Page 21 of The Aether

Her amber eyes shimmered with tears she was too stubborn to shed.

“Thank you, Damian.” Placing her hand in his, she shut her lids and let her other arm fall to her side.

Recalling the spellwork his mother had taught him from an early age, Damian summoned the enchantment from deep within his cells and drew a series of sigils in the air around her. Taking the time to merge with her energy, he used his to slide over her from head to toe, testing the battered bone and tissue. When he was confident there were no life-threatening injuries, he began the healing process of knitting her eye socket and ribs, calming any inflammation he encountered, and providing an extra boost of health through her system.

“Better?”

“I wish I knew how to do that,” she murmured.

Pulling out a chair across from her, he sank down and crossed one leg over the other. After hooking his arm over the back of the seat, he asked, “Do you have a desire to become a physician, Josie?”

“Not necessarily, but it’s a handy ability to have.”

He grinned, unable to help himself. She was deeper than anyone gave her credit for, himself included. With Vivian around, he’d never been able to look at anyone else or delve into their psyche. Never cared to, because his wife fascinated him to the point of distraction.

“Tell me about this Morgan.”

She frowned. “You’ve never met him?”

“No. I always believed it was poor timing, but now, after”—he motioned to her with a swirl of his finger in her direction—“I think there is something more sinister at play. As if he’s been avoiding me.” He cocked his head. “Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“What’s his full name?”

“He goes by Morgan Black, but his real name is Morcant Thywyll.”

Damian swore viciously but smothered his annoyance when Josie winced in pain.

“Sorry. Are youcertainit’s Morcant Thywyll?”

“He didn’t tell me, but I overheard one of his asshat friends call him that.”

“Trust me, they weren’t friends. Morcant doesn’t inspire that type of loyalty.” He watched her for a moment, absorbing the emotions she tried to hide from him. The fear, the worry, and the fierce protectiveness.

“Who were you trying to protect, Josie?” he asked, not unkindly.

“My sisters.” Lifting her sincere gaze to meet his, she added, “Sabrina.”

It took an effort, but he quelled his swift rage, or at least enough to not hurt Josie.

“How does he know about my daughter?”

“Taryn and Soleil.” The second she saw the thundercloud forming overhead, she held up her hands. “They didn’t tell on purpose, Damian. I swear. It’s like he had them under a spell. They couldn’t see through his glamour.”

“Glamour?”

“To Taryn and Soleil, he appeared to be a damned Adonis. It was freaky. I think he fooled Viv, too.”

He frowned as he watched the distaste flash across her lovely face. “But not you?”

“No. Never once. I couldn’t understand what my sisters saw in the creepy fucker.”

“How did you get him away from them?”

Her expression dropped to one of hopelessness.

“Josie?”

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