to help them do it.
Their sole purpose was to insight a war between the nobles of Charbydon and the Adonai of Elysia. To do that, they had to go deep into ancient off-world mythology to a forgotten history and find proof that the nobles had once ruled the beautiful and heavenly world of Elysia.
They’d found their proof all right.
The being lying inside of the sarcophagus was the link, the ancestor to the Charbydon nobles, Elysian Adonai, and humans. A First One. One whose existence alone would prove that the other myths were true and that the nobles had indeed once lived and ruled in Elysia.
Once the nobles had physical proof, they’d leave the dark world of Charbydon and lay siege to Elysia. Heaven and hell at war again. And we’d be stuck in the middle.
With the nobles gone from Charbydon, the path would be clear for the jinn to take back control oftheir home world or worse, use the chaos of war to gain new territory and control here.
Bryn knocked on the slatted wooden door, pulling me out of my thoughts of war and chaos.
We waited a few seconds. She knocked again. A soft thud sounded behind us and we both turned in time to see a black wolf jump down from the tree in front of the house.
Aaron had been in the tree. Odd.
Since when do wolves climb trees?
But then, this was no ordinary wolf, was it?
Emerald eyes regarded us in a quiet, predatory way before the wolf padded past us and shifted en route, clothes following in a blur as wolf became a masculine, black-haired nymph male. Without a word, he opened the door and went inside.
“Joy,” Bryn muttered, following him.
The interior of the cottage was cozy, with two timber beams running the length of a low ceiling. Aaron went to the fireplace and poked at the red coals before placing a stick of wood on the fire. His bare feet peeked out from the ends of frayed jeans. Reflected flames danced on an untucked black silk shirt. A couple days’ worth of beard covered his jaw, and the emerald green aura that was usually so vivid appeared dull.
As he set the poker down and turned to us, I noticed shadows curving beneath his solemn eyes. Black eyebrows were drawn together in a thoughtful frown and his hair was in need of a cut.
Aaron put me in mind of a rugged, ancient Celt,and now he looked the part more than ever. Battle weary, too, with his gaunt expression and noticeable weight loss.
I met his gaze. The intelligent light usually there was muted. A sigh of regret went through me.
“Have a seat.” He gestured to the old floral-print sofa against the wall.
Aaron took the chair by the fire as I sat down. Bryn perched next to me on the arm of the couch. An uncomfortable silence descended, which brought the tension between them into stark relief.
“So what is this place?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood. “Looks like you’re renting it from the seven dwarves.”
A brief smile crossed his face. “It’s sanctuary. I find the house too loud, too busy this time of year with all the decorating and planning.”
“Oh, right. The New Year’s Eve shindig.” The League threw one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the city, going on four years now. Emma, Rex, and I had been invited and it would be our first League party. “Emma can’t wait. She’s already got her dress, shoes, and jewelry …” Unlike her mother. I had no clue what I was going to wear.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Bryn said suddenly. “She wants to help decorate the ballroom. I told her it was okay with me if it was with you. She can come early the night of and help with last-minute details, too.”
“Should be okay,” I said. “Rex will want to come, too, and make a nuisance of himself in the kitchen.”And no one could argue with that—one of Rex’s undying passions was cooking.
“While we’re on the subject of your daughter,” Aaron said, “have you given any more thought to her request to attend the League’s school?”
My eyebrow lifted. “She’s gotten to
Their sole purpose was to insight a war between the nobles of Charbydon and the Adonai of Elysia. To do that, they had to go deep into ancient off-world mythology to a forgotten history and find proof that the nobles had once ruled the beautiful and heavenly world of Elysia.
They’d found their proof all right.
The being lying inside of the sarcophagus was the link, the ancestor to the Charbydon nobles, Elysian Adonai, and humans. A First One. One whose existence alone would prove that the other myths were true and that the nobles had indeed once lived and ruled in Elysia.
Once the nobles had physical proof, they’d leave the dark world of Charbydon and lay siege to Elysia. Heaven and hell at war again. And we’d be stuck in the middle.
With the nobles gone from Charbydon, the path would be clear for the jinn to take back control oftheir home world or worse, use the chaos of war to gain new territory and control here.
Bryn knocked on the slatted wooden door, pulling me out of my thoughts of war and chaos.
We waited a few seconds. She knocked again. A soft thud sounded behind us and we both turned in time to see a black wolf jump down from the tree in front of the house.
Aaron had been in the tree. Odd.
Since when do wolves climb trees?
But then, this was no ordinary wolf, was it?
Emerald eyes regarded us in a quiet, predatory way before the wolf padded past us and shifted en route, clothes following in a blur as wolf became a masculine, black-haired nymph male. Without a word, he opened the door and went inside.
“Joy,” Bryn muttered, following him.
The interior of the cottage was cozy, with two timber beams running the length of a low ceiling. Aaron went to the fireplace and poked at the red coals before placing a stick of wood on the fire. His bare feet peeked out from the ends of frayed jeans. Reflected flames danced on an untucked black silk shirt. A couple days’ worth of beard covered his jaw, and the emerald green aura that was usually so vivid appeared dull.
As he set the poker down and turned to us, I noticed shadows curving beneath his solemn eyes. Black eyebrows were drawn together in a thoughtful frown and his hair was in need of a cut.
Aaron put me in mind of a rugged, ancient Celt,and now he looked the part more than ever. Battle weary, too, with his gaunt expression and noticeable weight loss.
I met his gaze. The intelligent light usually there was muted. A sigh of regret went through me.
“Have a seat.” He gestured to the old floral-print sofa against the wall.
Aaron took the chair by the fire as I sat down. Bryn perched next to me on the arm of the couch. An uncomfortable silence descended, which brought the tension between them into stark relief.
“So what is this place?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood. “Looks like you’re renting it from the seven dwarves.”
A brief smile crossed his face. “It’s sanctuary. I find the house too loud, too busy this time of year with all the decorating and planning.”
“Oh, right. The New Year’s Eve shindig.” The League threw one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in the city, going on four years now. Emma, Rex, and I had been invited and it would be our first League party. “Emma can’t wait. She’s already got her dress, shoes, and jewelry …” Unlike her mother. I had no clue what I was going to wear.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Bryn said suddenly. “She wants to help decorate the ballroom. I told her it was okay with me if it was with you. She can come early the night of and help with last-minute details, too.”
“Should be okay,” I said. “Rex will want to come, too, and make a nuisance of himself in the kitchen.”And no one could argue with that—one of Rex’s undying passions was cooking.
“While we’re on the subject of your daughter,” Aaron said, “have you given any more thought to her request to attend the League’s school?”
My eyebrow lifted. “She’s gotten to
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