Page 122 of The Mating Quest

The goddess vanished. The other wizards came to her, congratulatingher.

“The first female wizard of the Brehon. Imagine that. My sister.” Xavier hugged her tight. “Werock.”

Caderyn sported a wide smile. “I am so proud of you, Ilana. Proud to be your guardian and judge and now, yourmentor.”

“That’s why he never answered when I called, and youdid.”

With a wide smile, the Shadow Wizard acknowledged her words. “I mentored Xavier when he first became the Crystal Wizard. I saw in you the same traits – honesty, courage,loyalty…”

“Amazing hair,” Xaviermocked.

“Soft and silky,” Ilana sangout.

Caderyn scowled. “Do notinterrupt.”

“Two of them here, do you think we can stand it?” Tristan asked Gideon, whogrinned.

“I think so. Double trouble but double thefun.”

Caderyn rolled his eyes the way an older brother will at his younger siblings. He waved a hand and matching goblets of gold appeared in his hands. “Here. You both need to drink this. Ilana, since you are a new immortal, every six weeks you must drink the Blood Moonflowerpotion.”

She took the cup and swirled the dark liquid, glancing at her twin. “What does it tastelike?”

Xavier grimaced. “I hate the stuff. Tastes worse than Tristan’s oldsocks.”

The Silver Wizard, leaning against the table, shook his head. “How would you know, Xavier? Been sorting through my laundryagain?”

Ilana laughed. She clinked her goblet to Xavier’s. “Cheers.”

They drank the potion. Xavier looked surprised. “It does not taste as horrid as it had in the past, though in the past few years, it has tasted better. Now it issweet.”

Caderyn smiled. “Because each time you drank, it reinforced your immortality, an immorality that kept you from reuniting with Ilana. When Ciara became your mate, your heart was full, but only now, united with your twin once more, is your soul at peace aswell.”

When they finished, the goblets vanished. Caderyn folded his arms. “Although I am certain you and Xavier wish to catch up and become reacquainted, there are a few matters I need to discuss with Ilana before Danu formally makes her awizard. “

Xavier hugged her again. “Later sis,” he said, and he smiled. “Guess I’ll have to get used to sayingthat.”

When the other wizards vanished, Caderyn beckoned for her to walk with him. Lacing his hands behind his back, he seemed to wait for her tospeak.

She did have questions, oh so manyquestions.

“Caderyn, I sensed that Cormac never held any real power. But when I became his lover, I thought he did. How could he deceiveme?”

“Cormac was a master of disguise and manipulation, for he held little magick and used Dark Fae glamour into fooling you, and others. As you surmised, he stole yourmagick.”

“I had no real magick.” She touched the hilt of her dagger. “Only the fighting skills you taughtme.”

“But, my dear, you did. From the moment you touched Gideon’s talisman, it forged a connection toyou…”

“I siphoned Gideon’spower.”

Caderyn nodded. “Just enough to enhance your own magick. When you touched the talisman, you gained some of Gideon’s powers. Dark Fae magick with some of his wizard powers, for Gideon was Dark Fae as amortal.”

“Why didn’t Danu destroy the talisman?” she asked. “I never wanted to hurt anyone, and look whathappened.”

“Because it was a force to be used for good or evil. It wasn’t an issue until the Dark Lord began gaining followers and growing stronger that she saw it must be destroyed, but first, used to empower those dedicated to fightingevil.”

The Shadow Wizard sighed. “You have a delicate balance inside you, Ilana, a struggle to use your magick for good. Light in the darkness. You are a brave warrior fighting for the right reasons, but others… donot.”