“That’s your name, too,” she replied, arranging her basket and heading back to the kitchen. “Anyway, your grandparents threw it all out the window. Many of the Magister’s advisors and council abandoned him, stating that he threatened the stability of the entire magical community. Of course, the Magister wouldn’t hear it. His love for your grandmother was all that mattered to him. He insisted that the elements decided who was worthy of power, not the mages.”
We collected another round of plates. I tried not to drool over the enormous apple pie she gave me. The soft heat from the bottom of the pie plate warmed my hands, and the tempting aroma wafted into my face as I walked. My stomach growled in response.
“When your mother was born with only one element, those who remained loyal to your grandfather started having doubts as well. Your mother grew up as an outcast, an oddity that should not have happened and an unwanted heir to the throne.”
Marissa put her plate of food on the counter and looked at me.
“She blamed her parents for her lonely childhood and the rejection of her people. When they died, she put all her efforts into proving the people wrong. She took the helm of Magister and did amazing things.” She brushed back a strand of hot pink hair drifting across her face. “Some say her success came from her partner. He was also a single-element mage, but he was strong and devoted to her. I hear he loved her deeply, but she didn’t return his affection. I don’t think she could. They say she isn’t capable of love.” She paused, and her frown pulled at her strong features. “When she killed her partner, it all but sealed her fate as a heartless leader who cared nothing for her people.”
I bit my bottom lip and looked at the floor. I knew bits and pieces of the story, but Marissa filled in many of the gaps. Did the shifters know that Logan, the vampire who was just here, was also the Magister’s former partner?
“She told me she thought I was dead,” I said softly. The revelation still hurt. I needed my mother to want me. “Someone told her I died shortly after she gave birth.”
“That’s what we all thought,” Marissa confirmed. “No one knew you were alive until a few days ago. Even then, many of us doubted your heritage until today.”
Someone knew I was alive. They kept me bound and veiled my entire life. If it wasn’t my mother, then who?
“What made her change from proving everyone wrong to betraying her people?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Marissa replied, pushing away from the counter full of food. “It happened before she lost her partner, or I would say madness consumed her. Some say it was because her father abandoned tradition, and the elements punished her for it.”
“But that doesn’t make sense,” I argued. “According to Kellen, most mages only have one element, and they don’t go crazy as long as they have a partner. I’ve spoken to my elements. I can’t see them punishing a child for her parents’ wrongs. I honestly don’t even see it as wrong. How is following your heart ever wrong?”
“Kellen is right, and I agree with you, but it doesn’t change the fact that we’re fighting a battle tonight without our allies.” Marissa looked across the room. “There was a time when the mages would’ve been here within hours.”
“Momma! The guys are on their way, and they’re hungry.” A young girl of thirteen or fourteen years with bright green hair burst through the door. “Oh! Sorry, princess, I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Just AJ, please.”
“Sure thing. I’m Tara.” Another girl with purple hair, obviously her sister, followed right behind her. “This is Tia.”
“I’m glad to meet you,” I said.
“Get washed up, girls. You’re going to help serve,” Marissa ordered, corralling the girls towards the kitchen.
“Momma, did you ask her?” Tia questioned as she walked by.
“No, now get moving.”
“But Mom.”
Marissa gave her the ‘look,’ and the young girl relented.
“What does she want to know?” I asked, following the exchange with a smile and a significant amount of jealousy. I wanted that closeness.
“They love the color of your hair. They want to cut and style it for you,” Marissa explained.
“Really? I’d love that!” I exclaimed. The thought of being the sole object of their attention warmed my heart. No one had ever told me they loved my hair, and nobody had ever wanted to style it.
Marissa chuckled. “Be careful what you ask for. You’ll end up with hot pink.” She pointed at her own hair. “Did you think I did this on purpose?”
“But it looks great on you.” I allowed a smile to cross my face. Marissa had a life I wanted, and I would help her protect it tonight.
“Me and every other woman here,” Marissa mumbled, smiling to soften her words.
The door opened again, and a line of people flowed through it, heading straight for the serving counter. Dirt and sweat covered their clothing, but they didn’t look even slightly winded.
“Get a plate before there isn’t any left,” Marissa said, pushing me in that direction.
“It’s okay. They need it more than I do,” I replied. “They’ll be out there fighting to protect us.”
“And you won’t?” Marissa asked, handing me an empty plate. “What was that demonstration for earlier if you don’t intend to fight?”
“I…” I looked down at the plate in my hand, unsure of my answer.
“You’ll know when the time comes,” Marissa said.
I helped myself to a little of everything, then sat down at the far end of the table. A few minutes later, Matt and Mike joined me.
“They didn’t make you cook, did they?” Matt asked before shoveling a spoonful of potatoes in his mouth.
“No,” I replied, pushing my food around my plate. It smelled and looked great, but I wasn’t sure I could eat without throwing it all back up. “I just helped set up the buffet.”
A plate piled with food appeared on the table beside me. I looked up as Kellen sat down. He smelled like dirt and sweat. I tried not to wrinkle my nose, knowing they worked hard for the last few hours.
“I don’t want to see a single crumb left on your plate,” he said, picking up his fork and pointing at my food.
“Then you might have to eat it,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow and brought a forkful of steak towards his mouth. “Have you forgotten our deal about building muscle?”
“Nope.” I took a bite of venison and frowned. I’d never tried it before and decided I really didn’t like it.
“It’s an acquired taste,” Matt said, between bites, apparently noticing my soured expression. “I’ll eat yours if you don’t want it.”
“Please, by all means.” I pushed my plate towards him, and he stabbed the small piece of venison with his fork, adding it to his already full dish.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“If you’re asking are we ready, the answer is no,” Kellen replied. “You and I have a few things to do before sundown.”
“Damn, I was hoping to have the chance to show her my talents,” Matt said, grinning and raising his eyebrows at me.
Kellen rolled his eyes. “Hurry up. It’ll be dark in an hour.”
“And you say I’m bossy,” I mumbled, wondering what we needed to do before sundown.
Chapter 25
I closed the door to our room and leaned against it as Kellen pulled his shirt over his head. He looked at it with disgust, opened the door to the kitchen pantry, and tossed it in the garbage.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m exhausted, and I smell,” he replied. “I’d forgotten how much stamina they have. They never seem to tire.”
“Can I help? You can’t go into this fight worn-out.”
“I don’t know. I’m taking a shower first, then we’ll figure something out. But you’re right. I can’t fight like this.”
He ambled into the bathroom, leaving the door wide open. I collapsed on the sofa, tryi
ng not to watch his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Was there anything I could do to help him? Would my water elemental revive his energy, or did it just heal his wounds? He’d already exhausted himself during their stupid challenge. Whatever they did out in the woods only made it worse. But I was pretty sure he wouldn’t stay at the lodge while the others risked their lives.
You can offer him your energy and strength during the battle, Water’s voice whispered.
How do I do that? Through you?
No, child. Through your connection to him.
I thought about what it said. Sparky traveled between us all the time. I didn’t even know if he was with me or Kellen at the moment. Could he carry my energy?
So, I can revive his strength before the battle? I asked.
No, you must go with him and feed him your strength. Through you, he can be strong.
Logan did that for my mother, didn’t he?
You are not your mother, child. Don’t ever compare yourself to her, and don’t insult your partner by doing the same to him.
The element’s voice was harsh and left me feeling reprimanded. Its presence faded, leaving me with more questions than answers.
I got up and went into the bedroom. A stack of clothes sat on the tall chest of drawers near the window. I stood on my tip-toes and moved the pile to the bed. A multi-colored tie-dyed shirt graced the top of the pile. I set it to the side, revealing a pair of camouflage cargo pants. I picked them up and shook them out. They might actually fit and would certainly be better than my blue jeans.
I kicked off my sneakers and wiggled out of my jeans, then pulled on the cargo pants. They were baggy but comfortable. I rummaged through the rest of the pile and found a black, long-sleeve t-shirt with a fluorescent print of some music band I’d never heard of. I swapped out my own shirt to advertise for my new band.
“That’s a new look.”
Kellen’s voice startled me, and I turned towards the door. He stood there with a towel wrapped around his waist. The scars on his chest from earlier drew my attention, and I knew my face flushed with embarrassment. He’d been a perfect gentleman up to this point. Was he waiting for me to initiate something?
“You need some rest before they get here,” I said, walking towards him.
“I know. Don’t let me sleep for more than an hour,” he said, his bare shoulder brushing against me as he passed.
“I thought we needed to talk or something before sundown?” I asked, trying not to watch him crawl into bed.
He pulled the blankets over his chest and I heard the towel hit the floor on the other side of the bed. I snapped my gaping mouth closed at the thought of him being naked in the same room with me.
“I don’t think I can I stay awake,” he mumbled. “Matt made too many suggestive comments to leave you down there.”
My embarrassment and longing turned to anger. He didn’t own me. What made him think he was the only one I could spend time with?
“I’ll be in the other room, making sure no one disturbs you,” I said between my now-grinding teeth. He needed sleep, and I didn’t need a dictator.
“Okay, thanks.” He closed his eyes and yawned.
I stomped out of the room, refusing to be baited. Lives were at stake. I didn’t need to waste energy on jealousy or irrational attractions. I needed to figure out how to transfer my strength to Kellen. Would it be similar to what he did when we healed his guardians? He helped me endure their pain, but I wasn’t sure which one of us was giving. I assumed it was him. All my focus was on healing the trees. I didn’t know enough about my abilities to come up with a solution, and Water refused to talk to me.
An hour later, I flipped through the channels on the TV, finding nothing to maintain my interest. My mind constantly returned to my partner. How was I supposed to transfer strength to him? Logan would know, but he wasn’t here, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to see him. Should I risk waking Kellen up by trying now? Could I afford to wait until the heat of battle to find out?
The bedroom door opened on silent hinges, and I peeked inside. Kellen laid in the middle of the bed, flat on his back. The sheet wrapped around his waist, leaving his chest exposed in the dim light. I once again wondered how I ended up with him after being unwanted by everyone my whole life.
Crawling into bed, I got as close as I could without touching him. He stirred but didn’t wake. My fingers hovered over his chest, and I thought of Sparky. His faint light dropped from my fingers and landed on Kellen’s skin.
He flitted around over Kellen’s chest but didn’t enter his body. I looked at him with narrowed eyes. Did Kellen have to invite him in? I didn’t think so. He’d jumped back and forth several times without either of us asking.
“I need to make him stronger, Sparky,” I whispered. “How do I make that happen?”
I thought about where my own strength originated from and realized I didn’t know. The tiny amount of magic I used so far came directly from my elements, but I must have been channeling it somehow. I traced one of the long scars on my partner’s chest, Sparky chasing my finger.
“What are you doing?” Kellen’s voice startled me, and I drew my finger back, along with Sparky.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to wake you,” I said, trying to gauge his expression.
“You were trying to do something. I could feel it.”
I sighed. “Water says I should join you in battle and feed you my strength.”
His eyes widened as he sat up, frowning at me. I scooted away from him, waiting for his response.
“No.”
“I thought it was a good idea,” I mumbled, a little hurt by his immediate rejection.
“How is you being weakened in the middle of a battlefield a good idea?”
“My point exactly,” I said. “You are the fighter, not me. But you’re in no condition to fight. It only makes sense that I would help by giving you the strength I cannot use.”
“And who will protect you while I’m fighting against a horde of vampires?”
“Niyol.”
He frowned, but I could feel him recognize the wisdom in it. Would he risk me in battle to receive my strength?
“I need to know how to transfer my strength to you,” I said.
“This is a bad idea,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Your ability to feel the magic in our world starts here.” He leaned forward and placed his fingers above my heart, then trailed down my stomach, stirring up emotions I tried to ignore. “In the very core of your being. It’s why Sparky always races for your ribs. He is drawn to the magic that resides in you. You draw strength from your elements and channel it through your body. It’s released when you focus your will.”
“Like when I threw that wolf around the arena with the wind?”
“I wasn’t awake for that, but I would’ve enjoyed seeing it.” A smile crept across his face. “But yes, just like that.”
“And how do I give it to you? We won’t have physical contact.”
“It’s tied to your will,” he replied. “You have to force it from your reserves to me. Like when we healed the guardians. I gave you the strength to endure the guardian’s pain.”
“Can I try it now?”
“It might be a good idea.”
I placed my hand on his chest, and a warm sensation filled me.
“I don’t think that’s the one you were going for,” Kellen said with a smile.
“I’m sure it was, but it’s not the one I need right now.” I smiled, and my ears grew hot. “I probably shouldn’t touch you anyway. I won’t have that luxury in a fight.”
I pulled my hand away reluctantly and focused on my center, where he said my magic originated. My middle grew warmer, and I imagined the magic following through my hand and to my partner. Nothing happened. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried again, focusing on the small well of magic in my center until it burned, then once again tried to move it to Kellen. Nothing happened.
“Well, that sucks,” I said. Why can’t
I do this?
“You didn’t expect to do it on the first try, did you?” Kellen asked. “There’s a reason mages spend years practicing.”
“But I don’t have years,” I protested. “I might have thirty minutes, maybe an hour.”
“Or you can stay here.”
I glared at him, poking my finger into his chest. “No, I will not. I can see the weariness in your eyes and feel it in our connection. I won’t let you go out there alone.”
“I won’t be alone. Over a hundred wolves will be joining me, along with another twenty or more shifters that Victor was able to contact in the local area.”
“I’ve seen how fast Logan moves,” I said, feeling my resolve crumble. I wasn’t a fighter and we both knew it. “Are they all that quick?”
“No, only the mages turned vampire.”
“What else can they do that makes them more dangerous?”
Kellen laid back down with a sigh. “Their magic enhances the vampire’s magic, making them stronger and faster. Their venom works faster as well.”
“So, don’t get bitten,” I said, thinking of my all-too-close encounter with Logan. “What happens if a shifter gets bitten? Is there such a thing as a vampire wolf?”
“No, the shifters’ bodies reject the venom, and the vampires cannot drink shifter’s blood without being weakened.” Kellen raised his arms above his head and yawned, then clasped his hands behind his neck. His muscle stretched and rippled with the action, and I blushed. “They are nature’s way of balancing the two species.”
“I’m going to keep trying to feed you my strength,” I said. “Go back to sleep while you can.”
“I won’t be able to sleep with your magic poking at me,” he said, his lips twitching.
“Then I’ll leave you alone. “
He glanced at me with a strange expression. Was he inviting me to stay, and I was too dense to know it? No one ever flirted with me and certainly never suggested an intimate relationship. Unless he came right out and said so, I wasn’t sure I’d get the hint. My face reddened again, or maybe the embarrassment just intensified. He smiled, and my heart stuttered. Did I have the courage to approach him and endure the rejection if I read this wrong?
Magister's Bane Page 18
