by Anna, Vivi
“You’re hurt.”
She saw the blood on his fingertips. “It’s just a scratch.”
He brushed her hair off, then leaned down and placed his lips to hers. It was a desperate kiss, full of despair.
“I’m all right, Jovan. I promise.”
He nodded but kissed her again to make sure. to It turnWhen he pulled back, Rhys and Corina were standing over them. Rhys offered his hand to Jovan to help him up. He took it without question.
Corina helped Skylar to her feet.
“Are you all right?” Rhys asked.
Jovan nodded. “I am now, brother. That was some piece of magic you pulled off.”
“I have my moments.”
“You do indeed.” Jovan slapped Rhys’s shoulder and pulled his brother into an embrace.
At first Rhys stiffened, then flung his arms around Jovan and hugged him back.
It was the first time Skylar had seen the two brothers embrace or show affection for each other. She smiled, happy that they had been able to mend the hurt between them.
Jovan squeezed Skylar’s hand tight. He pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. “I hope you know I’m never letting you go. I won’t let anything ever come between us again.”
She smiled, although it didn’t quite reach her heart. “I know.”
She didn’t mention both of them still had to face the council. It was there that their future would be decided. Not here, where it was too easy.
“What now?” Jovan asked, as they made their way back to the motorcycle and Corina’s horse. “Have we lost our chance of finding Sebastian? Is he gone to us forever?”
Rhys grabbed his shoulder, squeezing it tight. “Don’t talk like that.”
“But what if we’ve failed? What if this was our only chance?”
“We’ll find another way to locate Sebastian.” Rhys glanced at Corina. “There’s another way, isn’t there?”
The psychic nodded at him. “There are other doors, other keys, other ways.”
Jovan sighed, his face pale and crestfallen. “But first we should return to London to talk to Father and let him know about Hawthorne.”
“And I must go before the council.”
Jovan squeezed her hand again. “We must go before the council.”
“Good luck with that, Jovan,” Rhys said.
“I’m not worried.”
But Skylar could see the worry in his eyes. He knew as well as she that the council was not forgiving. And they both had their share of transgressions to answer for.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The alcohol stung as Genevieve poured it over Darin’s cheek. He sucked in a breath between clenched teeth, as it washed out the cuts on his cheek and lip. Injuries courtesy of that bastard Jovan Davenport.
“Quit squirming like une bébé,” she chastised him as she pressed a cloth to his oozing wounds. “These are not bad.”
“Do you want me to bash you in the face so we can compare?” He swatted at her hands and snatched the cloth from her to press against his face.
“Do not be angry with me, ma cœur.” She pouted. “I am not the one that hit you.” She leaned against the railing of the airship and watched him.
No, she wasn’t the one he was truly angry at. She was justto It She a convenient scapegoat. It was the Davenports and the Druid woman who were the bane of his existence. They had earned his wrath. And he would deliver it to them, in time.
For now he had to return to London and plan. His father would certainly be displeased that the Davenports still lived but at least he’d succeeded in stopping them from bringing Sebastian home. This time around.
He knew they wouldn’t stop looking for the eldest brother. Eventually they might find another way to bring him home.
But it was never too late to plan another way to bring his enemies to their knees.
And when it happened, they wouldn’t see it coming.
Darin joined Genevieve at the railing. She was too tempting to resist. His secret weapon. She’d done a good job in deceiving Rhys. He tossed aside the cloth and filled his hands with her instead.
He spun her around, pressing her against the edge and molded himself to her back. The full firm swell of her derriere nestled against his groin. He hardened instantly. He shoved his hand down her bodice and filled his palm with her plump, supple breast. His fingers found her nipple and he pinched it hard.
She gasped and pushed back against him, which just made him harder. Nuzzling his face into the elegant curve of her neck, he bit down on the soft flesh. This earned him a cry, of pleasure, he assumed. Although it wouldn’t have bothered him if it hadn’t been.
He appreciated this woman though. She’d aided him in his plans and he expected to use her again in the future. She had resources he needed. A reward was her due.
He relinquished his hold on her flesh, then kissed and licked away the redness. She moaned, this time in appr
eciation.
“You have done well for me, Genevieve.” He sucked on her earlobe.
“Thank you, my Lord Hawthorne.”
“I have more use for you.”
“I’m at your service.”
He grinned, hoping she would be obliging. He dropped a hand to gather her skirts to her waist. He found her naked underneath. Shucking down his trousers, he entered her in one hard thrust. And as he rutted deep and fast inside her, Darin thought of all the ways he was going to punish and destroy Jovan and Rhys Davenport.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The meeting with Blake had gone well. Despite the dire news Jovan had to deliver, Blake had been in good spirits. Jovan suspected it had something to do with the fact that he and Rhys had found some level of brotherhood again. Not all the ills had been healed, but enough that they could stay in a room together for a length of time without wanting to kill one other.
With that done, he now had to meet with the League and its councilmen and stand by Skylar’s side as she explained to them the course of events. And he also wanted to face Lord Soren and plead his case.
Midday, Jovan met Skylar on the steps of the London Exchange. The council met on the third floor under the guise of civil servants, which he found more than ironic as the twelve-member council was comprised of anything but servants.
Skylar smiled as she saw him approach. “Good afternoon, Mr. Davenport.”
“Good afternoon, Miss Vanguard.” He took her hand in his ptingt size="+2and pressed his lips to the back. “You look ravishing as usual.”
And she did in her dark red dress and matching hat. Her silvery hair cascaded down her back and around her shoulders in silky curls. He had to suppress the urge to run his fingers through those strands and imagine how they would look spread across the expanse of his bed. It had been three days since they’d last been together and he ached something fierce for her. He suspected it would always be this way. Trying to dampen the feeling was pointless. It was too intense to battle.
He set her hand on his bent arm as they mounted the steps. More than one set of eyes watched them ascend. Hawthorne spies perhaps?
“Will you behave today?” she asked, knowing full well what his answer would be.
“I will do whatever you bid me to do.”
She eyed him curiously.
“Not the answer you were expecting?”
“Hardly.”
“I’m a new man if you want me to be.”
Inside the building, he tugged her into a dark alcove away from prying eyes. He pulled her to him and kissed her thoroughly. It even made his head swim.
When they parted, she didn’t answer him. They continued on their way up the stairs to the third floor, where the council awaited them.
Two men in dark suits stood outside the council room doors. Skylar bowed to them, as did Jovan, and they opened the doors.
The room was vast and empty save for the twelve men seated in ornate chairs at a long table set on the far side.
Their footfalls echoed up the pris
tine white walls as they crossed the room. The floor was so polished Jovan could see his reflection in it every time he took a step. It was a bit unnerving, like walking on glass. With every step he took, he expected it to crack, and he to fall through and plummet to his death. That was what it felt like to face the council.
Skylar bowed to the council members. “My lords.”
Jovan followed suit. “My lords.”
They each nodded in return, except for Lord Soren. He pinned Jovan to the spot with his fierce gaze. His daughter shared that trait. He then turned his gaze on to Skylar.
He touched two fingers to his forehead. “May the sun greet you, daughter.”
“And you, Father.” She gave him a smile and his face softened a little. “It’s a pleasure to see you in person.”
“You, as well.” He looked at Jovan and his eyes hardened again. “Jovan Davenport,” he said in way of greeting.
“Lord Soren,” he returned just as icily.
Skylar gave him a warning look. He shot her a cheeky smile. Shaking her head, she turned back to the council. “I’m here to make my report.”
“Go ahead,” the elven councilman, Amathon, said.
“We were not successful in locating and retrieving Sebastian Davenport. We were made known of his whereabouts, but circumstances forced us to abandon our quest and return to London.”
“What circumstances?” Lord Soren asked.
“Darin Hawthorne’s attempts to murder us in cold blood.”
That caused an outraged ripple down the councilmen line. He reco liornegnized a few of the members as being Hawthorne lackeys.
“Preposterous,” one portly councilmen said. Jovan didn’t know the man. But he recognized the Hawthorne sigil around the man’s thick neck. “Darin Hawthorne is a fine, upstanding gentleman. A moral man.” He gave Jovan a scathing look.
“Lords,” Jovan said, “believe this or not, but the Hawthornes will do anything they can to stop us from finding my brother Sebastian. The head seat here is at stake, and you are either blind or stupid to think a man wouldn’t kill to have it.”
“He sent a golem after us,” Skylar said. “Ordered it to kill.”
Lord Soren leaned on the table. “That is a serious allegation. Do you have proof?”
Skylar snorted. “If you want to collect the rocks and bits of metal at Stonehenge, you’d have your proof.”
He gave his daughter a hard stare. “This is not a joking matter, Skylar.”
“I know it isn’t, Father. But you aren’t listening to us.”
Jovan set a hand on her arm. “We’re obviously wasting our time here. Even if we had proof, this council would sweep it under the rug, hide it for the corrupted Hawthornes.”
The same councilman burst from the chair. “How dare you speak this way, especially about a good, loyal family such as the Hawthornes.”
“I dare because it’s true.”
“Well, if anyone would know about immorality, it would be you, Jovan Davenport.”
That caused another ripple of discontent through the council.
Skylar turned to him. “You don’t need to respond.”
“It’s all right.” He gave her a small smile, then turned back to the council. “It’s true, I have used magic for immoral means.”
More murmur spread along the table.
“You admit it, then?” The councilman asked, a gleeful look in his eyes.
“I do.”
Lord Soren spoke. “You do realize the use of magic for immoral purposes can be punishable by the stripping of magic.”
“I realize that, yes. But that was over seven years ago when I was young and foolish. I am a different man now.”
The Hawthorne councilman pointed his finger at Jovan. “He must be punished.”
“I have been punished,” Jovan responded. “I’ve lost the things I loved the most.” He looked at Skylar. “And I have never forgiven myself for the pain I have caused.”
He saw tears in her eyes. He didn’t wish her more tears, but wanted her to know that he loved her more than anything else, including his magic. If being stripped of it meant he would be with her forever, he would face those consequences.
“Skylar, if you would please leave us,” Lord Soren said. “The council needs to address this issue.”
She stood next to Jovan and took his hand. “No. I won’t leave. This is where I belong, by Jovan’s side. I won’t abandon him, no matter what.”
Lord Soren didn’t appear pleased, but he didn’t try to argue with his daughter, which was likely very wise. She looked as determined as Jovan felt.
Smiling, the portly councilman sat down, clearly hoping for a hoch was negative outcome for Jovan.
Lord Soren raised his hand to quiet the room. “Do you wish to say anything, Jovan Davenport, before the council passes judgment on you?”
“Yes, I do.” Clutching Skylar’s hand, he went down on one knee in front of her. His fingers vibrated against hers and his heart hammered in his throat. He wasn’t sure he could even speak the next words without his voice cracking. But he swallowed down his nerves and spoke. “Skylar Vanguard, I have loved you for what seems a lifetime, and I will continue to love you for an eternity. I have done you wrong in the past, and for that I will always suffer, but I promise you here and now, I will never wrong you again for as long as I live. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Time froze as he waited for her response. He wouldn’t be able to go on, if she refused him.
“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”
Tears rolled freely down her cheeks now, and she smiled. This caused an explosion of comment and confusion in the council. But Jovan ignored it. All he saw, all he heard, was Skylar.
Relief and exhilaration surged through him as he came to his feet and gathered her in his arms. He swung her around, joy filling his heart and soul.
“Order, please.”
The Hawthorne councilman jumped to his feet again. “He must be judged. He confessed to his crimes. He must be judged.”
“Jovan Davenport,” Lord Soren said, “will you face this council and be judged?”
Jovan set Skylar down and, still holding her hand, turned to face the council. “Yes, but know this. The only person whose judgment I value has already spoken. Her forgiveness is all that matters to me.”
Lord Soren nodded. “All those in favor of stripping Jovan Davenport of his magic, please raise your hand.”
Jovan watched as one hand rose—the Hawthorne councilman’s of course—then another lifted, then the final one, belonging to the elf.
“All those opposed?”
The other nine hands came up, including Lord Soren’s. He banged the gavel twice. “Jovan Davenport, you have been absolved of any magical wrongdoing.”
“Thank you, Lord Soren.” Smiling, Jovan bowed to the council. “Can I expect you to give the bride away at the wedding?”
It was a bold question, but Jovan felt bold right at that moment, with the woman he loved at his side.
Lord Soren nodded.
“Thank you, Father.” Skylar then turned and hugged Jovan tight. “I love you.”
“I love you.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. His heart swelled to bursting, knowing she was his past and his future.
When they parted, some of the council members were standing and arguing with the others. Lord Soren remained sitting, looking at Jovan and Skylar to make sure they heard what he had to say. “There is still time before the Solstice. Use it wisely and find your brother.” He stood and exited the room using the back door.
He and Skylar, hand in hand, left the council chambers. They needed to confer with Rhys and make a new plan. The League of Illusion was falling apart and they needed to find Sebastian to fix it before it was too late.
* * * * *
Don’t miss another seasonal favorite.
If you liked this story by Vivi Anna, then don’t miss the next installment of her League of Illusion series.
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br /> The League of Illusion: Prophecy
Illusionist Rhys Davenport needs to find his older brother Sebastian. With the help of a friend he steals an interdimensional map—but there’s an integral piece missing. Thinking he’s hit a dead end, Rhys then meets strangely enchanting psychic Corina Stratton. She has the missing piece of the map and is bound by magic to help him find Sebastian…but can they reach him before the portals connecting both worlds close?
Find out March 4, 2013.
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About the Author
Vivi Anna is an award-winning, multipublished Canadian author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy and sci-fi. She’s been writing since 2002, first publishing short stories for men’s magazines and then moving on to novels. She landed her first agent and first New York publisher in 2005 within a week of each other. Since then she’s published close to nineteen books and novellas for Harlequin and others.
Vivi is the current president of CaRWA and also a co-founder of the popular #TVwriterchat on Twitter. She’s also an aspiring screen/TV writer and has won the RWA Script Scene screenplay contest with her adapted script Vanquished, and has finaled in both the Austin Film Festival and Slamdance Film Festival with her adapted TV pilot, Occult Crime Unit. She is currently in development with a production company on a TV pilot.
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