Page 71 of Magic & Secrets
“Why?”
“We’ve been lost in Pandorium Forest for several days. I thought Roque should understand why magic folk decimated Haven Junction.”
“Why were you lost?” Mali asked.
“We ended up in Widows Forest.”
“And you found your way out, how?”
“The Bane Shifter did.”
“Does he know what you are?” Mali asked again.
“As you eloquently stated, if he knew what I was, he would have removed my head from my shoulders.”
Roque’s anguish roars shook the walls. I glanced around, wondering if the Tower of Reason would come crumbling down around us.
“Did you bewitch him?”
“Howexactlywould I do that when I’m not a Witch?” I asked with too much force.
“Watch your tone.”
I opened my mouth without knowing what words would leave my lips. Before I could speak, Roque howled with enough force to shake two paintings off the wall. I couldn’t imagine what the other Elves thought was happening with the Bane Shifter.
“Has a century on the mountain driven him mad?” Mali asked.
“No.”
“Then, why is he behaving this way?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Speak,” Mali muttered, unaccustomed to stubbornness from a member of the New Armgard.
As soon as the Elves mentioned Mali was in Elatalora, I knew this moment might come. The truth seemed dangerous on itssurface. However, the mating of two powerful creatures might inspire Mali to back off rather than attempt to send me to the Citadel.
With Roque’s howling growing more frenzied, I figured the truth was bound to come out anyway. “Roque is my mate.”
Mali’s laughter startled me. Elves weren’t known for their jovial nature.
“Poor sweet moron. Bane Shifters can’t have mates. The Murade knew the dangers of allowing such a powerful species to breed. And obviously, your kind were created without any desire to mate or breed. What kind of warrior would you be if you worried about such things?”
“Explain that?” I grumbled as Roque’s howls left me aching to soothe him.
Mali’s expression lost its humor. He looked around at the shaking walls and narrowed his gaze.
“Have you mated yet?”
“No,” I lied immediately. “I wouldn’t even know how.”
“You would be best to consider your safety right now, Calla. Bane Shifters aren’t natural to this world. No one can be sure what would happen if they attempted to breed,” he said and then added harshly, “Let alone with an Armgard.”
With Roque sounding miserable nearby, I lost my ability to hold my tongue with my elder.
“The power of the ancient ones will dictate what happens with Roque and me. However, I am more concerned about the Cult of Ivitithi. The ones we killed were traveling with the hearts of the Bane Shifters they killed. We destroyed their sacrifices, and they seem keen on gaining more.”
“The Bane Shifters can protect themselves.”
