Page 42 of Guardian of Shadows

Yari sheathed her sword. “Why wait this long? Mother’s been gone three sun cycles.”

“Because Elle is twenty-five. Her powers will begin manifesting soon,” Thran answered.

Her gifts had manifested a few years ago, but her siblings didn’t know she had been honing them all this time. Elle pulled the shadows closer, hiding her from the others, and crept through the forest until she was far enough away to run. If they couldn’t find her, then the dark fae couldn’t prove anything. With Novus flying overhead, Elle ran fast and far. She slipped out of the shadows when she thought she’d gone far enough, but something made her body freeze up.

“You can’t run from me,” an angry voice said behind her. A dark fae stepped into her line of sight, sneering.

Elle tried to scream for her father, but her voice wouldn’t work. Novus gronked overhead, diving at the male, pecking at his head. When Grevolus swatted at the bird, the raven flew off in the same direction they’d just come from. The fae lifted Elledan over his shoulder and marched toward the dirt road leading into Summerland proper. Right as they reached the sacred building where the elders resided, Ballymar and Yari caught up with them.

“What did you do to her?” her father demanded as he slid from Dorcan’s back after Yari dismounted.

Grevolus muttered under his breath, and the paralysis was gone. Elledan beat the male’s back with her fists. “Put me down!” He did, none too gently. Elle barely caught herself before falling on her backside.

Her father closed the distance, placing his arm around her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Elledan. Grevolus has petitioned the elders to test your blood.”

“Mother would never...” Elle choked out a sob. She pleaded with her father with her eyes, but she knew the law. Burying her face in his tunic, she let the tears flow.

“Let’s get this over with. It’s a long ride back to Winterhaven,” Grevolus demanded.

Ballymar gently pushed Elle off his chest. With his hands on her upper arms, he leaned down and made sure she was looking at him. “No matter the outcome, I will always be your father. I love you more than life.”

“I love you too.”

Yari took Elle’s hand as they entered the elder’s home. She didn’t release it, even when Morlina, the head elder, cut Elle’s free palm, capturing her blood in a bowl. Next, Morlina took blood from both Ballymar and Grevolus, then sprinkled powder in all three bowls. When Elle’s turned the same dark color as Grevolus’s, Elle ripped her hand free and turned to run, but Rodark, another elder, stepped in front of the door.

“The blood has spoken. Grevolus of Winterhaven is Elledan’s sire. You must go with him, child.”

“No. It’s not fair! Father, do something,” Yari cried, but they all knew the laws, as archaic as they were. She was given a few moments to say goodbye, and then she was forced onto a wagon and taken away from her home. Novus flew overhead, gronking every so often. Elle cried the entirety of the trip, and by the time they arrived at her new home, her head was pounding.

Elle opened her mouth to beg Novus to be quiet, but no words came out. She squinted so the harsh sunlight didn’t hurt her head worse, but the sun had gone down, and only a sliver of the two moons... There was only one moon. No, it was no celestial orb. It was the same light Elle had formed when walking down to the basement. Elle tried to touch her temples, but her arms wouldn’t move. Grevolus had paralyzed her again.

Her head was throbbing worse than her arm was burning. Had Grevolus seriously tried to kill her? Goddess, she hated him more than ever. At least he hadn’t snuffed out the light. Elle wished she had some of the pain tablets Tony had given her. She took a deep breath, trying to push back the nausea. Elle had no idea how much time had passed or why the birds outside were going nuts. Grevolus’s shouts were muffled, then the door slammed above her. The old pipes whined as water was turned on, and Elle closed her eyes. He hadn’t left, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. She still had until eleven, at which time Tony would approach Grevolus. Hopefully, he wouldn’t make her wait that long. She needed her mate.

Once the water turned off, the house was once again silent, as were the birds. The pain lessened to a dull ache, and Elle relaxed as much as possible. She dozed for a bit, and when she woke, she reached out through the bond. Tony was agitated, so she tried to push her feelings at him. If only she could let him know what was going on. The dream, or rather memory, had Elle longing for Summerland and her siblings. She wondered how Yari was fairing on Evyndral and if she and Cassi had been successful. She wondered if Thran knew she was on Earth. Surely Yari would have told him. What of their father? It had been fourteen sun cycles since she’d been dragged away from Ballymar, and Elle wanted the chance to reunite with him some day. To let him know she still loved him. She thought of Novus and wondered how the raven was.

Novus.

There was no way he was outside. He’d not come through the portal with Elle. Or had he? Maybe he wasn’t the only bird she could call on. Had she somehow summoned the creatures while thinking of Novus?

Elle closed her eyes once more, hoping to quell the nausea. She dozed on and off. This time when she woke, it was to voices from the top of the stairs. Heavy footfalls met each step, and then the most glorious sight filled her gaze.

“Elle!” Tony rushed toward her, but Grevolus didn’t plan on a happy reunion. He raised his hands, but Elle couldn’t warn her mate. She tried to push her fear through the bond, but it was too late. Grevolus zapped Tony with his powers, and her mate fell to his knees, then landed on his side. His eyes never left hers, but she couldn’t tell him what was going on.

Grevolus dug through Tony’s pocket and pulled out his key fob as well as his wallet. “I do appreciate the money. I would say I’ll be seeing you, but I won’t. Have fun dying while staring at one another.” Grevolus chuckled, then strode upstairs, whistling. Bastard!

Elle did just that – she stared at her mate.

“I’m going to get out of here and kill that motherfucker!”

Uh, that was weird. Could she really hear Tony, or was it wishful thinking?

“Tony?”

His eyes narrowed. “Yes, Sweetheart?”

“Oh, goddess. You can hear me? How is that possible?”

“I can. Some mates can mind-speak. Guess we can too. I’m so sorry, Elle. I knew it was a trap, but I had to see you.”

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