by Rinna Ford
Xan's eyebrows furrowed as he flipped through the pages quickly, then handed it back. "What are you going to do with it? He obviously wanted you to have it for a reason. To continue your caster training, maybe?"
I looked down at the book in my hands. "Yeah, I think so. It was important to him, Xan. He must have known something like that was going to happen. How else would he have had time to make sure I had it with me at that particular time?" I looked up into my mate's eyes, but he didn't have an answer for me. I set the book down on the bed. "Anyway, that's why I wanted to come to bed early. I wanted to look through it, to see if there's anything in there that will help me, us."
"I wish I could help you with this," he sighed and pulled me in for a hug. "But, I'll do what I can and give you time to do what you need to with it."
"Thank you," I told him and reached up for a light kiss. "I love you, Xander Liu."
"I love you," he replied. He turned and walked toward the door, but stopped just as he put one hand on one of the knobs. "Please don't demolish our house," he winced as if he thought his request would piss me off.
I chuckled. "I'll do my best, but no promises."
"That's all I can ask." He closed the door behind him with a wink, and I waited until his footsteps had faded away down the hall before I picked up the spellbook and made myself comfortable on top of the bed.
I carefully lifted the cover, to find a folded piece of parchment paper between it and the title page. I didn't look worn or wrinkled besides that single fold in the paper. I sat the book onto my lap, and lifted the paper, opening it up to see Dev's handwriting staring back at me.
I put my hand to mouth to muffle the sob that threatened to explode from me because it was addressed to me. I put the letter down and wiped my tears, and I promised myself that I'd cry after I read it, but I needed to get through it first. Once I was calm, I picked the letter back up and began reading.
Firecracker,
If you're reading this, then you've found our family spellbook, and we got separated somehow. I can't predict the future; premonition isn't one of my gifts, or curses, depending on how you look at it; but I am good at planning ahead, and I knew that if something happened like this, that you would need the book.
You should find everything you need to learn about your casting abilities in these pages and promise that you won't let it fall into the wrong hands. Only those from our bloodline can see the words and images on the pages, but better safe than sorry. You never know what dark casters are capable of.
Promise me that no matter what has happened to me, if you think that I could still be alive, that you won't come looking for me. You are the most important thing in this world, and I don't just mean to me and your overgrown dragon mate. You, sweet Firecracker, are meant for great things, and I know of a woman that can help you with it. Her name is Diane Moore, and she lives in Greystone, California. Go to the diner on the edge of town; it'll appear worn down, but remember, things aren't always as they seem. Ask for Di, and say that I sent you.
I don't want you to think that I was keeping someone from you that could help you without good reason. We were always going to go see her it just wasn't time. You'll just have to make the journey without me now.
I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you from everything that has happened. But, please know, that I've loved you like you were my own daughter since I first saw your sweet face. Looking after you all these years has not only been my duty, but my privilege, and I don't regret a second of it.
I love you, Firecracker.
Dev
PS- There is a spell on the last page of this book. Use it to burn this letter after you read it, but make sure that you remember everything that you need to before you do it. Stay strong.
I lay the note on top of the spell book and quietly sobbed. I cried because my uncle didn't want me to look for him, and even though I feared the worst, I hoped with all my heart that he was still alive. I hoped that he and Ainsley got away and were living their lives happily. I cried because another person was taken from me because of what I am. I loved and hated myself because this dual nature of mine cost the life of my father, and most likely Dev and Ainsley. I cried because my mother was off living her life happily with her fated mate, who played a major role in it all. What mother curses her own child to suffer as I had? She obviously didn't care about me like everyone assumed she did. I cried because I had an asshole caster mate who was going to turn me in, and I still wanted him. I desired him with the same intensity that I felt for Xan, and I hated that.
I cried for so many reasons, and I let myself do it. I deserved a pity party, but once the tears dried up, there would be no more. I wouldn't allow myself to feel this way again. I was a survivor, dammit! I endured countless nights of agony as my mark added to itself, years of isolation and neglect in foster homes, and the loss of not only my memory but also my supernatural gifts. I survived it all, and I was stronger for it. I could handle anything thrown at me.
I needed a plan. But first, I needed to take care of the Devlin's last request of me. I picked up the note, along with the spellbook and carried them into the bathroom. I laid the book on the counter and read over the letter one more time, putting every word to memory before dropping it into the dry sink. I flipped to the very last page of the spell book and saw the incantation Dev had mentioned.
I went over the words several times in my mind and concentrated on the folded piece of paper. With a strong, quiet voice, I said the single word that I needed to cast the spell. "Infuerta." It started as a small spark on the corner of the paper, but soon the fire caught, burning Dev's letter to ashes.
One more lone tear rolled down my cheek as I stared into the sink, and I let it. That would be the last one I cried over this whole thing. I would find my place in this world, and I would finally be happy. I would make sure of it, I promised myself. No matter what, I'd find a way.
Chapter Twenty-Two
My uncle was right. I poured through the pages of the spellbook, one at a time, and realized that it would be an incredible help with learning my craft. It would be better to have someone teach me alongside it, but this book would work just fine. There were spells and potions for everything I would ever need, as well as descriptions of most of the special talents that casters could possess.
My wishing skill was actually called 'calling.' In the book, I learned that if I could call for an object, I could also send it away. I decided to practice, so I called for my toothbrush from the bathroom. I effortlessly found it in my upturned palm, and with the same focus, I tried to return it to the toothbrush holder. It took several tries, but eventually, I was able to return it to the right place. That was after finding it in the closet, under the bed, and in the shower. It also disappeared to some unknown place, and I had to call for it when I couldn't find it.
I spent hours pouring over the book until I heard footsteps walk down the hall toward the bedroom I shared with Xan. I hid the spell book under the covers, just as the door opened.
My mate popped his head inside and lightly smiled. "You're still awake."
"Yeah. I was actually getting ready to stop for the night though. I think I got the hang of a new trick. Do you want to see?" I pulled the spell book back out as he closed the door behind him.
"Was that why a toothbrush appeared on my lap earlier?" Xan raised one eyebrow before pulling his t-shirt up and over his head, revealing his defined upper body. I was so lost admiring his chest that I forgot to answer. "Emi?" he laughed.
"Sorry," I shook my head with a smile. "Yes, sorry about the toothbrush. Did your parents see?"
"No, I hid it with my hand before anyone could notice." He was still laughing at me as he stripped off his pants and crawled in bed next to me. He put one arm behind my back and the other around my waist, nuzzling into my side. Xan inhaled, making me shiver. "You have the best smell in the world," he said. "If you want to show me your trick, you better do it quickly before I get the chance to do something I've be
en wanting to do to you since you last kicked me out of here."
Giggling, I said, "Okay, Xan. Watch this." I held up my hand and his dirty clothes appeared in my palm. Then in the next few seconds, the clothes disappeared again and landed with a soft thud in the hamper in the closet.
"That's handy," he smiled. "I'll never have to pick up my dirty clothes again if you can do that."
"Fuck that," I chuckled and slapped him on the arm. He grabbed my forearm as my hand swung back and rolled so that I was completely underneath him.
"Oh, come on, Emi," he taunted as he kissed down between my breasts, "don't be like that. Caring is sharing."
"You're an ass," I smiled and bit my lip. He continued to unbutton my shirt and kiss his way down to the top of my pants. I moved my hand away, and when I did, I hit the spell book. Picking it up, I sent it back to its hiding place in the closet.
"Very handy," he smiled again and removed my leggings with one quick swipe. "Do you think you can remove something from your body with your trick?" He ran his finger under the waistband of my panties.
"I don't know," I mused, and bit my bottom lip. "But I'm always up to trying new things." Xan stared at me with lust filled eyes as he waited to see if it were possible, but then suddenly he was the one completely naked.
When he felt the breeze, he looked down to where his boxer briefs once were then back up to my face with an eyebrow raised. "It's not exactly what I meant, but I can work with that." His grin turned predatory as he pounced on top of me, rolling us so I was on top.
"Oh, I like this position," I smiled and fully removed my shirt and bra. "There's so much I want to do." My eyes trailed down his muscled chest and stomach to his waiting cock. I wrapped my hand around it, moving my fist up and down.
Xan thrusted with each of my movements, "Why don't you use your mouth on that?"
I licked my lips hungrily as the thought floated around in my mind. "Oh honey, that was my plan," I replied.
Instead of going straight for his cock, I began licking and kissing along the inside of his hip, my cheek brushing up against where he wanted me most. He bucked up off the bed as my hand continued to work him, but not fully satisfying him yet.
"Oh, so you're going to tease me, then," he said.
I replied with a saucy smile but kept up with my brand of exquisite torture. I kissed and licked all around his hips and thighs, still working his dick in my hand, and when he couldn't get any harder, I licked all the way up from base to tip. I did it several more times until his eyes were completely dark with lust.
I moved my hand down to the base and put my mouth where he wanted me the most. Xander let out a groan as I wrapped my lips around the head and moved my mouth up and down, over and over again. I wasn't able to do that for very long before Xander reached down and put his hands under my arms, lifting me up and turning me so I was on all fours.
"Wha, what are you doing?" I asked, startled by his movements.
"You can finish what you were doing later. Right now I'm going to fuck you," he replied, and ripped my panties down the seam, making me gasp. "That's another way to get them off quickly," he chuckled. He stuck two fingers in my pussy and began moving them in and out. I moaned and arched my back in response.
"Oh, you like giving head, don’t you honey?" he asked. "You're soaking wet."
"I love doing a lot of things with you," I sighed. "Are you trying to tease me now?"
He chuckled. "Maybe a little. Turnabout, and all that."
"Xander Liu, if you don't fuck me in the next five seconds..."
Before I could even finish the sentence, he slammed his cock inside of me, and I gasped out a moan.
"Like that?" he asked and began pounding me from behind.
"Yes," I moaned again. I reached forward and grabbed onto the headboard, as he continued to fuck me like his life depended on it.
I was beginning to feel that exquisite feeling move through me as he worked my body expertly, until I came long and hard, screaming his name. Xan pulled out and flipped me over, then quickly re-entered me, continuing his assault on my body.
"I think you have another one in you," he grunted, and damn if he wasn't right. Within seconds, I felt that pressure build once more, making my brain go fuzzy. "You ready?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Yes," I cried, and I violently came, which made him follow. After several more shallow thrusts, Xander stilled inside of me and leaned his face down to kiss my lips.
He was sweet and gentle, everything our previous encounter wasn't, and yet I craved it just as much. But then, he had to open his mouth and ruin the moment.
"You know, my parents probably heard us," he laughed against my mouth.
I shoved him off of me and hit his chest. "Why did you feel the need to say that?" I chuckled, making him laugh even harder.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The next morning, I woke up alone. I ran my hand over Xan’s side of the bed to feel a lack of warmth, indicating that he had gotten up long before I did. I reluctantly got up and padded my way into the bathroom, and after completing my usual morning routine; I slipped on one of Xander’s shirts over my leggings from the day before and went in search of breakfast.
“Good morning, Anne,” Chei Yun serenely smiled from a stool at the kitchen island. He was sipping on a cup of hot tea and reading a newspaper.
“Good morning,” I replied. “Where are Xan and Della?” I popped a coffee pod into the Keurig machine and waited for my morning caffeine to brew.
“They went into town. Xander wanted to buy some clothing for you, so of course, my mate had to go with him.” He lightly laughed and took a sip from his mug. “She loves any excuse to shop, and especially to spoil her new daughter-in-law.”
I smiled at the thought. It had been a long time since anyone wanted to spoil me. I really liked Della, and I hoped that she would continue to like me even after she learned the truth about me.
My coffee finished brewing, filling up my mug, and I went into the refrigerator for some cream, making the liquid a tawny color. I took my mug and sat on the stool at the other end of the island and gave Chei Yun a kind, but almost uncomfortable smile. He made me nervous, and not just because of his role in my childhood trauma. Xan’s father had this way of watching a person and seeing right through them. He was looking at me that way as I took my first sip of coffee.
“You know Anne, I’ve only heard one other person call my son, ‘Xan’ in his entire twenty-nine years on this earth.”
My eyes went wide when I realized I had called Xan that nickname just about every time I referred to him in front of his parents since we arrived. “Really?” I smiled.
“Oh, yes. She was his childhood best friend. Her name was Emelia.” Chei Yun eyed me, gauging my reaction. I must have given something away, because he quickly looked away, folding the newspaper in front of him. Once he did that, he pushed it aside and turned back to me, his expression more serious.
“How long have you known?” I asked, putting my cup down in front of me, returning the look. There was no reason to continue the charade. He knew my true identity.
“From the first time you called my son that nickname,” he replied. “I thought that you looked similar to Xander’s childhood friend, but when you called him that, I knew it was you, Emelia. Tell me, does my son know who you are?”
“Yes. He knew almost instantly that I was the same person, and he accepts that I’m half dragon shifter and half caster. He loves me.” I raised my chin, letting him know that I wasn’t afraid. I realized at that moment, that I really wasn’t. He didn’t scare me. He intimidated me, but he couldn’t do anything to me that hadn’t already been done. I picked up my coffee, taking a sip. “What are you going to do now?” I asked with an eyebrow raised.
“Emelia,” he sighed, and leaned back on his stool, “do you remember when you shifted in front of me fifteen years ago?”
“Vaguely,” I told him. “I don’t have all my memories from when I was a ki
d.”
“What do you remember?”
I took another sip as I thought about it. “I remember knocking on your back door, and you answered. There was a field between our backyards, and that was how we got to each other’s houses. I was looking for Xan, but he wasn’t home.” Chei Yun nodded his head but didn’t speak. “But, when I turned to leave, I started to feel strange and fell to the ground.”
“I didn’t realize what was happening to you until you had already half-shifted into a dragon. I tried to capture you, but I didn’t anticipate your strength or your ability to fly so early, so you got away from me.”
“I flew straight home, to where my mom was. She saw me coming, but I shifted back to my human form mid-air and fell to the ground behind my house. She called Eric, my dad, and they took me away.” I scrunched my eyebrows, staring at the half-drunk cup of coffee between my hands. “That was the last thing that I remember.”
“I am on the Paranormal Council. I did my duty, and I don’t regret that.” I quickly cut my eyes to him to see his stern face.
“So you think what you did was right?” I stood up, knocking the stool backward. I couldn’t contain my anger any longer. “I was an innocent child! My parents’ only crime was loving each other! What’s the harm in that?! Tell me, oh wise dragon Councilman!”
“It’s the law!” he roared back at me, but I didn’t flinch. I was tired of people thinking that they knew what was right when they were so completely wrong.
“The law is fucked up! I know that! Your son knows that! And you do too if you will really think about it! I mean, what is the reasoning behind it? Huh? Tell me why our society has to follow that law?”
“Because it dilutes the races!”
I scoffed a laugh. “Are you so sure? Have you ever met someone like me, born of two paranormal races?” He didn’t answer and that was because he hadn’t met anyone like me. “Let me tell you, I am a full dragon shifter as well as a full caster. I have abilities to do both completely.” I reached out my hand, and his cup of tea appeared in it instantly. “Do you want to see my dragon too to verify? Because she’s dying to show you how pissed off she is.”
