Page 34 of Magic & Secrets (Twisted Magic #1)

THE AWE-INSPIRING ELATALORA was shrouded in perpetual silver mist and cloaked in a blanket of moss and ivy. This otherworldly metropolis felt like a place where nature and civilization fused into something ethereal and eternal.

Homes and halls were carved directly into the fertile Doblin Hills. Elatalora’s architecture acted as a seamless blend of nature and stone. The constant mist created a dreamlike stillness in the city.

Roque and I followed the unit of Silver Elves along the white lane leading toward the city. The Elven Empire had created its own language and laws. A warning was etched over the arch at the bridge leading to the city.

“Welcome to those coming in peace. Doom to those seeking war.”

Lined with moss, the gray-stone Omni Bridge stretched precariously over a deep cavern. Mist swirled in the abyss on either side of the bridge.

Entering Elatalora should have terrified me. My identity couldn’t be hidden much longer. I wanted to turn around and leave this place. I even glanced back at where we came and imagined Mt. Elysium.

I wanted nothing more than to see Roque’s home and reunite with my sisters. We could regroup and strategize for the incoming dangers. Instead, I chose to enter a place with no easy escape.

Most of the Elven Empire’s military was stationed around this magnificent city. If Mali viewed Roque and me as threats, he could unleash tens of thousands of warriors against us.

Worried for my mate, I sunk my fingers into his thick coat and inhaled his alluring scent. Nothing could keep me from killing and dying to protect him.

After passing over the Omni Bridge, the Elves guided us to the Tower of Reason, a glorious structure at the heart of Elatalora. I leaned my head back to see the rooftop skimming the heavens.

Climbing off Roque, I covertly stroked his side before steadying myself. The Elves called out to their brethren, speaking of an upcoming feast in honor of the Bane Shifter in their midst. They also sent word to Mali of Roque’s arrival.

Roque shifted into his human form and glanced down at me. Unable to control myself, I smiled up at him. His expression hid nothing. Concealing our mate bond would prove impossible.

“Roque of the Bane Shifters!” Mali announced, emerging from the tower with a pack of elder Elves. “Welcome to Elatalora.”

Mali’s silver eyes shone at the sight of Roque. I approved of how the Elves treated my mate. Roque deserved respect for how he'd suffered to keep the Territories safe.

Once Mali’s silver eyes fell upon me, they dimmed considerably. He wasn’t a frequent visitor to the Citadel, but he immediately recognized my lineage.

“And who is this?”

“His apprentice,” Wel answered, sounding skeptical of Roque’s earlier lie.

Mali’s gaze flashed to me before he told Roque, “I wasn’t aware the Bane Shifters took on apprentices.”

“Haven Junction was emptied by the slaughter. We need new creatures to fill it. This failed warrior can serve us.”

Roque was so obnoxious with his “failed warrior” talk. I could almost hear him chuckling inside when he said the words. Despite my internal amusement, I remained stony-faced.

“Failed warrior?” Mali said, stepping closer. “You seem familiar.”

“I hear that a lot.”

Mali cocked his eyebrow and glanced at Roque. “I would like to speak to your apprentice alone.”

“No.”

“Follow me,” Mali said and turned so abruptly he nearly tripped over his cloak.

Roque narrowed his gaze at the Elf. I doubted my mate planned to submit to Mali’s will. Since we were outnumbered, I decided to play along until Roque and I could sneak away from the city.

“He knows the details behind what happened at Haven Junction,” I told Roque. “He could help your pack claim vengeance.”

Roque grunted his disapproval. “I don’t take orders from Elves.”

“It was a request,” I assured him, despite Mali clearly throwing around commands. “You should hear what he knows about the Cult of Ivitithi.”

My words had an instant reaction amongst the Elves around us. They stiffened and moved away. I felt them speaking to each other mentally.

“Come along,” Mali said when we didn’t follow him immediately.

I brushed my knuckles against Roque’s hand and offered a hint of a smile. His breathing instantly sped up, and his icy blue eyes flashed silver. His mind was on us in Pandorium Forest.

“Soon, we’ll travel to Mt. Elysium,” I promised and gestured for him to follow me.

Mali guided us into the Tower of Reason’s main hall before gesturing at me.

“We should speak alone.”

“No,” Roque snarled, taking a threatening step toward the elder Elf. “Whatever you say to her, you say to me.”

“Because she’s your apprentice?”

“Exactly.”

Mali glanced at me. “What does he know?”

“Enough to be concerned about his pack. Does the Elven Empire know about the Cult of Ivitithi?”

Mali waved his hand dismissively. “Younglings playing dress up.”

“Those younglings wiped out the Shifters in Haven Junction,” Roque growled.

Refusing to become intimidated, Mali kept his gaze on me. “Where is your bevy?”

“It’s complicated,” I said, noticing other Elves entering the room.

Tensing upon the arrival of his brethren, Mali looked to Roque and whispered, “There are topics I need to discuss with your apprentice that shouldn’t be overheard. If you want her to remain safe, why not keep these Elves busy while I speak to Calla?”

Roque snarled his response. Despite his irritation, I saw the soldier in him considering his options.

“Don’t go far,” Roque finally told me before growling at Mali, “Don’t take her far.”

Mali gave him a curt nod and suggested the other Elves should discuss with Roque the species of the Haven Junction attackers. Opening a side door, the elder Elf clicked his tongue at me to hurry after him into a narrow hallway.

Feeling my mate’s unease, I glanced back and smiled.

Roque inhaled sharply. His blue eyes flashed silver with worry and irritation.

We were both thinking about how we should have challenged the Elves in the field rather than coming here.

Unable to rewrite time, we could only do our best to survive long enough to escape.

Mali clicked his tongue again, instructing me to follow him. I was halfway down the long, narrow hallway when Roque’s growling echoed against the stone walls.

I hesitated, worried over my mate’s growing agitation. Glancing back at where I left Roque, I considered whether he could control himself. What kind of chaos would an enraged Bane Shifter be capable of unleashing in the Tower of Reason?

“Hurry along,” Mali insisted before ushering me into a room. His magic swung the heavy doors shut. “What has happened?”

“My bevy encountered the Bane Shifters during a battle in Arbdorre Territory. We engaged with a dozen Haven Junction attackers. During the battle, a Sorcerer used the ancient magic of Ivitithi to separate us. I fell from the sky in Varema Territory along with Roque. I don’t know where my sisters or the other two Bane Shifters have gone. ”

Mali studied me. “Why would the Bane Shifter be transported with you rather than your sisters?”

“I don’t know.”

“I think you do.”

Offering a small shrug, I explained, “Ivitithi’s spell collided with Solme Divige’s magic. This outcome is the result of ancient magic gone wrong. Nothing more.”

“How did the Bane Shifter survive such a magical collision?”

“It has long been suspected that the Murade used ancient magic when designing the Bane Shifters. Wouldn’t you agree his survival gives credence to such a theory?”

“Don’t assume my thoughts, youngling.”

A proper response to the Elf’s irritation would be for me to lower my gaze submissively. However, Roque’s annoyed growls had changed to panicked howls. His growing distress distracted me from my training.

“What have you told him?” Mali asked me.

“About what?”

“About your lineage?”

“I told him I am an Elven half-breed, just as I was instructed to.”

“Didn’t Gregory instruct you to avoid the Bane Shifters?”

“They came upon us during battle. If we fled, the Bane Shifters would have been suspicious. We chose to work together to learn more about this threat.”

Roque’s howls echoed through the halls. He sounded in misery, but he wasn’t in physical pain. I would know if someone was hurting him. Roque simply didn’t like me away from his presence.

Mali frowned at the shaking door. “What’s wrong with him?”

“We’ve grown close in our battles. He worries I’m unsafe.”

“Why would he distrust me?” Mali asked, narrowing his gaze. “What have you told him?”

“Nothing. Your name never came up until the Elven guards mentioned you. I worried one of your people might recognize I wasn’t an Elven half-breed.”

“You need to stay away from that Shifter,” Mali insisted. “If he learns of your lineage, he will separate your head from your shoulders.”

Rather than respond to his worries, I lowered my gaze submissively and said, “The Sorcerer and Wolf Shifters chose to challenge the Bane Shifters. What madness is behind the Cult of Ivitithi?”

I felt Mali’s gaze dissecting my behavior. “Where did you hear of the cult?”

“The Sagesse showed them to me in a dream,” I said rather than mention the ancient one.

“Does the Bane Shifter know?”

“Yes.”

“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?”

“How exactly would I do that when I’m not a Witch?” I asked with too much force.

“Watch your tone.”