Page 18

CHAPTER 18

“ S he’s not dead.”

Noah jerked at the sound of Damian’s voice from behind him. He’d been so lost in the wonder of seeing the Enchantress’s final resting place that he didn’t hear anyone approach.

Isolde de Thorne.

Also known as Isolde Dethridge and defeated only a few years after Noah’s birth by a goddess, gods, and what constituted as the Six—the original magical families from both sides of the veil.

“So she’s sleeping in there, then? All these centuries later?” The idea of being entombed was enough to give a man claustrophobia. Part of him wanted to rip the cracked marble lid off with his bare hands.

That’s when what he was seeing actually sank in.

The lid!

It was damaged.

Horrified, he spun to look at Damian, all the while pointing at the tomb. “It’s broken. How has she not escaped?”

“She did. About four years ago. But she parted ways with the Darkness, which was banished to the Netherworld to wither and die.”

“Where is…” The question hung in the back of his throat, choking him. He didn’t expect the emotional onslaught for the motherless boy he’d been. For feck’s sake, he was older than dirt! Those worthless memories and feelings should mean nothing to him after this length of time.

“It’s a long story. One I’m willing to tell you, but bottom line, she’s in the Netherworld, too.”

“ You put her there?”

“I needed her help to open the portal between worlds. Mother was my balance, but she chose to remain when our adventure went sideways.”

There was tightness in the fine lines around Damian’s eyes, but one had to look closely to see it. He hadn’t been chuffed to leave her behind, that much was clear.

“Tell me why we’re here. For your friend to lull me into a trap?” Noah was no match for the Aether or the witch when it came to magic, but he could land a vicious punch when needed.

His brother released a tired sigh as he approached. “Your distrust is exhausting, brother. Dial it down a bit and read the room, won’t you?”

With a suspicious glance at the vivacious woman, who was unnaturally silent, Noah backed up a few steps to create distance. No one spoke as he inhaled and exhaled the four long, cleansing breaths to center himself. When he was calmer, he drew his minuscule magic from deep within his cells, pushed it to the surface, and sent out feelers to gauge the others’ emotions and intent.

He found nothing but concern.

For him!

Other than Fi, no one had given a shite about him in too many years to count, and he didn’t know how to process the information.

“No one here is your enemy, Noah,” Damian said. Honesty radiated off him, impossible to deny.

“I don’t have power for you to steal,” he warned.

A smile teased his brother’s mouth, making it appear as if he held back laughter. “I’m well aware.”

“Aye. I suppose you are.” Feeling like an eejit, Noah hunched his shoulders and shoved his hands deep into his jeans pockets, belatedly realizing he hadn’t changed into formal attire for the Dethridges’ dinner party. “So, why am I here?”

“This private garden used to contain our mother. Far beneath the surface are the standing stones that kept her in stasis. They’re capable of doing much more.” As Damian spoke, he circled the perimeter until he was in front of him. “One minor spell from me, and they’ll rise from the ground and activate.”

“I still don’t understand what any of this has to do with me.”

“Two things, really. First, it will amplify the power GiGi provides you and help you find your lady friend.” He held up a hand. “Before you ask why I can’t assist you personally, I must say, we can’t take the risk. Your magic is bound, but I might accidentally absorb it if it breaks free. It’s not worth it for a simple location spell.” When Noah nodded, Damian continued. “Second, and this is separate from the first, Beastie and I will use the stones’ power to restore your original gifts if you wish to have them.”

Noah’s jaw dropped. Never in a million years would he have expected the Aether to offer to restore what his father and the Goddess had bound. Speaking of…

“’Twas a goddess who removed them. How will she react to you going behind her back to restore them?”

“You’re welcome to ask her yourself, brother. Shall I call her?”

Did he want that? Or the responsibility for the type of magic the Aether’s family wielded?

“Am I allowed to think on it, or do I have to make the decision this minute?”

“You have the rest of your life to decide,” Damian assured him with a warm smile.

In the hours since he’d come to meet his brother, Noah was dumbfounded. The man before him was nothing like the monster he’d built up in his mind. Nothing like Damarius had made him seem when he drilled it into Noah’s head to never trust Damian should he ever encounter him, cautioning him all the while on the benefits of avoidance.

“Beastie has assured me Fionola is safe for the moment. If you’re still willing to join us for dinner, we’d love to have you. Vivian is a wizard in the kitchen.” Damian cast GiGi a friendlier smile that spoke of familiarity. “Of course, you and Ryker are more than welcome as well.”

She sauntered over to him, hips swishing to a lazy drum beat every man heard when they witnessed the dancer-like motion of her body. With a kiss on his cheek, she said, “As much as I appreciate the offer and would love to see Vivian again, I’ll pass. Tonight should be about you and your family getting to learning more about your lost lamb.”

She then approached Noah and patted his chest. “Take the time to truly know him,” she said in a low voice. “He’s worth it.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he’s selflessly saved my family. Multiple times. Damian isn’t the villain you believe him to be, Noah. I promise.”

And so, fifteen minutes later, he found himself seated at a table on Ravenwood’s terrace, drink in hand, as he watched Sabrina run around, making leaf dragons that danced on the wind.

His heart ached as the sound of her laughter drifted to him. How many family dinners had he missed because of the suspicion and sibling resentment instilled by his father?

“She’s a handful,” Vivian told Noah with a laughing look for her husband. “Damian swears she gets her mischievous personality traits from me, but I beg to differ.”

“I was an angel. Ask Nathanial the next time we see him.”

Noah’s head swiveled to stare at his brother. “The man is still alive? How is it possible?”

“He was one of two Guardians assigned to watch over the garden. When Mother woke, a battle ensued, and we lost Nathanial. Not long after, Evie, his wife and the second Guardian, crossed into the Otherworld.” Damian gave him a half smile. “From time to time, when needed, Nathanial and Evie cross the veil to help us out. With Isis’s permission of course.”

“Sure, and my puir brain is full to bursting with all the knowledge it consumed today,” Noah muttered. “Do you not blame her for your foster father’s death?”

Damian shifted his head, facing the neighboring property, where the garden resided, not visible from where they currently sat. “I never had the chance to ask her if it all played out the way her visions told her it would. Nathanial, Evie, and Sabrina helped me to see it wasn’t Mother’s fault. The Darkness was to blame, and she mistakenly believed she could contain it for a while.”

“How do you know it’s gone?”

Those worldly obsidian eyes, so like his own, turned on Noah, solemn but honest. “Because I’d be destroying the world if it wasn’t.”

Heart pounding hard enough to leave his chest, Noah could only stare.

“You said our father claimed I held the Darkness, but I didn’t. Not until it was time to deliver it to the Netherworld and leave it there in its entirety.” Damian toasted him with a wry smile. “If even a speck remained, it would’ve consumed me by now. Rest easy, Noah.”

“Noah.” Vivian leaned forward and placed her hand over his, waiting until she captured his full attention. “I mistakenly feared him for a while, too. It nearly cost us our marriage and Sabrina’s life. Damian’s is as pure a soul as you’ll find.”

His brother rose to his feet, bent down, and kissed his wife in a tender, lingering way that made anyone watching uncomfortable for want of the same type of relationship.

“You give me too much credit, my love. But I’ll gladly accept it.” The beatific grin he gave her could charm fledglings from their nests and baby bunnies from burrows. “I’m going to see if Nate is awake. It’s time he met his Uncle Noah.”

“Uh—I…” But what could Noah say? His brother, sister-in-law, and their darling daughter had welcomed him with open arms despite him putting on the brakes. Why argue when they refused to take no for an answer?

“I’m glad you see it our way, brother.”

“You read my mind,” he stated flatly. “And you’ve the ability to implant thoughts. Is that why I’m coming around to liking ya?”

The fecker laughed, and the sound was contagious, though Noah had no intention of joining in.

“ You were the one who projected your thoughts into my head first, my bratty brother. I simply responded in kind. Any budding feelings of affection are your own.” Damian cocked his dark head, giving him a considering look. “I believe your existing abilities have manifested in interesting ways, don’t you?”

With a press of his hand on Vivian’s shoulder, he left them alone.

“Damian never intrudes on the minds of those closest to him. He’d view it as a betrayal of trust,” she said. “I’ve spent years with him and know this to be true. The exception is her.” She nodded at Sabrina, who was making her way toward the terrace. “If he feels dissension in the air toward her or Nate, he’ll tap in and act if it means protecting them.”

“As he should.” Noah agreed with the tactic. Protecting his children should be a parent’s primary goal.

“Uncle Noah! Uncle Noah!” Sabrina waved as she ran up the stairs. “Did you see my dragon? Mack taught me how to make them.”

“Mack?” he asked in an aside to Vivian after nodding and pasting on a grin for his niece.

“Mackenzie Thorne-Drake. Our neighbor and Sabrina’s idol.” Vivian’s voice was droll and held no hint of jealousy for the other woman. It appeared she didn’t mind that her daughter admired someone in addition to her.

“Another Thorne,” he said with a shake of his head. “Feckers seem to be coming out of the bleedin’ woodwork.”

Vivian laughed as she rose to her feet. “I’ll leave you to entertain Sabrina while I collect our supper.”

“I can do that.” He rose to assist her, then cast Sabrina a grin. “Sure, and we both will, yeah?”

When she placed her small hand in his and returned his grin, Noah’s heart melted completely. “And did you want a bratty little brother, too, love?”

“Oh, yes! But I knew about Nate before Mama and Papa. I’m an Oracle.”

“Aye, and so you’ve said.” With a wink, he gave her hand a light tug. “How about we help your mam with the dishes now, yeah?”

“You’re just like Papa.”

The smile remained on his face, but just barely.