by Aubrey Ross
She glanced at Jax. He remained at a discreet distance, his sunglasses gone, revealing his jet black eyes. Unnerved by his assessing stare, she returned her attention to the Flame crystal.
“She’s ignored me for eighteen years. Do I really care what she has to say?”
Energizing her breath, she leaned down and activated the crystal.
Heat radiated, sinking into her flesh, stimulating her power. A resonance as familiar as her own pulse throbbed within her being. The Rhythm of Flame.
The crystal glowed, pink, rose, crimson -- fire!
Cayenne absorbed the heat, accepted the flame, acknowledged her nature. “Speak, Grandmother. I am ready to listen.”
The image of Matriarch Flame solidified within the crystal, tiny, yet intricately detailed. A perfect likeness. “I regret this cannot be interactive, Cayenne. But anything I do risks your safety. He is ruthless. I was so sure taking your mother from me would satisfy his thirst for blood. Such is not the case. You have not been abandoned these eighteen years. Your guardian was hand-chosen by me. Many of the people to cross your path have been Keepers. You have been observed, guarded, protected every step of the way.”
Cayenne looked at Malik. The warmth in his eyes gave her courage. She fed more iede into the crystal and the message continued.
“Your training will be unconventional, but the Frost Keeper I sent you is strong. He is your equal and opposite.” The old woman smiled. “I suspect he will not let you forget. Concentrate entirely on your training. I pray it will not come to war, but if he continues to push me, I will be forced to retaliate.”
Thinking the message was finished, Cayenne asked, “Who is ‘he’? Who did she keep referring to?”
“Your bonded mate will keep you safe, but Lorran is all alone. We must be ready when she…”
The last sentence faded away as the crystal sputtered out. Cayenne tried to reactivate it. Nothing happened. She tried again and it shattered, disintegrating into fine pink powder.
“Fabulous! Who the blazes is Lorran?” She shot an expectant look at Jax, but he just shrugged. “Summon one of those Veil people. I want to talk to her in person.”
Malik cupped her hands between his, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. “She has kept you out of this for a reason. You’re not going anywhere until we know more about the conflict and you are better equipped to deal with what may come. Did you not hear the command of your Matriarch? Concentrate entirely on your training.”
“But she knows who killed my parents!”
“She must lack proof or they would have been brought before the Steering Committee long ago. She knows what she’s doing. She sent me to you, didn’t she?”
Cayenne smiled. Her heartbeat thudded as she worked to calm her manic thoughts. “But who is Lorran? Grandmother obviously wanted me to know about her, so how do I find out if you won’t let me leave the house?”
He chuckled. “I never said you couldn’t leave the house. I said you couldn’t leave my side. I’m your mentor, and you are on a condensed, intensified training schedule.”
Jax laughed. “Is that what they’re calling it these days.”
“It’s my guess that Matriarch Flame was counting on your being here to hear her message, Jax. The letter was her official response to your inquiries, but she’s just given you some crucial pieces to the puzzle.”
“I’m on it, Frost.” His dark gaze moved over Cayenne’s face before he turned and left the room.
Malik pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly. “This isn’t over, sweetheart. It’s just beginning. When you’re stronger, I’ll summon a Veil Keeper and we’ll find out exactly what this is all about. But in the meantime you’re going to have to trust me.”
“I trust you with my life.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, molding herself against him.
“And your body?”
Heat erupted in all the right places.
“Always,” she whispered against his mouth.
Mystic Keepers 2: Crystal
A difficult and dangerous assignment -- in the Bahamas. Jax is just the man to make such a sacrifice.
Malik believes Cayenne’s parents were murdered. Jax must use his skills as a Shadow Keeper to investigate the deaths of the wayward lovers. Jax finds his investigation sabotaged at every turn by an alluring Light Keeper named Crystal. He knows she’s hiding something, but every time he sees her all he can think about is her flawless skin and pastel blue eyes. Can he keep his libido under control long enough to finish his investigation, or will his desire for her compromise the most important case of his life?
Aubrey Ross
Multi-award-winning author Aubrey Ross writes under several pen names, according to genre. Though her stories can take unconventional turns, they’re filled with passion, intrigue, and emotional realism. Whether her stories are set in Hell, Valhalla, or on an alien planet, Aubrey’s sure to entertain.
