Page 39 of Magic & Secrets (Twisted Magic #1)
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT moments 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 will enslave 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?”
“Calla believed there would be only three Bane Shifters, and we assumed they would become alarmed if they saw so many female warriors.”
“She saw what Solme Divige wanted,” Limbrica insisted. “The ancient one has been orchestrating everything from the darkness.”
“What good can come from breeding the two species?”
A distraught Severine immediately cried, “Domination of the Territories! Their offspring could become unstoppable!”
“It’s possible we could use this for our benefit,” Mali suggested.
“No,” Gregory said instantly. “This must be stopped. We are faced with a single Bane Shifter and a member of the New Armgard. Kill them and the problem will solve itself.”
“And what of her sisters and the other two Bane Shifters?” Mali asked.
“We will begin efforts to track them and end the threat.”
“How do you suppose we kill a Bane Shifter and a member of the New Armgard?” Mali asked, full of frustration.
“When we lost contact with the original bevy, I dispatched several bevies of New Armgard to track them down. They’ve been rerouted to Elatalora and will arrive tomorrow before the sun is at its highest. Keep the Shifter and Calla entertained until they can be put down.”
“They’ve made contact with Elves from within the council,” Limbrica explained. “There are plans in motion to transport the Shifter and Calla to Mt. Elysium.”
“Delay it.”
Mali immediately demanded, “How do you suppose I should do that?”
Gregory sighed with deep annoyance. “Tell these Elves on the council that Calla is a threat. Claim she is a member of the Cult of Ivitithi and has bedeviled this simple Shifter with her magic. Insist Calla remain at the city to prevent the Shifter from rallying his kind to war against the Elven Empire.”
Mali nodded with approval while Limbrica silenced her concerns. I felt a chill fall over the Gathering’s members. They looked around at the same moment, likely sensing Solme Divige’s gaze upon them.
Sending me back to my body, the ancient one woke me with a violent shake. Roque roused immediately, wrapping himself tighter around my form.
I noticed a hint of sunlight piercing the mist outside the window. The day was already upon us, and the New Armgard warriors were on their way.
Kissing Roque, I relished the taste of his flesh against mine. We had not faced a true battle until now. Could we control our mate bond enough to unleash our power?
With a legion of Elven warriors between us and Mt. Elysium, I reached out to Solme Divige and begged for the power to protect my mate and return him to his beloved mountain.