Page 15 of Guardian of Shadows

“Sure.”

“On the camera when you left the bank, it’s like you disappeared, the same way you did earlier in the parking lot. How did you do that?”

Elle would never share her abilities with anyone else, but if there was a possibility of them being mates, she had to trust Anthony. “I can use the shadows to hide myself. It was something my mother was capable of as well as the reason Grevolus raped her. He admitted to watching several D?nthúlú females, but my mother was the only one who didn’t hide her gifts. It’s how I got away with killing Asherah on the hill. I was stationed there with several darks with my bow and arrows during the battle. I pulled the shadows around us so no one could see us. What I didn’t realize was that instead of fighting, Grevolus was watching me.”

Anthony stared at her, and Elle looked away from him, not wanting to see the judgment in his eyes. “That’s fascinating,” he said, instead of something worse. “What else can you do with your magic?”

When she faced him, he seemed eager instead of disgusted. Elle held out her hand and called forth a fire ball. Anthony gasped, then laughed.

“Holy shit, woman. That’s... Whew. I knew you were dangerous, but dayum. Talk about a hot momma.” He fanned his face, grinning. Elle tossed the flame into the air, catching it on the way down. “I wonder if that would burn me? Can you hold it steady? I want to try something.”

“Are you crazy?” Elle held her hand away from him.

“A little, but if bullets and blades can’t penetrate my skin, maybe your flame won’t hurt me either.”

“Impenetrable, not flameproof, Anthony. No. I won’t risk it.” Elle snuffed out the flame.

“Fine,” he said, pouting which should not be cute. “Listen, since we have time to kill, I need to call Carleigh and update her on everything.”

“Why is she so interested?”

“She sort of hired me to find you.” Anthony explained how Carleigh found out about Elle hitting different banks during the last year and that the FBI was also searching for clues as to who she was.

“Is your boss going to get mad when he finds out it was your cousin instead of a paying client?”

“Eh, we all have more money that we’ll ever spend, so she’ll pay Mason something. Ready to meet her?”

“She’s here?”

“No, but I’d like to do a video conference on the computer, if you’re okay with that.”

Elle was nervous about meeting someone important to Anthony, but if they somehow managed to remove the sigil, they would be mates for many years to come, and she would eventually meet everyone in his family.

“Should I use glamour to hide my appearance?”

“I’d love it if you didn’t. I will warn you, though, Carleigh’s going to flip her shit when she sees your ears.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“She is going to be surprised and probably curse a lot.”

“But she hired you to find me. Isn’t she going to call the cops or something?”

“No, Sweetheart. This was a mystery she wanted solved, and when we tell her it was Grevolus making you steal the money, she’ll be mad on your behalf. Don’t be surprised if she claims you as her new best friend.”

Elle had never had a best friend. She spent her younger years with her siblings. There wasn’t school on Evyndral. Everything they learned was taught by their parents. She placed the soda can on the end table, clasped her hands in her lap, and nodded. “I’m ready.”

Anthony tugged at one of the many braids Elle had fashioned in her hair. “No need to be nervous or formal.” He stood and disappeared into the bedroom opposite hers, and when he returned, he set a laptop on the coffee table. His large fingers deftly typed on the keyboard, and the screen made a funny beeping before a pretty brunette appeared on the screen.

“Hey, Trouble, what’s...? Oh, my gods. Harlow, get your ass over here,” Carleigh called to someone Elle couldn’t see. Another female appeared on the screen behind her; Harlow, Elle presumed.

“Fuckin’ hell, T. You weren’t kidding. She is ethereal. I will never doubt you again. Hi. I’m Carleigh, and this is our cousin Harlow.”

Elle waved. “Hello.”

“Holy shit, you’re beyond beautiful,” Harlow said, her hand reaching out like she was touching the screen. “Are you real?”

“I assure you she’s one hundred percent real. Elle is a fae from the realm of Evyndral.”

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