Origin of Angels: Elemental Legacy Book 1, page 16
When had love ever made sense? “Her connection with him is strong.”
Luke twisted on the bench, resting his knee against the back. “Yet she hasn’t bonded with him. She torments me, Zach. I am relieved I was not placed on her team.”
The situation was anything but ideal, so I had to agree with him. “I can’t begin to explain her actions, but I believe she still cares for us … all of us.”
He stood, fisting his hands into his long hair. “She should not. We should not have feelings for her, either. It is unnatural and a complication I do not appreciate. How can we hope to find peace with her power calling to us repeatedly?”
Faine walked up the path, but Luke hadn’t noticed her. She sighed, taking the seat Luke had vacated. When he glanced at the two of us, his eyes filled with pain. More than anything else in the world, I wanted to remove his suffering. Yet I was powerless to do so. His mouth hardened as his temper radiated from him until he directed it at me. “At least you have experienced love in this life.”
I kept my expression neutral, as to not incite him. “Your time will come, my friend. Probably sooner than you think.”
Faine smiled at him and rose, attempting to comfort him with a touch on his arm, but he twisted from her. “I’m tired of being second best. I want to experience a true relationship.”
Before I could utter a response, Faine spoke. “What of Ainessa?”
Luke sneered. “She is incapable of love.”
Faine’s voice lowered as if she tried to calm a raging bull. “Everyone is capable of love. She’s built walls around her heart. You once cared a great deal for her.”
He shook his head. “She’s moved on, and so have I.”
I could no longer stay seated. Making my way to my friend swiftly, I caught his arm and spun him to face me. “You loved her.”
He closed his eyes, huffing. “She betrayed us.”
I couldn’t believe what I was saying, “She still has good in her. You help her to see it.”
“She can’t be trusted. She tortured me … and you. Have you forgotten so quickly?”
Our time on the Order island came rushing back. My sister had captured a germ of creation and was trying to amass enough power to ignite it. Her intentions had been to save our race from eviction — to create a permanent place for us to dwell, but she had been foolhardy. I would not make excuses for her, but I would not lie to my friend. “You still care for her and always will.”
“She’ll be my destruction. How can I love a woman who wants to use me?”
I laughed. “You sound like Rayla.”
Anger filled his blue eyes for a moment before he shrugged. “I suppose so, but none of it matters. You’re forgetting Ainessa has her sights on another.”
He was a blind man. “Only because you’ve refused her.”
Up until this point, his posture had been guarded, but it turned hostile as he crossed his arms. “She betrayed me. I cannot forgive her. I would be a fool.”
I shook my head. “You already are.”
Travis
GALWAY WAS STILL A FAIR DISTANCE from here. We finally made it to the town closest to where we emerged from the borderlands. There hadn’t been any Elementals left, but the place showed signs of their presence. Under Lambert’s guidance, I’d learned to see the difference between them and normal humans.
Elemental families had a tendency to keep large stashes of supplies, and there were always subtle signs of their suppressed power. Usually, lush gardens were had where they lived and an abundance of wildlife. Looking around, this place was deserted, yet the flowers grew taller than neighboring communities, and the air was easier to breath. As odd of a concept as it was, it happened all the time. If only the Elementals living here had learned to use Roundup, they might have gone unspotted, at least by the Order. As it was, we hadn’t located one Elemental. I was starting to think we were too late.
Our next stop was the Order compound. My bones vibrated with my nerves. I had absolutely no desire to go back to the place, but it was the only way to find clues to what had happened here. Ainessa placed her hand on my shoulder. The contact sent a shockwave of desire over my body, so I stepped away.
She advanced as I retreated, but the only look on her face was concern. Anger infused me. “Stop touching me!”
She flinched, dropping the hand she had raised again. Her eyes drifted to the grass. “I’m sorry. I was aware of your distress and desired to help you.”
I clamped my jaw shut, reminding myself of her manipulation. She was not a normal woman with emotions. She was a viper posing as a snuggly bunny. “I need to be alone … just leave me alone.”
Hurt covered her features before she tromped away. My heart thudded still from her nearness. I hated her for affecting me at all. I should have been able to look at her without any force of emotion, but she might as well have been a live wire attached to my spinal cord.
I spun on my heel to get away, but Taylor blocked my escape. “Need you be cruel?” he asked without much hint of amusement or anger. In fact, I wasn’t sure how he felt about what he’d seen.
I straightened, not liking his condescending stare. “The truth is best. It does her no good to think she has a chance with me.”
He gave a wry smile. “Familial patterns repeating, I see.”
“Why do you people insist on comparing me to my sister? I am not her.”
“I should hope not. Ainessa would truly be disappointed, but she would deal with the situation if it meant she could progress.”
My anger lit a fuse to my mouth. “What is it with you and progression? I mean, what’s wrong with relaxing … enjoying life?”
Unlike me, he remained neutral. “Life doesn’t exist if one is stagnant.”
“You should know,” said a man from behind me.
Taylor assessed him in an instant and spun around me, making himself a barrier between the guy and me. From what I could see of the guy, he was definitely fae, especially considering Taylor’s expression. The weird thing was they weren’t speaking, but they both postured as if they were. As quickly as he came, the man disappeared.
“Who was he?” I asked immediately, attempting to keep fear out of my tone.
Taylor’s voice stayed steady. “An emissary.”
I grunted, frustrated with having to pull the information out of him. “What did he want?”
“To issue a warning: if we continue with our mission, we will be attacked.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Who warned the enemy before going to battle?
Taylor gave a little smile. “We are civilized, Travis. We do not operate as humans do.”
Why did I have such a hard time believing him? Not wanting to argue, I asked, “What next, then, and what aren’t you telling me?”
Unaffected in the least, he walked around me, forcing me to follow. “We will locate a better means of transportation and proceed with our mission.”
He wasn’t getting away with lying so easily. “And?”
Taylor stopped but did not face me. “He threatened your life … essentially called you out to a duel.”
“What element does he possess?”
Faint lines showed at the corners of his eyes. “Spirit.”
I groaned. Zach had wiped the floor with me when he’d attacked. I wasn’t sure how much effort he’d put into it, which didn’t give me much comfort. “What does a duel include?”
Taylor looked to where Jenny stood. “You could offer him a different course.”
My fists clenched instinctively. “She is not part of any bargain, now or in the future. Women are not possessions to barter with. You’re talking about my sister.”
A cynical brow rose. “Rayla is your sister. That one may not even be a true relation.”
If he’d have slapped me, it wouldn’t have stung any more. “Blood does not create family … loyalty and patience and love does, so don’t ever suggest something like that again, or I will personally take your head off.”
He smiled, as if up for the task. “You could try.”
Where were the angels when you needed them? Taylor stiffened, his body rigid as if in alert to danger and not in response to my challenge. What now? His jaw slackened as he stared at something behind me. Annoyed with having to be the one to move so much, I spun, rage filling my veins.
The man I’d only seen once — the one I was told fathered me stood three feet away. He made a quick bow, then stepped forward, extending his hand. My jaw clamped together with an audible clank of teeth before I re-membered I’d just asked for one of these guys. Of course it would have to be my father. I took his hand, forcing myself to be civil.
He smiled. His deep voice penetrated the air. “You have much of the same disposition as your sister.”
I refused to acknowledge his statement. “Why are you here?”
“I was under the impression you required assistance.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You heard me?”
He gave me a know-it-all stare. “In time, you will also have the ability. We are all connected. Did you think I would leave you helpless?”
I folded my arms because if I didn’t I would have to punch him. “I’ve never known you.”
In a flash he stepped forward, lifting his hand to my temple. Pain exploded behind my eyes, but as quickly it was gone. What remained was the inescapable realization that this man had never left me unguarded. He’d come to me in my dreams. He’d watched over me in school. He’d appeared as different people, but it had always been him. My mind couldn’t handle the information, and my knees wobbled. Taylor steadied me from behind but didn’t say anything. In fact, it seemed as though no one was breathing besides me. “I don’t get you,” I finally said because what else was there?
“We have time,” he said. “I’d like to speak with you.”
Curious, I nodded. Once again, he lifted his hand to my face. That’s when the world disappeared.
Rayla
SEARCHING THE REST OF THE FARMHOUSE revealed the same result. It didn’t seem as if the people who trashed the place had found what they were looking for because every room had been ransacked. They’d even torn down parts of the walls and ripped up the wood flooring. I couldn’t fathom what they thought they’d find, but it didn’t matter now. The place would be forever changed in my mind. My memories had been tarnished with what I’d seen, and I wouldn’t ever be able to erase the vision.
Once I composed myself, we headed outside again. My mind caught up to what was happening. “Wait a minute,” I said to Heath, who stood next to me. “How did we drift here? I thought fae powers didn’t work in the area.”
He inhaled as he watched me, his expression bleak. “It appears the Order captured whatever mechanism your aunt had been using to generate the shield.”
I closed my eyes, the whole mess jumbling my thoughts until I couldn’t think at all. “I’ve been so stupid. I should have wiped Valen off the face of this planet.”
Heath’s fingers grazed my cheek. “First of all, you were commanded not to touch him. And secondly, how do you know this is his doing?”
“Come on,” I said, not sure where he was going. “He’s the one orchestrating things.”
Heath shook his head. “Don’t you realize what he did, Rayla?”
I opened my mouth but stopped to consider. “He did a lot of things. What do you mean?”
“He joined forces with the father of evil. Valen no longer has control of his followers. They have been incorporated into the opposition of the creator.”
“You mean the devil?”
“You could call him such. What is important here is the separation of fae powers. Free will is the emblem of your God, no matter what humans call him, no matter what religion tells. He allowed Valen and those who followed him to choose for themselves.”
I shook my head, hugging myself. “I don’t understand any of what you’re saying. I thought I knew what we were up against, but now, I have no idea.” I pulled him away from the others so we could speak more freely. He laughed at me, but I ignored him. I didn’t like using telepathy. It was unnatural. “I think once we get back to Faeresia, we should call a meeting. I want to step down as queen.”
Heath sucked in a breath. His response hissed out so quickly, he startled me. “Absolutely not. I realize you are uncertain, and you don’t have much experience, but you are the best thing to happen to my people in millennia. We haven’t worked together since the beginning. You have us all focusing on life instead of vain ambition.” He shook his head, taking my shoulders between his hands. “Don’t you see? You’ve brought us to a common goal. We don’t need to go back to the way things were. It would be the worst course we could take now.”
All my insecurities welled until they burst. “But I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know how to lead your people.”
His brows furrowed as he dipped his chin. Disappointment carved a path down his face and into my heart. “I thought they were your people, too. Or were you lying when you said you’d become one of us?”
I wanted to say it was a slip of the tongue, but he knew better. The man could read me without any effort. “I’m trying,” I said, hoping it was enough.
He leaned down, pulling me close. Gentle fingers tipped my chin back. “Doubt is natural for mortals, but you need to realize one thing. I have existed longer than you can fathom. I know people and ability. There is no one better to lead us than you.”
Before I could respond, his lips whispered over mine. Heat spread from my chest to my toes, and I suddenly wished we could shed this mission and have a real honeymoon. He let out a groan, and I deepened our kiss. I didn’t care if the others were close enough to see us. Natalie laughed. I’d know her laugh anywhere, which brought me up for air.
She was near the porch while Heath and I were close to the barn. When I spied her, she shook her head, smiling knowingly. I waived her off, but my neck pulsed with a flush. I’d teased her about how open she and Sam had been with PDA. Well, here I was on the other foot, and it wasn’t a comfortable place to be. As I stared at her, regret hit me. She’d lost the man she loved, while I had mine near.
Heath clasped my hand. “She is healing.”
I nodded. She’d been smiling a lot more lately, but I couldn’t help feeling responsible for Sam’s death. “I think as much as can be expected.”
With all the hustle-bustle going on, I hadn’t made the time to talk to her — to truly catch up. I shot Heath a pleading look, and he bowed out. I mentally promised him some totally alone time later. As I walked to Natalie, I glanced over my shoulder, and he smiled, pumping his brows. I grinned, shooting him a mental image of us together. He started toward me, but I waived him off, giggling.
When I spun to face Natalie, she watched me with pained eyes. My heart tumbled to my toes. “I’m sorry.”
Her voice, soft and light, had my full attention. “You know pity is the worst part. I miss Sam more than I ever thought possible, but being reminded of my loss everywhere I turn keeps the wound bleeding.”
What could I say? Apologies were out of the question. Since she wasn’t in a reminiscing mood, I went for the next thing on my mind. “Are you ready for your mission?”
She rolled her eyes, but her expression shifted to interest. “Go on.”
“How are you with going undercover?”
16
Emily
VALEN TOOK A SEAT ON THE carpet next to me and Blade. My first instinct was to protect my son, which earned me a frown from the fae. “I’ve already told you I do not wish to harm you or your child.”
Chit-chat wasn’t something I wanted to do with this man. “What do you want from me?”
He peeked at me through dark lashes. “Are all modern Elementals this rash?”
I smirked. “Are all fae so vague?”
He smiled, relaxing his posture, then spreading out on the floor. His long body took up entirely too much space. I scooted back a tad, shifting Blade to my other hip. I waited for him to respond — and waited. Exasperated, I attempted to ignore him. Blade wobbled to his blocks and grabbed one before he returned to me, holding it out. I smiled and took it. On my knees, I made my way to the blocks and perched it where it had been. Blade frowned and shook his head, pointing to a place near the top of his makeshift fortress. “I don’t think it will stay,” I said.
His dark eyes pleaded with me, so I set it down gently, holding my breath. When the structure remained sound, Blade clapped. A low chuckled sounded behind us. Whipping around, I cornered him with a stare. “What do you want from me? No more evasion, please.”
“Very well,” he said, picking at a tuft of sandy carpet. “I want you.”
I grunted. “You said so before. Why do you want me, and what exactly do you mean by want?”
His full lips pressed together in a thoughtful pucker. “Perhaps you were once naïve, but I suspect you are no longer so. I desire you to be my bondmate. The why is relatively simple. I have grown fond of you.”
Vomit edged up my throat. I couldn’t be the fae’s bondmate. I couldn’t give myself to someone else when all I wanted was Travis.
Valen stood. “The boy does not deserve you.”
A seething huff puffed out of me. “And you do?”
He gave a simple shrug, content to remain emotionless. “I would like to think so.”
I stood and paced, picking up my son along the way. Over my shoulder, I said, “I do not share your ardor. Please leave me be.”
One moment he was on the floor. The next, he stood in front of me. Gone was the cool exterior. His expression held anger and hurt, something I thought was impossible for the man. “You do not have a choice in this matter, girl. I suggest you get used to the idea.”
Then, he did the unthinkable. He reached out and brushed his fingers against my arm. My world tilted and my mind jolted with unfamiliar longing. I found myself staring into those fathomless eyes until Blade screamed and kicked me in the hip.
Disoriented, I rushed past the fae and raced for my room. Once we were securely locked inside, I let Blade down and covered my trembling mouth with shaking fingers. I’d never experienced such a visceral reaction to a person before, not even with Travis. With stiff legs I made myself march to the bed and remove my journal. I opened to the first page and devoured the words, seeking the comfort of real emotion.
