Enchanter (21 page)

Silas had joined with Hope. Davio had accepted Faith. I was no different to my brother and cousin. We’d all found the good in warriors. Faith and Hope also wanted to bring about peace between our nations. Now, I wanted that peace too, so future generations wouldn’t have to suffer the loss of their mate as I might have, as Zayn right now did, and who knew who else was in the same boat.

“Hey, you look deep in thought.” Guy stroked my nape, his fingers warm and firm around my neck.

“I’ve had a revelation.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and snuggled.

“And that is?”

“We have a huge job ahead of us.”

“We already know that.”

“It’s more than what we spoke of.” Heat surged through my veins. “I feel driven, as the girls do.”

“Silvie.” Faith jogged toward me, grabbed my hand. “Forewarning.”

“Not again. Who and how bad?”

“You. Guy, let’s go.”

He grabbed me and followed Faith’s ’porting airstream.

In a blink, I teetered on the edge of an indoor pool. Three lanes wide and seventy or eighty feet long, all surrounded by blue tiled walls. Okay, not good. I did not feel up to a dip.

“Throw her in!” Faith screamed.

Guy tossed me into the depths and the water closed over my head.

Yuck. I shivered at the bottom of the pool, hating the cold. I pushed upward and broke the surface. Water bubbled and steam rose as I shoved my hair out of my face. “Okay, I would like to point out that cold water sucks.”

“It’s not cold now.” Faith eased out from behind a tall stone column, wiped her brow. “It’s like a sauna in here. That was one hot blast, and with next to no warning.”

Arm outstretched, Guy leaned toward me. “Come here, my little pest.”

I swam and grabbed his hand. He lifted me out and into his arms. Water sluiced to my feet.

“Your skill is gaining in intensity.” He threaded his fingers through mine. “Sometimes you can control it, and other times you can’t. That was certainly one fast flare you had no power over. Your rising must be close.”

When one’s rising began, an overpowering assault wreaked havoc on all our senses. Adrenaline pumped through our bodies causing an all-time high. Hormones swung, and strength-levels three-times greater than normal hit us. I wasn’t ready for that. I hadn’t trained enough. Oh boy, during our rising our power was phenomenal. It was certainly an occasion we honored, celebrated and shared with our closest, but my skill was too unpredictable. “I don’t have a good enough handle on it yet.”

“I know.” Faith came closer. “You’ve cooled again, but if your rising is near, then we need to get you out of Dralion and back home where we don’t have to worry about who sees what you can do. It’s gotta be close.”

“No, you’re wrong. My rising could still be days away. My flares might look worse because I have the fire skill. I simply need to train.”

“Or it could take hours. What if I’m right? You know the drill.”

“Know what drill, Faith?” A man’s booming voice traveled to us as he walked through the side doors. “Hell, it’s hot in here.”

Who was he? Wearing an impeccable red shirt with silver chains looped from his shoulder to his top pocket and long legs encased in tough black leather pants, he appeared a leader of men.

“Ah, there’s my granddaughter.” He gripped Faith in a firm forearm embrace. Gold insignia rings on his thumbs glinted under the overhead lights. “You and Hope are difficult to find, and none of the staff ever seem to know where either of you are.”

Oh boy. This had to be Donaldo Wincrest.

“Hope’s out enjoying the games.” She turned and acknowledged Guy. “So was I, until Guy insisted he knew of a spell to heat cold water, so I dared him to, um, heat the pool.” Her gaze locked with mine and she opened our connection. “
I have no idea why I didn’t get any forewarning he was about to walk in here. Play it cool, okay?
”

“
Cool? Are you sure I can’t use a little heat on him?
”

“
He’s my grandfather, so no. The blood-bond pulses strongly between the Wincrests. I can’t harm him anymore than I can harm my mate.
”

Yeah, frustrating. “
Just chill then, I’ve got this.
”

Except this was exactly what I’d waited for, and I barely bit back the need rising within me to hurt him as he’d hurt my people. Only, I couldn’t go down that road and do the same. I wasn’t like him, and I never wanted to be.

Wincrest swiped a hand over his dark beard then eyed Guy. “That would explain the heat, although ensure you return the temperature to normal once you’re done. Nice spell.”

“Certainly.”

“Who is this?” His gaze speared on me.

“My mate, Silvie Moyer.”

“You’ve found your mate? I hadn’t heard.” A sly grin lifted his lips. “She’s a Moyer already? You’ve wed?”

Yep, I had this. “We did.” Hopefully if Wincrest believed we had that would solve one problem. “Guy was rather insistent.” Holding out my hand, I showed him the band of gold.

He rubbed his hands together. “I’m well pleased, Guy. Notify Killian, and ensure you receive larger quarters in the barracks.” He regarded me. “What skills do you hold, Silvie?”

“Telepathy, teleportation, and…I’ve yet to discover the rest.”

Guy tugged me back to his side. “She’s a warrior, a recruit in training. She’s yet to go through her rising.”

“Make sure you inform me of any further developments then.” He squeezed Faith by the shoulders. “How has school been?”

“Not too bad. Finals are close.”

“Good. You’ll have to accept your role here amongst your people once they’re done. I’m off to oversee the games. I’ll speak to you later.” He shimmered from the room, leaving as quickly as he’d come.

Her shoulders sagged as she faced me. “I think we’re running out of time.”

“Well, at least I’ve met him, although what I do to sway his mind is still as much of a mystery as ever.”

Guy cleared his throat, his gaze targeted on mine and eyebrows arched to his hairline. “So, now we’re married? Would you care to explain?”

“He would have demanded it next. Now that problem is out of the way.”

“You should have consulted me.”

I tweaked his nose. “I’m sorry, honey. Are you saying you’d like a divorce? Already?”

“Divorce? We just started dating.”

Faith stepped past me and dipped one hand in the pool. “This is cooling down on its own, and I’d better get back to Hope. Guy, get Silvie out of here like we discussed.” She flashed away.

“Hey, no fair.” I turned on Guy. “I’m staying. Don’t listen to her.”

“She’s my princess, and she’s right. You can’t stay here, not right now.” He ’ported us, and we flashed through the dome room then straight to my bedroom.

“I didn’t get to see the games.”

He opened the door to my sitting room and led me toward my redwood desk piled with papers. “You’ve missed so much school. You should study, and while that keeps you busy, I’ll organize our new quarters. I can’t believe we’re now wed.”

“Do you want a hand?”

“No, I want you to remain here where you’re safe.” He kissed me, so fiercely my toes tingled. “Be good, and don’t forget our deal.” He zapped away.

Stupid deal. Still, I’d honor it. I grabbed a sandwich and ate as I slogged through Faith’s endless pile of notes. The girls’ problem weighed on my mind. Time was running out as Faith had said, and I had to come up with an answer.

As dark descended, I trudged to my dressing room and changed for bed. I had to sort what I could, and fast, which meant plan.

In bed, I played with Guy’s mother’s ring, twirling it around my finger. Because of the spell Gerritt Moyer had cast, it had brought Guy and me together. Such a beautiful spell, and Gerritt had told me never to forget the fullness of it.

I’d made the sacrifice and committed to being with Guy, to withholding the dome room’s location from Davio, Silas, and the rest of my people. I was the fire and Guy was the magic, and together we were one as Moyer. I even understood his fellow warriors in a way I never had before, but—

Guy shimmered into the room. He kicked off his boots and shucked his shirt. “How’d the studying go?”

“Terrible.” Oh goodness. His wicked abs were on display. My fingers itched to touch.

He unbuckled his belt and dropped his jeans. Wow, now those were some hot red boxers. Hot. Hot. Hot. “Why terrible?”

“Huh?” Had he said something?

“Never mind, with all you’ve been through I can guess.” The bed dipped as he slid under the golden covers. “I’ve moved my things, and I’ll grab some of yours tomorrow and make it look more lived in. You okay with that?”

He’d taken a shower. His black hair was wet and his glorious spicy scent washed over me. “I’m the one who got us married, so I better be.”

His breath tickled my cheek as he wrapped his arms around me. “Our lives together have just begun, and since you’ve agreed to keep the portal’s image from any other, so I’ll agree not to harm another Peacian. I don’t think I even could, not now we’re together.”

“You no longer hate as you did?” I nuzzled his neck. Clean-shaven. Nice.

“Your heart is so pure, and when you could have harmed Donaldo, you didn’t.” His lips brushed mine. “I’m going to strive for the same.”

“I wanted to hurt him, but I can’t be like him. Even your father being behind steel worries me. What do we do about him?” I wish I could do something, anything.

“He’ll be freed by my hand, not yours. Although, I’ve had one thought, but I’ll need your help with it.”

“You got it.”

His gaze lowered to the band of gold around my finger. “Pass me my mother’s ring. I’m going to add an enchantment as Dad did, but this time one for him.”

“How would that work?” I slipped it off and pressed it into his open palm.

“By using the same endless circle of love he did. Place your hand over mine. We need to seal my mother’s ring between us.”

“I like your idea. Your mother probably would too.” I linked our hands.

“She would have loved to have known you, and I’ll be forever grateful for what she did.” His eyes sparkled, and then the silver swirled to life. “Where love rises strong, where two souls join for one cause, may fire and magic burn, and all who bear witness be completely drawn. May hate melt away in the blaze of truth, and may freedom be granted for the man who saw to my birth.” Leaning in, he kissed me. “I bind this spell to my mother’s ring, and through the passage of time to their love which still sings.”

Tears welled in my eyes as the ring heated. A warm golden glow shimmered from the small space between our thumbs where our hands didn’t quite meet. “T-that was so beautiful.”

After it cooled, he took the ring and slipped it onto my finger. “Thank you for aiding me.” He pushed me back against the pillows. “Now, for one more thing. It’s time to enchant you.”

He kissed me, and oh boy, so tantalizingly sweet.

Yeah, my mate had enchanting down to a fine art.

I’d certainly be pestering him for more of this.

11

My fingers glowed and I shoved my hands under the cold running water in my bathroom. Not my favorite start to the day, but I couldn’t let Guy know I was having problems controlling the heat. He’d confine me to my room, and I’d missed too much school to lose another day.

I flicked off the tap and tugged on my ponytail.

“I’m back, Silvie.” Guy rapped on the door.

“Coming.” I adjusted the hem of my sunshine-yellow tank top. The white cotton pants were perfect for the spring day. I strode to the door, cool and breezy.

Guy paced my bedroom in hip-hugging black jeans and a red muscle-tee. He tilted his Stetson forward on his head as he eyed me. “Are you sure you’re up for school? You’re not having any flare-ups?”

“I’m all good, and Faith will be there.”

“If there’s any sign your fire skill is rising, then ’path me.” He snagged my school bag off the end of the bed and slung it over his shoulder.