of people who use magic – witches have the power to summon or force wraiths from their bodies. Wizard – male version of people who can use magic – they do not have power over wraiths. Warlocks – same as wizards but do have the power over wraiths – much more rare. (earth)
Wraiths: Demonic spirits that can take over a human body – their human forms take on completely black eyes, and all canine teeth. They are heartless, emotionless. Rare but are dangerous – full powers unknown. (spirit)
Zanas: Zana are characters in fairy-tales that are basically fairies that protect children who are in the woods and other good people that need their help. They are also known for while the baby is in the womb, they give it the gifts of dancing, beauty, kindness, and luck. (earth)
Rebirth Creatures:
Dragon-Shifters: A human and a dragon spirit separate from each other, don’t tend to influence each other in each other’s skin. A thought to be extinct. (earth, fire, air)
Water Nymphs: have the powers of both a mermaid and siren, and can control water – only water nymphs can do this, and partial shift. (water)
Phoenixes: They don’t have a bird form, but instead have feathers on the back of their necks and extending down, if someone was to take a full grown feather from a Phoenix would be insured to survive any type of death, once. Life = one feather. It takes five years for a new full grown feather to grow. Extremely painful for the Phoenix if they did not willingly give the feather – also maybe they feel the pain of the death of the person holding their feather. (fire)
Unicorn-shifters: When in their unicorn form they can escape any trap, nothing can lock them in, while in human form they are trapped. They can heal anything while in their human form, while in their unicorn form if one was to take the blood of a unicorn they would become immortal. (spirit, earth)
Griffins - shifters: They are the King of all beasts – in other words they can control most were-creatures and animals. Extremely powerful in their human forms even more powerful in their beast form. (spirit, earth)
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