Page 31 of My Eternal Light

Kendrick looked frustrated and Thane amused.

Zoe, Nigel and Neil ran over.

One of the twins pulled Kincaid to his feet and into a bear hug. “Holy shit man! Three elemental powers. Three!”

Zoe was bouncing up and down, clapping her hands. “Neil, be careful, he might be hurting.” She beamed at Kincaid. “You regulated your levels on your own too. Kendrick couldn’t get to you.”

At the mention of his name, Kendrick strode over. “For some reason I couldn’t get past the barrier.” He scowled at the twins.

They shrugged and Nigel answered. “Wasn’t us. We think it was Kincaid. Once this pretty lady went inside, our barrier felt like it was pushing against something. I think he created a barrier of his own.”

Kendrick turned and looked at Kincaid, his eyes softening. “How do you feel?”

Zadie had a moment of revelation. The man had been so prickly because he cared and had been worried.

Kincaid went to one knee. “Please, forgive me.”

Zadie stared. “What kind of round table shit is this?”

Meryn walked up grinning. “Please, be my friend,” she begged. “I offer sarcasm, hacker skills, shenanigans and a squire that can cook us snacks.”

Zadie scowled at Kendrick who once again was looking at her like she had three heads then back to Meryn. “Friendship request approved contingent on the quality of coffee you have.”

Meryn threw her hands in the air. “Yes! We got coffee on lock. My Coffee-Godddess Izzy can make us anything you want.”

“Izzy! Izzy is here?” she looked down at Kincaid who was still kneeling waiting to hear what Kendrick said.

She snapped her fingers in the tall witch’s face. “You gonna leave him on the ground? He’s exhausted.”

Kendrick smiled slowly, as he shook his head looking at her carefully. “My dear, I believe you and I will be the best of friends…eventually.”

“Do me a favor and hold your breath.”

Next to her Meryn erupted into a fit of giggles.

Chuckling Kendrick reached down and pulled Kincaid up to stand before him. “Kincaid Bayberry, there is nothing to forgive. Please continue to honor your vow of fealty and use your new powers to protect our people.”

“Witch stuff can wait,” a blond man said, pushing his way forward.

Moments later Kincaid was snatched up to be passed around a small group of three men and a gorgeous cocoa-skinned woman.

“Ari, let the poor guy breathe,” the woman said laughing.

“No way. He’s lucky it isn’t worse for scaring us half to death.” Ari shook his finger at Kincaid. “I told you to call if for a second you thought there was trouble.”

Kincaid pointed to Meryn. “I did call.”

“Me! You were supposed to call me,” Ari protested.

“Cut him some slack Ari. If my ass was on the line, I’d probably call Meryn too,” the dark-haired one admitted.

“Gage, you are becoming a favorite,” Meryn cooed.

He winked at her as Zoe walked up and ducked under his waiting arm.

“Cas, are you okay?” the last of the small group asked a woman too beautiful to be real.

Did she have pink eyes?

---