Page 80 of Magic & Secrets
Once my gaze flashed to Calla, the fear around my heart unclenched. These unseen forces had brought her to me. Nothing felt more perfect than my love for my mate. If the price of her presence in my life was more war, I’d gladly pay it.
Calla
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULTmoments in my life proved to be holding my tongue while Roque spoke with Simnia. My mate did well at testing the Elf to determine if he was aligned with Mali.
Simnia could be a strong ally, holding a high rank within the Silver Elves of Elatalora. With Simnia’s aid, we planned to leave before noon using air transport. Our arrival at Mt. Elysium would be far faster this way.
After filling up on the succulent meal, Roque and I finally retired to our room. Within a minute, we were undressed and entangled on the mattress.
“I want to leave this place,” Roque whispered in my ear.
“I wish we could leave now.”
The idea of arriving in Mt. Elysium sooner made sense. More danger lurked in the Territories than the Cult of Ivitithi. Roque needed to share everything he learned with Tempe. The Bane Shifters would be forced to choose to remain on the mountain, safe from Ivitithi’s followers, or venture out into the world to face whatever the Murade might have conjured in their labs at Operation Overlord.
“We will trust this Elf,” Roque told me as we curled up in the dark room. “If he proves to be a liar, we will rip off his head.”
“Together?”
“Yes. I will hold his shoulders while you twist off his head.”
“Aw, you’re letting me do the fun part,” I cooed and stroked his chest.
Roque chuckled. “I will give you everything, even if it means we will need to leave Mt. Elysium.”
“Don’t linger on morose thoughts. Ancient magic flows through our veins. Nothing will tear us apart. Only joyful thoughts are suitable right now.”
Roque kissed the top of my head and curled around me to act as armor. The room was darker and more oppressive than Pandorium Forest. The moonlight couldn’t pierce the mist that always cloaked Elatalora. After long hoping to visit this beautiful city, I now felt trapped within its lovely walls.
Listening to Roque’s steady heartbeat, I attempted to remain alert. Outside the door, between us and freedom, roamed thousands of Elven warriors.
Though I shouldn’t lower my guard, Solme Divige’s claws gripped my mind and pulled me into slumber. Dragged deep into the darkness, I heard the ancient creature purr at my fear. I saw a flash of the old world, when magic flowed freely and ancient beasts roamed without concern. I witnessed the towers and other sites designed by their followers.
Yanked back into the current timeline, I was treated like a puppet by the ancient creature. Solme Divige tossed me into a wet forest. I saw a female warrior ahead of me. Turning around, I found Mina walking with Delta. His golden eyes flashed silver, and she nodded. They didn’t feel safe following the warrior, but they couldn’t turn back.
Solme Divige tugged me away from my sister and back to Elatalora. Her power shoved me through walls, past guards, and into a room where Mali stood with Limbrica from the Waineborne Elven Tribe. Several other Gathering members spoke using a communication spell. Warlock Gregory led the meeting as Solme Divige’s power levitated me over the room.
“The uprising is not a serious concern,” Gregory said. “These creatures hope to raise Ivitithi. Then what? The creature willenslave them and feed on their devotion. None of this is a concern to the Gathering.”
“The ancient ones are meddling,” Mali muttered to Limbrica at his side. “They see a chance to seed chaos.”
“I warned of this madness,” Limbrica said, receiving dark glares from the others. “It was dangerous enough to create the Armgard the first time. They were born of rock and soil sacrifices. These new ones—”
Mali waved off her concern. “Yes, you’ve warned of this before.”
“You were foolish to believe you could control Solme Divige. The ancient one meddles. Why did you think it showed Calla the massacre at Haven Junction?”
“Silence,” Gregory hissed, and his Warlock magic reached out for Limbrica. I watched her flinch and step backward. “The Murade hasn’t stopped their experiments. Without the Armgard, the Gathering would be powerless to prevent whatever the government plots.”
The Wraith Severine looked around as if sensing my presence. “We’ve never had true control over the New Armgard, especially the dusk and night bearers. They should have been destroyed after the first two ran off. Now, you have the Armgard breeding with Bane Shifters.”
Gregory muttered, “A single mistake.”
Limbrica laughed bitterly. “Can’t you see? The New Armgard isn’t difficult to control because of their violent lineage or our weaknesses. Their mate bond has blocked our power over them.”
“It’s just Calla and this one shifter.”
“Why did you only send three warriors?” Limbrica asked. “Why not send a dozen bevies to make quick work of the uprising?”
