Page 41 of Enchanted Hero (The Secret Enchanters #1)

H e was in love.

What was once mystifying was now so obvious.

Desire, need and possessiveness swirled, urging him to keep Everleigh close, to never let her go.

She played in his thoughts incessantly, a light among the darkness, her absence eliciting keen unease.

Their lovemaking had been astounding, but by no means responsible for his feelings.

Beyond consciousness’ edge, he’d always known the truth.

Right now, on the morning after their first lovemaking, he should be with her, watching her open her beautiful eyes and smile sleepily at the man she would soon marry.

Instead, he was across the world in the lush study of his island sanctuary, holding an emergency meeting with his top advisors.

Only hours remained before the press conference, and while exposure was uncertain, they had to prepare for all outcomes.

Half a dozen news channels played on the wall, showing scenes from every incident at every angle.

His people watched with undisguised concern, some reclining on overstuffed sofas, others standing and still others pacing over the thick Oriental rugs.

A crackling fire scented the space, casting a mix of golden light and darkened shadows.

The room smelled of wood, leather and deep alarm.

“Protecting our people is my first priority.” Alexander’s voice boomed. “If I’m compromised, I want the world to think I’m one of a kind. Even if it means turning myself in to the government.”

“We’ve already discussed this. That’s out of the question.

” Brynnlee’s voice was strong, yet she turned as pale as the clouds drifting in the aqua sky.

“We appreciate your willingness to sacrifice yourself, but it would be impossible to protect the rest of us. They’ll come after our family first, then close friends and then everyone we’ve ever met. One blood test will reveal the truth.”

Yes, it would. The Incantare may look like ordinary humans, but differences lurked on the inside. It was the reason they never went to human doctors. “I will not allow my actions to destroy lives. I will fix this.” He took a step toward the newscasts. “I’ll deny it. Make them see it’s impossible.”

Brynnlee shook her head. “A man with superpowers is impossible, and they already believe that. Naming a suspect who has been at every incident is easy.”

It was true. They already believed in enchantment. They just don’t know it was him – yet .

“Even if you deny it, they won’t believe you, at least not enough to forgo their own investigation. And once they start looking…”

They would discover everything.

Carter touched the wall, where a larger-than-life video of the hero played in action movie glory. “What if I pretend to be you?”

“Absolutely not.” Alexander strode in front of the image of him hovering outside a building. “I don’t want anyone else involved.”

“We’re already involved,” Carter challenged. “Our only hope is tricking the world into believing it can’t be you. While you’re in full sight, I’ll arrive in a black outfit pretending to be the hero. You’ll be exonerated.”

“Or they might realize there are two of us.” And then ten and then a hundred and then more, until all of his people were locked in glass cases. “In all likelihood, they’ll still investigate me. And if there’s two, there could be a thousand.”

“There are only a few hours left.” Carter fisted his hands. “There has to be another way.”

A hundred impossible options churned as the group waited for him to make a decision. They would advise and give opinions, yet as leader, it was his responsibility to take the final step. In the end, only one choice emerged that could possibly protect his people. “I’m going to deny it.”

A dozen glances were exchanged. “You really think that’s going to work?”

Not even a little.

Alana stepped forward. “I’d like to come to the press conference.” Murmurs of agreement followed, from a people willing to sacrifice themselves.

Yet he would not allow it. “You’re not going anywhere near that press conference.” He turned to the rest of them. “None of you, you understand?”

They all hesitated, then one by one nodded.

“I better get ready.” Alexander looked at his family and friends, the beautiful people who deserved to live their lives. He would not say good-bye, like it was the last time. “I am honored to be part of such an extraordinary people.

Eyes watered and lips drew severe slashes, yet not a goodbye was uttered as everyone filed out of the room, except Carter. He waited to speak until the others left. “What about Everleigh?”

Even now, her name had the power to comfort him. “She’s at the compound.”

Carter raised an eyebrow. “You left her alone?”

For the first time that morning, Alexander allowed a ghost of a grin. “Is that a problem?”

“You said she was suspicious.” Carter cocked his head to the side. “Don’t you think she’ll conduct her own investigation when she realizes she’s alone?”

“It’s a definite possibility.” Alexander widened his smile. “Which is why I left everything unlocked.”

“I see.” Carter matched the grin. “Then I will say good luck and… enjoy.”

Alexander rubbed his hands together. “Time to catch my beautiful spy.”

This was not good.

Not good at all.

Once again, she’d thought she was so clever, seizing the perfect opportunity to explore the ultimate mystery.

All the security guards had conveniently disappeared, the halls had emptied and Alexander was missing.

It had been so easy, just one unlocked door after another, until the one that unequivocally proved Alexander’s identity.

Only easy had become too easy, impossibly so.

In other words, it was a trap.

Everleigh ran to the door, nearly slamming into the dark wood. She grasped the knob, tensing every muscle, preparing to break into an all-out run as soon as she entered the hallway. She swung open the door to reveal…

Alexander.

If she hadn’t already known he was extraordinary, it would have been obvious now. Power surrounded him, an aura of undeniable strength. Dressed in black like his hero persona, he towered over her, his bright blue eyes blazing. “Hello, Everleigh.”

Her breath hitched, she took a reflexive step backward. “Alexander.”

“Find anything interesting?”

Bathed in the glow of otherworldly artifacts, there was nothing she could say, nothing she could do, to emerge unscathed. She’d discovered the truth, and he knew it.

There was no escape.

“You have some interesting items.”

A ghost of a smile played on Alexander’s lips. “Thank you.”

“They’re real, right? I mean they’re not toys or computer-driven novelties.”

One of the items disappeared into thin air, a far better answer than any verbal one. “They’re real.”

“I guess you didn’t find them in an antique shop?”

He shook his head.

“So they’re yours?”

“That’s right.”

She inhaled deeply, said in a whisper, “Supernatural relics for a supernatural person.”

He inclined his head, and his eyes flashed. Not figuratively, but literally, as if lit by a blue LED.

She froze.

She’d suspected for weeks, known for minutes, but nothing prepared her for the undeniable proof. He was a supernatural creature, undoubtedly the powerful hero who’d been saving people. “You knew I was in here?”

“Of course.”

She exhaled, looked up. “You set me up. Again.” How could she ever think he’d allow his privacy to be invaded unless he accepted it, desired it even? “You wanted me to find these? Why?”

“So you’d understand why I have no choice.” He edged closer, spearing her space. “To protect my people, I have to keep you.”

Her heart drummed a rapid tattoo. As predicted, the hero was taking all control. How could she fight a man who commanded a tornado? “You can’t keep me.”

He took another step closer. “I can do pretty much anything I want.”

“You can fly.”

He nodded.

“And teleport.”

He nodded again.

“And make things appear out of nowhere.”

He inclined his head once more.

“But how? Was it some sort of chemical accident, some sort of nuclear event?” She clutched on to the slimmest of chances that he was… well, human.

The slim chance was soon diminished to nothing. “This is who I am. I was born with powers.”

“So you’re not…” She stopped, couldn’t even form the words.

“Human?” he guessed softly. “To be honest, we don’t know what we are.

Most of us have some human DNA, since our people mate with ordinary humans.

Our genes are dominant, because the offspring of an Incantare and a human is generally as powerful as the child of two Incantare.

We do not know our exact history, but it is generally believed we originated from…

” His gaze turned upward. “Elsewhere. But that was many years ago. All Incantare living today, their parents, grandparents and grandparents’ grandparents were born on Earth. We’re just different.”

“You don’t look different.” Although that wasn’t entirely true. She’d never seen such a perfect man. “Wait.” She swallowed. “You’re not a shapeshifter, are you?”

He softened. “No, Everleigh. This is the body I’ve always had. I’m not really a three-foot green man.”

“Of course not.” Yet his guess wasn’t far from what she’d envisioned. “How is it possible? I’m no scientist, but even I can tell you don’t follow the rules of physics. How do you do these things?”

He relaxed his shoulders. “I can’t tell you.”

She breathed out.

“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but we simply don’t know how our powers work.

” His voice was calming, warm. “It’s an instinct, just like you have the ability to talk or walk.

Despite having some of the smartest researchers on the planet, we can’t figure out what gives us our abilities.

We only know our people always possess powers, some more than others. ”

“You’re on the powerful side, aren’t you?” At his nod, her voice lowered. “The most powerful?”