Page 20 of Magic & Secrets (Twisted Magic #1)

I caught up with Calla near an abandoned helicopter. She removed a pulse rifle from the troop compartment and examined the weapon.

“Careful with that thing.”

“I was trained on all human weapons,” Calla said as she checked the battery.

Grunting at her dismissive tone, I walked around the helicopter to find more bloodied clothing. A unit of the Murade’s soldiers should have been capable of taking on the Ghouls. Either they weren’t properly trained, or another creature factored into the battle.

“You don’t need all those,” I grumbled when Calla insisted on carrying a half dozen rifles with her. “I can handle whatever the Ghouls have in mind for us.”

“I don’t trust my safety to a stranger,” she said, walking faster now. “Besides, these weapons will save me from using my arrows.”

Annoyed with her tone, I nearly shifted into an animal form and ran ahead. Instead, I remained close and followed Calla along the path.

We reached the crest of a small hill and came upon a deserted settlement below. Calla tugged one of the rifles forward and aimed it. Despite her steely expression, she flinched when my hand dropped onto her shoulder.

“Calm down. I can hear your heart racing.”

“That’s simply my mate attraction to you,” Calla grumbled while brushing away my hand. “Stop distracting me.”

“Your ego won’t heal if you insist on throwing salt on it.”

“Be silent,” she hissed.

Chuckling was the absolute wrong move. As soon as I laughed at her behavior, her angry expression shifted into a hurt one. I shook my head at her theatrics and gestured forward.

“No humans remain here. We should find lodging for the night. Food would be ideal, too.”

Calla muttered something none too flattering under her breath and started walking.

“Who raised your sisters and you?”

“We were orphans.”

“You look alike. Do you share a mother and father?”

“No, the Elven warrior who came to our mothers’ town was quite amorous.”

“So, you share a father only? You look too similar.”

Calla flashed a dark glare over her shoulder at me. “You don’t understand how human genetics work.”

“I know better than you.”

“Doubtful. I was a student until recently. You lived on a mountain for a hundred years.”

“That doesn’t change how your story stinks of lies.”

Calla spun around and glared at me. “The wayward Elf seduced many women. Three of them were my mother and her sisters. They became pregnant. My mother and her sisters died. We were raised in an orphanage with human children left parentless from the Belkum Battles. As we got older, someone noticed our quickness and strength. We were designated as protectors of the town. Eventually, we were properly trained. Then, one day, we received a mission that led me to my mate, who turned out to be a stubborn mule.”

Tapping her nose, I pointed out, “Mules are built to be stubborn. You can’t expect us to be any other way.”

Calla narrowed her gaze, yet I sensed she was amused by my mule comment. A smile refused to light her face. She exhaled melancholy with her every breath. I suspected she required her sisters nearby to keep her focused.

“The Ghouls will attack in the next hour or two.”

“They aren’t alone,” Calla said, patrolling the settlement with her rifle pointed forward. “The claw marks on the machinery and the helicopter were too large to belong to Ghouls. They have a beast within their pack.”

“Settlers like these aren’t simple folk like the ones at Opal Outpost. The ones sent out by the Murade are generally battle-ready. They should have been able to handle Ghouls and a beast.”

Calla stood at the center of the single road in this unfinished settlement. “This place took time to build. The humans weren’t attacked for months. Or they successfully fended off the threat until something changed.”

“You seek to solve a pointless mystery. Whatever killed these humans can’t kill us.”

Glancing at me, Calla nodded yet remained concerned. “Assuming we survive the night in this blood-soaked place, what will happen in the morning?”

“We will travel to Elatalora and speak to the Elven authorities. They will give us transportation back home.”

“What authorities?” Calla asked and moved away from me. “Why would they speak with us?”

“I am a Bane Shifter. When I seek dialogue with the authorities, they meet with me. You can stand next to me while that happens.”

Calla stared as if her gaze alone could break me into pieces. I admittedly felt overly attached to her. If she were anyone else—including her sisters—I’d have ditched her out here and put my needs first.

Instead, I stood too close to the beautiful warrior and enjoyed her sweet scent. Calla noticed my proximity and frowned up at me.

“We’ll search the town for food and shelter,” I said, suddenly reluctant to reach Elatalora, where we’d go our separate ways. “You should check out the tavern. They likely have supplies for a meal. I will hunt the woods for meat.”

“Should we hunt the Ghouls?” Calla asked, surprising me. “They’re dangerous to others, and it’s my job to protect the weak.”

“Hogwash. We are already on one mission. Why engage in another one?”

“You said my mission was over.”

“Don’t attempt to trick me with my own words. Just explore the tavern. They often have bedrooms upstairs. We could lodge there for the night. If the Ghouls come, we will kill them.”

“What about the beast or the Witch who wields them?”

“What Witch?”

Calla gestured at a nearby store. On the wall were words likely written in blood. “It’s a spell to enthrall the townsfolk. It would explain why they didn’t put up a fight.”

“Witch magic doesn’t work on Bane Shifters. If you become entranced, I will save you. Problem solved.”

Calla stared at me, seeming ready to share her secrets. I held her gaze and refused to look away. Her green eyes softened under my attention. She was so beautiful. My interest in this creature both enchanted and unnerved me.

For many centuries, not one Bane Shifter had ever found a mate. How could I believe I would be the first?

No, the more practical explanation was that the world had gone mad while I was hidden on the mountain. Former enemies had become allies. Creatures who once feared the Bane Shifters had willingly met us on the battlefield.

In a world gone mad, my longing for Calla made perfect sense.