Page 68 of The Aether

“Can you reinforce it, Masters?”

“I tried. It seems whoever is fighting to bring yours down has already blocked my ability to create a new one.” His whiskey-colored eyes were truthful and shockingly concerned when they locked on him. “You’ve got a helluva high-powered enemy, Aether. Especially if they can neutralize me. No one’s done that in eighty years or more, I believe.”

“Youknowthat was me. It was never made secret.” Dropping his arms to his sides, Damian moved closer. Should he find a way to put the Guardian’s loyalty to the test? Was his troubled look all an act, and did the man actually have it out for him? “Are you carrying a grudge after all this time, Masters?”

A self-deprecating smile curled Draven’s lips. “No,cher. I was out of control when my wife died, and your interference saved me. You should’ve let the chips fall where they landed, though.”

“Why? Because you believed you had nothing left to contribute? Because you still do?” So much wasted talent. Damian barely managed to refrain from shaking his head at the frustration of it all. “You’re wrong, Draven. You were impressive then, and you’re impressive now. I want you on my side for the fight to come.”

“I’m as useless as a pair of deuces in a royal flush. Especially if they can take my powers so easily, and you know it.”

“I can help you, Mr. Masters,” Sabrina said as she joined them. Stepping close to Draven, she smiled up at him. “They can’t take your magic if I seal it.”

Seal it?

“Do you mean steal, Beastie?”

“No, Papa.Seal.”

After sharing a confused look with the Guardian, Damian approached and lifted her into his arms so they were level. “Explain, please.”

“Guardians are made, not born like us. Their magic can be taken away by a god or goddess or you.”

“Any of us can remove magic at any time to maintain balance, my love. You know that.”

“Yes, Papa, but not if it’s sealed to him.”

“Are you saying it can never be undone?”

She beamed as if he were the brightest student. “Like I did with Liz. Remember?”

A few years back, when the Thorne witches had suffered an attack, an enemy of theirs had found a way to suppress the entire family’s magical abilities. Because Liz Thorne had helped his daughter fight off the encroaching Darkness, Sabrina had restored her power and sealed it so it could never be removed again.

“I do, but this is different. Draven is not an average witch, Beastie.”

“I know. That’s why you need to help me.”

“Thank you for the offer,ma petite amie, but I’m not deservin’ of such a gift.” With a magician’s flourish, Draven produced a gold coin from behind Sabrina’s ear and handed it to her. “I’m not to be trusted with that much power.”

She laughed in the face of his honesty. “Yes, you are, Mr. Masters. You’re a nice man.”

Dark-blond brows spiking, he looked at Damian. “Do you want to tell her of the destruction, or should I?”

“She already knows, Masters. She’s an Oracle.”

Frowning, Draven nodded slowly as if processing the information.

“I killed a man,cher,” he finally said to Sabrina. “That doesn’t make me a nice man.”

“Please put me down, Papa.”

After Damian complied, she gestured for Draven to come down to her level. Dropping to one knee, he cocked his head and watched her curiously.

“We arenotthe sum total of our past deeds, Draven Masters,” she intoned as if the words came from another. “Our core actions drive us, but we are more if allowed to be.”

A chill swept Damian, and the hair on the back of his neck lifted. He’d heard those words before—from his Enchantress mother when he was only a year younger than his daughter. Right before his mother went insane.

“Why did you say that? Where did you hear it?” he asked sharply.

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