Sterling (Mageri Series: Book 1), page 29
Hannah gestured towards the body in the field. “We will have ceremony. Collect his remains, Merc.”
Merc threw the body over his shoulders and followed behind the other members. When they reached the edge of the clearing, Adam looked over his shoulder and a smiled curved up his cheek.
And then he was gone.
Justus snatched my hand and I knew I was in for another scolding. As my Ghuardian, it was his duty to learn me, train me and reprimand me. But I jerked free and ran a few long strides before falling on my hands. I choked, coughed, thought I was going to be sick, but I just stared down at the mud. Adam’s blood was all over me.
“I didn’t want that for him, why Simon…why?”
“Because love, it was the only way he could live, and I know you would have regretted it more if we had not given him that choice. We had discussed this as a possibility, Silver. It came as no surprise this evening. You mistake our lives for a punishment, and that can be blamed on your maker. It is a blessed life we live.”
I rubbed my nose on my sleeve, disgusted with my pitiful display. I stood up, took a calming breath and headed towards the car. I was covered in mud and rainwater, so it was a relief that we took Simon’s car, which was an old, black two door GTO. I would need to be wrung out like a wet sponge before I got in one of Justus’s cars, if not strapped to the hood.
Oh and I’m sure he would have liked that too, given the way I defied his orders this evening.
I jumped in the back behind the passenger seat and cursed as I melted into a comfortable position. Simon and Justus got in and the engine revved up.
“We’re cracking open your oldest bottles and we’re all going to get pissed! The bastard is dead; I cannot bloody well believe it!”
He slammed his fist on the wheel and screamed out a victorious cry as the car flew into reverse. “He moved well didn’t he? Just like I taught him. Cept’ for that little bit in the end where he got himself killed but overall I think he put on a damn good show.”
Justus, on the other hand, was a little more reserved on the enthusiasm. “I want to go to his house to collect her things later; we might find clues to the identity of the other Mage. I want to know who he is and what he’s up to.”
“Agreed,” Simon nodded. “But I have one rule tonight and that is we’re not discussing anything depressing. This is going to be a night of celebration, so unpop that cork from your arse and put on your party dress you morose bastard.”
Simon cocked his head excitedly and winked at me.
“Simon, turn the heat up will you?”
My jacket was made for warmth but not for rain, it was more of a sweatshirt, which was now soaking wet. Water and mud covered my legs and ran down into my shoes. I felt the squishing as I wiggled my toes and my feet were starting to itch.
Screw this.
“Ghuardian, roll down your window. Please.”
He minced me with his look but complied. The icy air blasted across my wet body and not able to stand it any longer, I peeled my jacket off and tossed it out the window. Next came the boots—one at a time. The second one bounced off a tree and hit the side of the car.
“What the bloody hell, Silver?” Simon gave me a curious glance. “You realize someone is going to find those and think there was a murder.” He paused and laughed like a hyena. “On second thought.”
“Silver, I bought those.” Justus said. I knew he was disappointed that his thoughtful gestures were now draped across a bush. He liked buying my clothes; it was the one way he knew how to show his affection for me.
“If you want em’, go get em’. They’re covered in blood and I don’t want any bloody thing on me that reminds me of this night. No pun intended, Simon,” I added as I caught his humored eye in the rear view mirror.
“Are you done or will you be stripping off more?” Justus asked.
“Please say yes,” Simon murmured.
Without my response, his window rolled up with a squeak.
I was numb. Not just emotionally, but my skin was so wet and clammy that I rubbed my arms fiercely to generate warmth. They were still slick with water and when I looked closer in the interior light I saw dark streaks. Blood.
I dropped my forehead against the seat in front of me, teeth chattering. “Heater?”
Had I known it was going to rain I might have dressed for it, or maybe not. For some reason my lack of planning when it came to attire really provoked Justus, and I enjoyed my petty torments.
I groaned in misery as the vent was blowing cool air over my already frozen body.
“Will I see Adam again?”
“Yes. Novis is respectable chap. We do not imprison our Learners…do we Justus?”
“How did you know Novis would do it?”
Simon replied with a little cockiness, “It’s what I would do if I were him. Novis is intelligent, and I knew that while he hadn’t made a progeny in a very long time, this wouldn’t be an opportunity he would pass up. He’s one of the few who is very selective and it was strategically a good move on his part. Someone with his background can be an asset, the Breed tend to be very closed off in many ways. You know Justus,” he trailed off, “we also need to have a night out. Maybe a welcome to the Mage party and invite Adam and Novis—good opportunity to sharpen our connections.”
“Hey, I didn’t get a party.”
Simon purred, “Now love, what do you call that night on the dance floor?”
“Scandalous?”
I loved the sound of his laugh and I closed my eyes to let it warm me. When I heard a deep creak of leather I sat up and flinched. Justus was turned completely around in his seat staring at me.
“What?”
“I smell blood.”
“Well it’s a good thing I don’t have my monthly—”
His seatbelt clicked open and Justus crawled through the tight space between the seats looking ridiculous. He was way too tall to be moving around in such a confined space. Those athletic legs got tangled up in the front as he fell against the seat. One foot kicked Simon in the face and I hid my laugh.
“Bloody hell! A man is trying to drive here. Hard to keep the passengers alive when one of them is crawling around in the car like a moose. Could’ve run off the road and slammed into a tree and then what? Yeah, lying in a field for days trying to heal, while animals gnaw on us, that’s what…” he rambled on.
“Let me see,” Justus insisted.
He turned my hand palm up and blood pooled from the gash. I shrugged; I was immortal after all so I yanked it back and closed my fingers.
“You bleed.”
“I’ll bandage it when we get home. I promise I won’t bleed all over your studly car, Simon. I just need to get warm and I’ll be alright.” My limbs stiffened as I stretched them.
Simon glanced around. “Don’t worry love, won’t be the first drop of blood spilled in here. Justus, why don’t you tell her about the time you thought you could jump on a moving truck?” He snorted and turned the wheel as the car hit the main road.
“Why are you so stubborn?” Justus said, pulling out of the jacket he tossed in the front seat. He also was rain soaked; small droplets clung to him in various places around his neck and lashes.
“I take after my Ghuardian,” I grinned.
Justus reached over and brushed back my wet hair, coaxing me gently to lie across his lap.
My Ghuardian draped his arm over me and I felt his warmth move across my body as if he were the sun warming cold waters on a hot summer day. I thought of the tattoo on his back and it made perfect sense.
He was the sun…my sun. He was the center of my new life and I basked in his light and protection. My eyelids sank heavily and his hand rested over mine.
Despite what I had told him—my hand was healed by his magic.
Justus made me whole again.
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Dannika Dark, Sterling (Mageri Series: Book 1)
