Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“Thanks.” Honestly, he felt like he could drain a whole forest. But he trusted Finn to find a suitable spot. And they had to get back to their vehicles first.
Finn stood and helped Alaric to his feet, draping Alaric’s arm over his shoulder. “The one in charge got away with one of the wizards, but you did a number on the other. Festering sores, Alaric? Classic.”
“Needed something fast and deadly,” Alaric panted out as he tried to make his legs work. “But I shouldn’t have used something that powerful. I didn’t know the other was a warper. That’s going to make finding them even harder. Xavier won’t be happy.”
“He’ll just have to deal. At least that will narrow down the search. There aren’t a lot of wizards with that power.” Finn tightened his arm around him. “You can normally do a lot more before your energy is depleted like this. Is there something going on?”
“The warper bound me, and it took a lot to break free. He’s powerful. Very. Which means the man in the suit is, as well. Rich as hell, too, to afford a warper.”
“Which narrows down the search even more.” Finn helped Alaric outside.
Alaric was glad his friend was so strong. He was really struggling to walk. Felt like his feet slogged through thick, wet sand as they traversed through the big parking lot to where Finn had parked his truck out of sight.
Finn opened the truck door for him. “I’ll drive. We’ll come back for your car.”
Alaric just nodded as he settled into the passenger seat. Truth was, he shouldn’t be this wiped, and he couldn’t help but worry some. Maybe that wizard had been using another spell—one he couldn’t sense.
Finn drove fast, passing more warehouses, then taking them down several side streets. He let out a whoop when they finally reached a thick stand of trees in a small neighborhood park. He parked and hurried around to help Alaric, but Alaric didn’t wait. The magic of nature was already seeping into his body, giving him strength to move on his own. He knelt and placed his hands on the ground, feeding from the countless roots under the surface. His strength returned full force, and he stopped, sending out his senses to make sure he hadn’t taken too much. He hadn’t.
But something was still wrong. He’d been feeling it happening over the last year. It had been taking more energy to throw spells, and healing had been taking more out of him than usual.
He needed to find out what was going on.
Chapter Two
Alaric
The next day, Alaric sat in his SUV in the parking lot of Sunny Acres, willing himself to go inside. It was getting harder and harder to visit Sammy. At eighty-five, she was more bedridden than not because of rheumatoid arthritis, and over the last few months, she’d seemed to be fading fast. In his mind, she was still the bright, colorful co-ed who’d waltzed up to him in a diner, plopped down in the seat, and offered to spike his coffee with whiskey. The woman who never failed to make him laugh with her snarky wit and penchant for long flowing skirts before the sixties made them popular. Sammy had lived life her own way with a big fuck you to anyone who told her she should be less different. Less flamboyant.
He’d once watched her dance at the top of a cliff under the stars, with not one ounce of fear she’d misstep and fall over the side.
And as a confidante, she’d excelled. She knew exactly what he was and had never cared. Had in fact been fascinated by the unseen world around her, begging him to always point out preternaturals even though she couldn’t see past their glamours.
And now, she lay in a bed, barely able to move. That sharp mind had slowed, and it broke his fucking heart every time he saw her. She’d lived a long, happy life, outlived her entire family. She had only him now. And despite how hard it was to see her like that, he was still happy to sit in her presence. Happy that she still lived, because he was going to miss his best friend when her light finally faded.
That thought jarred him into action. He got out and swiftly walked inside, giving a nod to the receptionist, who waved. They were used to him here because he came every week without fail. Often more than once a week. He’d even grown accustomed to the fake floral scent—which was noxiously repellent to elves—they piped into the place, though it barely made a dent in the more hospital-like smells. He passed a giggling elderly couple, holding hands as they walked, and nodded to one of his favorite nurses.
Sammy was sitting up, awake, when he entered the room, and her smile lit up the room he’d done his best to make comfortable for her. He’d hung up her favorite pictures of places they’d been, including one of her dancing on that clifftop. Flowers decorated every available space—all brought by him—and he added a new bouquet of daisies to the mix now, replacing some that were nearly dead.