Page 16 of The Mating Quest
The faint tugging she once experienced, that she felt she had family connected by blood to her had faded over the years. Once it was prevalent, a shadow in the back of her mind, wistful and opaque, like a ghost. Gradually it faded and then hundreds of years ago, it vanished alltogether.
She no longer wished to know. Most likely they were all dead. Mages, unlike Lupines or most OtherWorlders, did not live past250.
NotIlana.
Ethan made formal introductions. She was surprised to learn that Ava, Chloe and Dakota were all older than Ella, who was still in her twenties. Yet all of these Lupines were babies compared toher.
All the sisters studied her, and then Ava smiled. “I’m glad you are with us, Ilana. I’ve researched your background, and you make the perfect escort to help guide us through thequest.”
Another surprise. “Because I held a knife to your sister’s back and wanted to steal fromher?”
Brianna gave a sudden smile. “You wouldn’t have harmedme.”
“Such confidence,” she mocked. “And you know thisbecause…”
“Because you are a Mage with a reputation, albeit hidden from most, for championing impossible causes.” Dakota, the tallest with short, dark hair, flipped through an electronic tablet. “Caderyn told us that, and how you saved a human child from drowning in a flooded river lastyear.”
Damn Caderyn for making her look heroic. She’d wanted to live her life quietly, and in isolation, but that kid, screaming for help, had jarred her from that purpose. If she’d left as the rain started, she never would have seen or heard him. But the rain had poured down and it felt so good on her, as if the skies cried alongside her for all the pastwrongs…
Ilana gave Dakota and her sisters a cool look, then flicked her blade at the paneled wall behind them. It landed square on the portrait of Ethan, right on thenose.
The room went quiet. Ethan pushed back from his chair, retrieved her blade and handed it back to her. “I always hated that painting, but an ogre client did it as a favor and I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Thanks. Now I have a good reason to take itdown.”
So the wolf wasn’t a narcissist. Grudging respect flowered. She sheathed the blade with a nod tohim.
As Ethan resumed his seat, Ella explained that Ava was charged with finding the wolf pelt for Tristan, Chloe the dragon scale for Drust, and Dakota had the riskiest assignment of all – the fairy’s feather forGideon.
“The feather contains tremendous power and unlike the other talismans, does not need sacred words to activate it because it is hidden in the Fae world and not here on Earth. I had hoped the fairy feather would be in the Summer Kingdom, the Seelie lands that are far friendlier to Others, but Caderyn already informed us Gideon was a prince in the Winter Kingdom, the Unseelie lands.” Ella leaned back against thechair.
Making a small sound, Ilana found it difficult to hide her consternation. Maybe she should tell them. But Ethan’s sharp gaze raked over her and gave herpause.
Now was not the time to be entirelytruthful.
“Something bothers you about that?” heasked.
Ilana fingered the dagger at her hip. “The Unseelie Kingdom is known to be dangerous, unpredictable.” She locked her gaze to his. “Filled with darkmagick.”
Small gulp from Dakota, but Ethan showed no emotion. “Then you’re the best person to lead us there, Ilana,” hesaid.
Right. She wanted to return to the Winter Kingdom as much as she’d enjoy a lobotomy withoutanesthetic.
Maybe the Dark Fae did those there aswell.
Ethan glanced at the clock on the wall. “Tristan will be here soon. Let’s wrap this up before he arrives so we don’t waste any of histime.”
“I appreciate that,” a deep voicedrawled.
Ilana’s eyes widened at the man suddenly sitting on the edge of the conference table. Dressed all in black (something she could appreciate, since that was the fashion she liked for herself as well), the Silver Wizard struck an imposing figure. Soft doeskin boots covered his feet, and he wore a blank, long-sleeved tunic and black leggings. His hair was inky black, tipped with strands of shiny silver. His eyes were dark aspitch.
The sisters moved slightly away from them, as if the power radiating from him might burnthem.
Tristan waved a hand and a paper floated over to Ethan. “There is only one place you should find the wolf’s pelt talisman Danu intended for me. One place I spent most of my time since the day my mate was born – Montana, and the ranch where her twin nowlives.”
“The Mitchell Ranch,” Ethan read aloud. “Home to the MitchellPack.”
A chill raced down her spine. Terrific. More Lupines. She’d hoped Tristan’s talisman might be found in a city teeming with Skins or even better, a furshop.
Tristan swung one leg back and forth. “I shall make arrangements for all of you to leave there tomorrow at first light, if you have finished your plans for your pack’s supervision while you are gone,Ethan.”
