Page 56 of To No End

My momentary infatuation with his looks quickly turned to fury. I wanted to lunge across that table and cause him serious harm for what his line had put my family through, and for all the senseless loss and bloodshed they’d caused. I was seething. He did not turn his attention back to me.

There was only one person left at the table; his hulking frame dwarfed the chair he sat upon. Muscular didn’t even begin to describe his rock-solid body. His tan face and dark eyes were accentuated by his long brown hair, a portion of which was tied back. The rest hung in unkept strands along his cheekbones, barely grazing the top of his shoulders. From what I could tell,his massive hands were bruised and scarred. For all the strength and beauty surrounding this table, he’s the one I would not have messed with.

“Well, I’ll leave you to get acquainted with one another,” Idris said, exiting the room.

We all sat in silence, staring at the walls and avoiding eye contact, when a tall, slender female came strolling through the door. Her long blue dress had a slit running up the side, exposing one leg. The dress was corseted tight, accentuating a thin waist, and her pillowy breasts practically fell out of her top. Her brown hair was tied up ornately in an updo, showing off her beautifully pointed ears and the hollows of her cheekbones.

The males at the table straightened in their seats, especially the hulk at the end, clearly unable to control themselves from gawking. I couldn’t blame them; she was the only one in the room that closely rivaled Gia.

She walked over to the muscular one, swishing and swaying her hips with every step. She leaned into him, angling herself seductively, and grabbed his chin, running her thumb across his lower lip. The sight of their interaction felt inappropriate for us to witness. He angled his head up as if to welcome her in closer. He was powerless to her charms. She released her teasing grip on him and walked away.

Back toward the far side of the round table, she turned her back to us, and when she fully faced us again, what appeared was no longer a seductress. She had transformed into a handsome male with a tightly shaved beard and an eye patch over his left eye. Her once voluptuous figure was now masculine and donning a completely different attire. All black, with a long silver talisman hanging around his neck. It appeared to be the same symbol as our brands. The hulk at the end of the table jerked his chair back in disbelief, seeing the truth of what he had just pined for.

“Your eyes deceive you. All of you. Abandon your misguided senses. Leave such foolishness behind and accept that desire and attraction is a spectrum for which you can learn to control if you’re willing to manipulate it.”

His voice was deep, gravelly, and wise. He leaned inward, resting his body weight against the table, inquiring, “Do any of you know what kind of magic you just bore witness to?”

The little redhead chirped, “You glamoured us, didn’t you!”

The male gave her a disappointed look that broke her confidence.

“You’re a shapeshifter,” Gia stated plainly, and the male snapped his gaze to her and a sly smile crept across his face.

“Yes, exactly! Glamour is easy, boring. A mere shade of what can be accomplished with shapeshifting for those who can master it.”

He eyed all of us slowly.

“Glamour takes creativity and accuracy, but shapeshifting takes all of that plus endurance.”

He sat and folded his hands with a glance toward Gia. “Not all of you will have the talent required for it,” he added nonchalantly.

Suddenly, he clapped his hands together, drawing our attention back to him. “Well let’s get some introductions out of the way. My name is Saryn and I am a member of the Order, of which you all are now inductees, trainees—call yourselves whatever you want, I don’t care. You’re stuck here just like me.” His terse words were far less inspiring than Idris’.

“After years of not having to return to Basdie, I’ve received the fortune of being called back to help reinstate the Order by training you lucky individuals. Congrats, life as you knew it is gone, as is your freedom, and I won’t sit here and romanticize it the way Idris does.”

Maybe I had it wrong and Idris was the warm one after all.

“Idris has spent far too long at the castle, dawdling alongside politicians and sycophants. He’s forgotten what it’s like to be in the trenches. But that’s why I’m here; to make sure you’re prepared for exactly what is ahead of you.”

“Why don’t you just shapeshift or glamour away that patch on your eye?” The audacity of Gia’s interruption had us all gaping.

Saryn smirked back at her. “Because mature ladies find it attractive; it’s not for little girls like you.”

I was nervous that the bitter exchange of words between them would continue. Gia was most certainly not a little girl. She bit her tongue, however, and did not grant him a retort. I didn’t get the feeling she would have won that match anyhow.

“Since you seem keen to speak, why don’t you introduce yourself next?” he prodded her.

“I’m Gianna of House Brynmawr—”

Saryn cut her off, “Tsk, tsk, Gianna, we care not for your House name. Remember,we’reyour kin, now.”

Gia gritted her teeth and cocked her head. “I’m Gia, former daughter of High Lord and Lady Brynmawr. I hail from the western territories. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Each word was sharper than the last.

Saryn eyed me next, implying I was to go. I cleared my throat. “I’m Cressida, but I go by Cress,” I paused, then followed Gia’s lead. “Former daughter of High Lord and Lady Blackthorn, I hail from the southernmost territories.” I eyed Trace while stating my introduction, but he did not look in my direction.

“Nori Evenus,” the small redhead added. Despite her unthreatening size, she was quite brave to state her full name, in spite of Saryn’s harsh warning to Gia. I had to give her credit; it was a bold move. Saryn rolled his eyes at her and turned to Trace. I braced myself to hear his voice for the first time since reuniting under these unexpected circumstances.

His jaw tightened and he finally looked directly at me, hints of apologetic sadness swimming in his eyes. “I’m Trace, and I’m from north of North.” The familiar words taunted me, making my chest stiffen.

---