by Avery Gale
“Yes, Esmerelda is Vienna’s great-grandmother. Her mother is the angry-looking woman behind her. Not all the witches who took part in this ceremony wanted to overthrow the Council. Essie knew the piece you’re going to see was too powerful for any one person to have in their possession. Power of that magnitude can corrupt even the purest heart.”
Esmerelda pulled a shiny fabric ribbon from around the package and let the material fall away, exposing the totem they planned to split apart.
Bronx gasped when he saw what everyone was calling one of the most powerful magical icons ever created. “Catalina has one of these in her front window display.”
“Yes, she does. The Magic Council started getting calls about it as soon as it was unveiled.” Audric’s response shocked him.
“Is that why you talked to her yesterday?”
“No, we had already had several enlightening conversations prior to the one yesterday. Just so you know, she has a fascinating story to tell you all about how her design came to be. Your sister is a remarkable artisan; no one should be surprised the other side chose her to help them.”
“She’s a conduit, isn’t she? The other side talks to her.” Bronx enjoyed watching Kenya’s eyes dance with knowledge as she put together pieces of the puzzle. It shouldn’t surprise anyone she’d made education a priority, even at the expense of having a place to live.
“Until recently, Catalina had no idea where her ideas were coming from—she’d never associated the voices in her head as anything other than her creativity speaking out loud.” Audric turned to check what was happening in the meadow. Bronx wondered what he was waiting for but didn’t want to ask a question that would sidetrack the conversation. “We see this same form of magic with writers. They believe it’s their imagination speaking the words onto the page when, in fact, it is a voice or voices from the other side. Just because a soul moves to the other side of the veil, it doesn’t stop creating, and it certainly doesn’t want to be silenced. Some of the greatest authors of all time were merely channeling the stories they were hearing.”
“I hate to admit it, but hearing this is kind of a relief. It was always a little depressing when other students would say they wrote down what the voices in their head told them to say because all I ever heard was my own voice telling me I should stop waiting for someone else to do my work.” Bronx understood Kenya’s frustration because he’d always been envious of what Catalina called her muse.
Cat tried to explain it once, describing it as someone else’s voice speaking inside her head. She’d told him the voice didn’t always sound like the same person speaking, but it always guided her jewelry designs. After they’d become adults, she’d sworn the voices had saved her ass more than once when she’d been on a mission for one of the plethora of alphabet agencies she contracted with. After her kidnapping, Cat told him she’d felt abandoned by the organization she was working for and her muse—now her comment made more sense.
“There are only a few known sketches of what you see in front of you.” He paused and seemed to be scanning the other side of the meadow. After long seconds, he pointed to a small clump of shrubbery almost completely concealed by trees lining the other side of the clearing. “If you look closely, you’ll see why I only got a brief glimpse of it at this ceremony.” Kenya and Bronx both leaned forward, following his line of sight. Their enhanced night vision made it easy for them to see a much younger Audric standing in the midst of the brambles.
“No offense, Audric, but you look pissed.” Audric leaned his head back and laughed at Kenya’s observation. Even in the semi-darkness, Bronx could see her blushing. Her blunt honesty was quickly becoming one of the things he loved most about his new mate.
“I was. The man you heard say that I was looking to secure my seat on the Council was right, and this incident would have secured it if I’d been able to see how many pieces there were. We think there were five, based on the elements of the Meridian Balance at the points of a pentagram. I was never certain of the information because, as you’ll see, the smoke from the fires obscured what little view I had.”
Bronx watched as the witches crushed herbs in what looked like a large granite mortar. He wasn’t surprised by the wooden pestle, but he was curious about the granite since there were no granite deposits nearby. When he heard Audric chuckle beside him, Bronx turned to see what he found amusing.
“Goddess above, I do enjoy spending time with young people. It keeps me grounded and reminds me how important it is to share knowledge. Your observation is a good one. The granite is from Ethiopia. It’s one of the coven’s most prized possessions because it was gifted to one of their members after he healed a tribal elder. Your brother travels along ley lines, so you understand how magicals have been doing the same since time began.”
“It’s easy to forget those who came before us but seeing this… being here and witnessing it firsthand makes history so much more real.” Kenya turned to Bronx, her eyes wide with interest, “Didn’t you say your youngest sister runs a school for shifter children? Can you imagine how remarkable it would be to speak with them, telling them what you’ve witnessed here tonight? Your gift has so much potential.”
Bronx pulled her back against his chest. She’d humbled him with her simple observation and holding her close was all he needed to feel grounded.
“Look closely at the totem, and you’ll be able to see power shimmering around it, much like the auras we see surrounding people. The effect is the same. Everything is made up of energy. Mankind has made many advances in the identification of the particles involved, but it’s knowledge magicals have been using for centuries.”
They watched what looked like a small, sculptured piece of metal shimmer brightly against the black velvet backdrop of the forest. The five small fires provided little more than a glimmer of light, something Bronx suspected was intentional.
One of the witches poured a small flask of amber liquid into the mortar, the contents flashing a blinding white light, illuminating the entire meadow for no more than a split second, but it was long enough for a man on the other side of the group to lock his eyes on the spot where they stood. It was only then Bronx realized Audric had dropped the privacy dome. The man’s attention was immediately focused on Kenya, and Bronx’s arms tightened around her as he felt his wolf stirring beneath the surface.
Listening as the group began chanting in what Bronx recognized as Latin, he strained to put together the few words he recognized.
Let the light of the moon’s magic shine on each piece as it travels forth. Each part of a whole… together they make something greater than the sum of the parts. Audric’s interpreted words floated through Bronx and Kenya’s minds.
“Synergy.” Kenya’s whispered word so quietly, Bronx had barely been able to hear it, and there wasn’t a breath of air separating the two of them. Audric turned to her and nodded.
“Synergy is one of the least appreciated properties of energy. It’s what your generation calls a game-changer. That’s why the pieces your ancestors have worn since this night are small and don’t appear to be particularly powerful.”
Bronx suspected Audric was deliberately distracting them with pieces of fluff. Stafford hadn’t attained his position in the magic world by giving away secrets. Even though Bronx liked and respected the man, he wasn’t going to forget Audric had an agenda, and in the end, that would be what took precedence.
Chapter Fourteen
Kenya felt oddly connected to the ceremony as if she were a part rather than an observer. It was a strange feeling, and the odd sense of association was strengthened when her gaze locked on a man standing just inside the tree-line on the other side of the meadow. He walked among the coven members, but none of them acknowledged his presence—how peculiar. Thanks to her newfound night vision, Kenya saw the man’s eyes widen in what looked like recognition. How is that possible?
With his eyes locked on her, Kenya felt a magnetic pull toward the man despite the fact they could
n’t possibly know one another. As he came closer, she heard Audric’s muttered curse from behind her, but she couldn’t seem to pull her gaze from the stranger who seemed zeroed in on her.
“I would have recognized you anywhere, Kenya. You are the image of your grandmother. It’s remarkable how much you look like my beloved.” Standing in front of her, Kenya could see the man’s eyes were kinder than they’d appeared at a distance. “You can speak to me, you know. I’m a time traveler, the same as your mate. I’ve been traveling back to this ceremony every full moon since you moved to Texas, hoping one day you’d be here.”
“William, all you needed to do was ask.”
“I’ve already made too many mistakes. I didn’t want to risk making another by trusting someone who has no reason to help me.” For the first time, Kenya saw a spark of heat in the man’s eyes as his gaze flicked to Audric before returning to her. “Does she know who she is?”
What? What was he talking about?
“We will discuss this later. Right now, we need to make certain we have all the details needed to restore the totem, so it can be returned to the vault for safekeeping.”
“You already know there are five pieces, each of the elements of the pentagram, and you know which families end up with the pieces, so why don’t you tell Mr. Adler and my granddaughter why you are really here, Stafford. She is the Fitzpatrick heir and deserves to know the power of her position.”
“Granddaughter?” Kenya felt like someone had just kicked her in the chest. How could she have a grandfather no one had ever told her about? Why would her mother be so cruel? It boggled the imagination.
Don’t fall into a pit of questions just yet, there will be plenty of time for that later.
Bronx felt Kenya stiffen in his arms and knew he was treading on thin ice. Hell, he’d essentially told her to calm down, and he’d dealt with his sisters enough to know those were fighting words.
Hell hath no fury like a woman told her anger should be set on the back burner. When Bronx felt her shaking in his arms, he turned her to face him so quickly, she lost her balance, falling against his chest. Before he could set her back on her feet, he heard tinkling laughter and felt relief wash over him.
“Remind me to thank your sisters for making you self-aware. I’m sure they’ve done a wonderful job of preparing you for mating.”
He’d have been thrilled to hear her finally referring to them as mates if he hadn’t known her words were pure sarcasm. Israel had been listening in on his thoughts their entire lives—you’d think he’d be used to it—but Bronx was still trying to adjust to Kenya being able to hear his thoughts as clearly as he heard hers.
“I’m sure they’ll be happy to regale you with plenty of exaggerated tales of their invaluable guidance.” Bronx sighed and shook his head before continuing, “They’re a lively group, and my sisters-in-law fit in perfectly. You’ve gained a rather large family in a short amount of time—I hope like hell they don’t overwhelm you.”
“The Adlers are indeed a large family, but you also have another large group to call your own, Kenya. The Fitzpatricks are a huge clan, and they’ve been waiting a long time to meet you.” Before any of them could respond to William’s comment, a brilliant flash of green light illuminated the entire area. Goddess above, the glow was probably visible from the space station. It took him a few seconds to realize why Kenya was shaking with laughter again. Rolling his eyes at his own timeline blunder, Bronx returned his attention to the activity in the meadow.
The magical artifact resting in the center of the pentagram was vibrating at such a high frequency, he and Kenya both gasped as they worked frantically to cover their ears. Both wizards waved their hands at the same time, their magic combining to seal the four of them under a transparent dome, silencing the din that had made his ears hurt bad enough, he hoped like hell they weren’t bleeding.
“Sorry, I forgot about your enhanced hearing. Remember, they are separating a piece made from metal and magic.” Audric’s sheepish expression made Bronx roll his eyes. You could bet your ass he’d have remembered if it was his ears ringing from the beating they’d taken.
“I’ve seen the way your generation separates metal. Burning things into pieces is barbaric and changes all the properties at the edges where the flame cuts through the metal like a hot knife through butter.” Kenya turned to him, confusion lighting her eyes.
“What the hell is he talking about?” Bronx almost laughed out loud at the mortified look Kenya’s question elicited in William Fitzpatrick’s expression.
“A cutting torch. I’m not sure when or where a two-hundred-year-old wizard would have had occasion to see one in action, but there it is.”
“Don’t ever underestimate your elders, Mr. Adler. We’ve seen and heard almost everything, and we have low bullshit thresholds. Magicals who continue learning live longer than those who sit on their laurels, watching the world spin around them. I knew your parents, and contrary to what many people would have you believe, they were keenly aware they’d been targeted—and they knew why.”
The knowledge in Fitzpatrick’s eyes was quickly shuttered, leaving Bronx wondering what information Kenya’s grandfather could share. What part, if any, had Fitzpatrick played in his mom and dad’s death.
Shaking his head, William’s shoulders dropped. “I wouldn’t have ever hurt them, Bronx.” Waving his hand to the group, gathering closer and closer to the artifact, he seemed lost in his own thoughts for several long seconds. “The dark forces that claimed your parents also took my son—he was my world, and I’ve never stopped grieving.” Bronx felt like an ass but knew any attempt to apologize would sound condescending, making the situation worse rather than healing the damage his careless assumption had done.
“Look closely at the people in front of you.” Audric leaned close to Kenya, his knotted finger pointing to the group in front of them. “I’m not sure how many people you’ll recognize since you haven’t been exposed to as many magicals as your mate, but I suspect the pictures in your history books will give you some background.” As soon as Bronx focused his attention on the faces rather than their actions, he was shocked to realize he recognized several people.
“That’s you, isn’t it? Oh, my… what do you want me to call you? Mr. Fitzpatrick seems too formal, and grandfather seems presumptuous. Heck, you might decide you don’t want to know me at all when you get to know me.”
All three men stared in shock at Kenya, unable to believe what they were hearing. William surprised Bronx when he was the first to recover enough to speak.
“I’d be honored if you called me grandfather, Kenya. Your father never stopped looking for you. We never knew who was helping your mother with the spells required to hide you from us. Lisa’s magical skill was limited. She simply wasn’t gifted enough to do the magic required.”
Kenya nodded her understanding, but Bronx sensed she didn’t know who’d been helping her mom. If he had to guess, Bronx was going with Lisa tapping into her daughter’s magic for the additional power.
It seemed to him Kenya spent her entire childhood trying to catch up—about the time she would get her feet under her, her mom would pack them up and move, forcing her daughter to begin the whole process again. Her mother kept her off-balance with the moves and siphoning off her magic.
“The answer to your question is, yes, I was here to claim one of the pieces of the artifact for my family. I’m sure it will look familiar.” The older man’s expression softened as his gaze centered on the pendant resting snugly at the base of her throat. She traded the longer chain for a much shorter one at Bronx’s request. He’d had been concerned the longer links could become tangled as they time traveled, and he wouldn’t risk her safety.
When Bronx suggested they leave both of their pendants in the vault in Catalina’s store, Audric shook his head, insisting even without the other pieces, they would offer an additional layer of protection. Knowing they needed every bit of protection available had made him wis
h Kenya would reconsider the trip, but she’d been insistent, and the truth was, he had no legitimate argument against her claim that she had as much right to be there as he did.
Kenya turned to Audric, her mouth open to speak when she stopped, tilting her head to the side, and reaching for the elderly man. “Audric, what’s wrong?” Bronx turned to see the older man’s eyes glassy with unshed tears.
“You see the woman with dark red hair?” He and Kenya nodded as William set his hand atop Audric’s shoulder in an obvious show of support. “That is my Elizabeth, Charlotte’s grandmother. Lizzy gave Charlotte the pendant to her just a few days before she passed.”
“It’s my understanding the pieces have all been passed down a short time before the owner dies—it’s as if they know their time is nearing an end.” The whole thing was starting to become borderline creepy in Bronx’s view. He was looking forward to putting the entire mess behind them. For the first time, Bronx understood why his brothers had been so anxious to claim their women as mates and wives and was grateful he’d already made Kenya his own.
Keeping his focus on the ritual playing in front of them was becoming impossible as pictures from Kenya’s mind began floating through his own. Damn, his mate was replaying her claiming and the explosive sex they’d had both before and after. When he dialed it in, Bronx was able to feel her emotions along with hints of the physical sensations she’d experienced as he pushed his cock balls deep in her heated pussy.
Before this moment, Bronx would have told you nothing could feel better than the intimate flesh of her wet velvet heat rippling over the sensitive skin covering his cock. But now? Experiencing it from her point of view was running a close second. Grateful he’d learned a long time ago how to block others from eavesdropping, Bronx felt his cock pressing against the unrelenting steel of his zipper and sent up a silent prayer to Goddess charged with making certain his favorite appendage survived the hard-on from hell, his mate’s vivid memory caused.
