Page 87 of The Mating Quest

The office wasone place she’d not investigated in her tour of the house. It was large, with an elegant mahogany desk against one book-lined wall, and a bank of windows overlooking a small garden to the south. It had a whiteboard on an easel and markers, and several heavy leather-bound books on the shelves with tedious titles such asHistory of the Winter KingdomandFae FamilyTrees.

Ethan seemed fascinated by the books and deemed them important, especially one in particular:The Ways And Habits of Magick Creatures of the DarkKingdom.

This was one book she definitely did not want to read. She knew enough already. If he knew exactly what she knew, how would he react? Was now the time to tellhim?

I’ll tell him, but not now. It’s not the perfect time and I’m on vacation. I want to relax. And when I tell him, he’ll bepleased.

Ithink…

Ihope…

Standing before the white board, he consulted with a book and drew an outline of the Fae Winter Kingdom. Marker cap in his mouth, he studied the board. “This looks like a good representation of Gideon’s homeland. Drust told me Gideon spent much time in the forests and by the streams. We’ll have to search for his talismanthere.”

So serious and intense compared to the playful Ethan in the water. Then she remembered how that had ended, with those horrid things seeking his magick. His dark brows knit together as he studied his artwork. She felt a flicker of regret the earlier intimacy between themvanished.

Ethan glanced at her. “What do you think, Ilana? It’s a large area to search, with unknown pitfalls. Dark Fae may bedangerous.”

She knew enough to be pragmatic. “The Winter Kingdom isn’t bad. It’s filled with creatures that look harmful, and yet aren’t. The real danger is the Dark Kingdom, not the WinterKingdom.”

Setting down the marker cap, he perched on the desk’s edge. “Tellme.”

“The Winter Kingdom of the Fae is filled with Dark Fae, but that doesn’t mean they’re evil. Gideon himself was a Dark Fae before he died and became the immortal Crimson Wizard. There are many shifters who look dangerous, but they’re just playful. It’s the other Fae, with evil intentions, you must worry about. Most of them live in the Dark Kingdom and they have powerful magick. Unlike shifters in the Dark Kingdom, the Fae can use their dark powers in the Skin world. They aren’t all evil, some are just… let’s say… bad boys. But some have let the power go to their heads and they’re the ones you must avoid at allcosts.”

The alpha studied her, his expression neutral. “How do you know somuch?”

This was the question she’d dreaded and expected since beginning this quest. Yet she was alone with Ethan, not with the others. Ilana took a breath and decided to trust he wouldn’t use this information againsther.

She could tell him this much atleast.

“I’ve been there, and it was most… unpleasant. It’s how I gained mypowers.”

“Dark magick,” he said in a mildvoice.

Ilana startled. “Youknow?”

Ethan nodded. “Back in the cave, Lucas told us theOllpheistneeded darkness to lay her eggs and you must have dark magick insideyou.”

Ilana gave a wry smile. “I’m surprised you and the others didn’t drop me off the side of the mountain afterthat.”

He watched her carefully. “Why? You saved my sister. But I must admit, I am wary of darkmagick.”

Words weren’t as impactful as demonstrations. Ilana culled her dark powers, closed her eyes and centered herself. She stretched out her arms, opening herpalms.

When her eyes opened, two blue-white globes hovered in the air above herhands.

“Energy balls,” she told him, bouncing the globes like rubber balls. “I can use them to heal terrible wounds. Or destroy. In some instances, create. The choice is up to me, as it is for each individual who harbors darkmagick.”

Ethan’s eyes widened as she sent the energy balls floating over to him. In her mind she directed the light to touch him, fill him with strength to fight any of those terrible creatures seeking to drain hismagick.

The energy balls sank into his arms, covering him. Wonder filled his expression as he watched. His body began toglow.

“I’m so warm. And it feels like I could run for miles in my wolf form and never tire.” He grinned, stretching out his hands. “Or do something else much more pleasant and neverstop.”

She flushed and returned his smile. “I’ve given you strength to combat the draining effect of your Changeling magick. That’s the good part of what dark magick cansummon.”

Her stomach dropped as she recalled the horriblepart.

The glow surrounding Ethan faded. He came over to her, cupped her chin and lifted her face to regard his solemn gaze. “Ilana, what happened to you? Who hurt you sobadly?”