Chosen Destiny (29 page)

didn’t tend to be the type of men to follow a woman’s orders. In fact, the few Dark

Sorcerers she had the misfortune to talk with had the attitude that women were only

good for breeding and a little power if needed.

“You were at the coven earlier if I remember right. Anything that went wrong there

had something to do with the Dark Sorceress.” Jaeson shook his head. “Now stop being

argumentative for a few breaths and I’ll get us over to Samiel.”

She grimaced. He had a point even if she wasn’t going to admit it. She glanced to

the side in time to see a dark cloud roll over them. She felt lifted a little and just enjoyed

the ride. The blackness dissipated and she felt the ground firmly beneath her feet again.

She looked to her right and saw nothing but a wall and door. Glancing to the left, she

saw Samiel and most of the other dragons and vampires. They were in the tavern

portion of one of the inns. She shook her head. It figured. It would have taken her

forever to find them if Jaeson hadn’t shown up. All in one place and not out on the

street where they could be spotted.

“Was she in trouble?” Samiel asked. He leaned back in his chair. One of his black

boots was braced on the seat of another chair. He definitely wasn’t dressed as he

usually did for battle. He wore a bright green shirt and loose-fitting black pants. He

looked comfortable and relaxed.

“If you really thought I was in danger, why didn’t you come to see? Not very

concerned about me, were you?” Meagan smiled as she walked across the inn to stand

in front of him.

Samiel raised an eyebrow and rose from his chair. “I’m always concerned about you

but especially when you suddenly leave town without a word to anyone.”

“She wasn’t
in
trouble, but she said there
was
trouble.” Jaeson came up beside her

his palm settled on her shoulder.

“What kind of trouble?” Samiel frowned. His hand cupped her cheek.

“Not here. We’ll talk about it in private.” Meagan kept her tone firm. She wasn’t

going to budge on this even if Samiel and Jaeson tried to sway her.

“This is something real? Not just an excuse so you can get your hands on my

body?” Samiel’s mouth kicked up in a wicked grin even as he let his eyes drift down

her to her breasts.

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She sighed. Sometimes she wondered if he thought of anything other than sex. If

they weren’t actually engaged in a battle, there was always heat in his eyes.

“As gorgeous as your body is, this time I really need to talk to you. I’ll jump your

body after we get finished with what needs to be done.” Meagan rolled her eyes.

“If it takes your mind off sex with me, then it must be important. Let’s go and you

can tell us what’s wrong.” Samiel stepped forward, but looked back at the others.

“We’ll be back shortly.”

“We want to hear what’s gone wrong this time. So hurry.” Gaellon turned in his

seat to shoot a look at them.

“We won’t make any big move without backup,” Jaeson assured the man before

putting his arm around Meagan.

Meagan watched the black haze rise and surround them. She rested her head

against Jaeson’s shoulder. Lately it seemed as if everything seemed to explode at once,

demanding immediate action. She didn’t like feeling rushed or pushed into just

reacting. She held onto Jaeson even as the black mist dissipated. Jaeson released her and

Samiel stepped back.

“So why did you leave the village?” Jaeson asked.

“I had to bring this here.” She walked over to the couch. She released the spell and

picked up the book. “The elders had some bad news to tell me.”

“What did they tell you?” Samiel asked as he guided her to the lounge.

She dropped into the seat and drew in a deep breath. Lady, she still could barely

believe what had happened. Before that, she’d thought they had everything under

control. Now she felt rushed and on the verge of panic. She knew the feelings would go

away, but she didn’t like them.

“Doria talked one of the elders into letting her get a look at this book. Elder Sarash

said that she won’t know the exact location, but she could get close.” Meagan dropped

the book onto the chair again. “They’ll arrange for you to take their piece of the

generator, but we’re going to have to do what we can to get that third piece before the

Dark Sorceress finds it.”

Samiel’s mouth fell open and for a moment he looked as though he was going to

start asking questions. She knew he was wondering how it happened just like she had.

He shook his head and his expression hardened. She could tell that he was getting

angry now.

“I’m not going to ask how or why they let her talk them into looking at the book.

Right now, that doesn’t matter. We’ll have to make plans, work out the location of the

third piece. Then we’ll get the piece of the generator from the coven.” Samiel lifted the

book and opened it. “Do you know where the clue is in here or are we going to have to

search?”

“I’ll go get the other book,” Jaeson said as he turned.

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Rebecca Airies

“Here, I know where the reference to it is. They showed me before I left.” Meagan

took the book and opened it to the middle.

She flipped a couple of pages. Pointing to the page on the left where the first of the

clues began, she looked for Jaeson. Where had he hidden that book? Turning her

attention back to the passage, she focused on finding the references to the generator

piece. She knew it was on Mount Araki. That much she’d been able to tell just from a

glance at what had been written. It wasn’t in code and right now she wished it had

been. Then Doria wouldn’t have been able to learn something so important so easily.

“Here’s the other book. Any idea where it is?” Jaeson came out of the hallway

carrying the large book from the coven in Dicsin.

“Somewhere on Mount Araki. Then there’s the first gap in the clues. So the precise

location is probably in that one. While part of how to get it is in this book, the other part

in the second book.” Meagan watched as Jaeson strode over to join them. She loved the

way he moved. It was a graceful, rolling gate that brought to mind the smooth rock of

his body against hers.

“Here, see if you can find the page we need. I’d have to search through the whole

book.” Jaeson handed the book to Meagan.

Meagan rolled her eyes. As if she wouldn’t have to search the book. She hadn’t been

shown where it was. She flipped open the book, hoping it was near the middle like the

book from her coven. She slowly turned the pages, looking for the information they

needed. It seemed to take forever. She finally found the clues near the end of the book.

She read the passage in the second book.

“It’s in a temple dedicated to the Goddess. I know which one they mean. My

ancestors helped build it. I’ve gone there a few times. It’s deep in a cave near the peak

of Mt. Araki.” Meagan smiled.

That cave was rather obscure so it should be safe there until they could get to it. She

didn’t think Doria even knew of the small temple there. That didn’t mean they could

wait to get it. It was too important to leave unprotected.

“If we go to the mountain, the Dark Sorceress will be waiting for us.” Jaeson

dropped onto a cushioned chair he’d created.

“And I can’t transport us into it because it’s protected as well as forbidden to enter

a temple like that.” Meagan grimaced and looked at the book. Jaeson was right. The

Dark Sorceress and the Dark Sorcerer would be watching that mountain. Any activity

there would draw them and there would be a battle.

“I think I have a plan, but you’ll have to show us where near the peak it is.” Samiel

rose to his feet and began pacing.

“What’s your plan?” Meagan looked up from the book.

“We’re going to give them what they want, at least what they think they want.”

Samiel’s lips turned up in a wicked grin.

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“We’re not handing over that piece to them.” Meagan tossed the book down and

stood. Her hands slammed onto her hips and she glared at him. How could he even

think they’d let the Dark Sorceress get her hands on that?

“That is exactly the attitude the Dark Sorceress is going to be expecting. She knows

she can’t beat us straight on. She won’t try it. I don’t think the man she’s allied herself

with would do it either. They won’t attack unless they have an edge.”

“Fuck. The witches they’ve captured, they’ll use them.” Jaeson’s eyes widened and

the words came out in a low angry growl.

Meagan felt the shock roll through her. That’s what they would do. The Dark

Sorceress wouldn’t hesitate to use one of the women they’d captured. Meagan knew

that Doria would carry through any threat to get that piece of the generator. For some

reason, even when one piece was out of her reach, Doria seemed fixated on getting a

piece of the generator. Meagan wondered what the woman thought she could do with

only one piece. There wasn’t much chance that they could make a generator that

worked from just one piece. Shaking her head, she focused her attention on the matter

at hand. In spite of Samiel saying they’d give the Dark Sorceress what she wanted, she

really didn’t believe he was just going to hand over the piece of the shield generator.

“What exactly do you plan to do? And don’t tell me give her what she wants

because I know better.” Meagan glared at Samiel who was grinning at her. The fiend

was probably enjoying her confusion. She reached out and flicked the dangling green

gem hanging from his ear.

“No, we won’t be giving her the actual piece. We’ll create something that looks a lot

like the generator piece we already have. We’ll let her take that. If I didn’t think she’d

expect it we’d put a tracking spell on the piece.” Samiel glided forward and slid his

arms around her.

“And then we’ll find out why getting those pieces even when they can’t have them

all is so important. It has to be more than the possibility of creating a full generator.

Maybe something to do with the pieces themselves rather than what they did.” Jaeson

moved up behind her and hooked an arm around her waist. He nuzzled aside her hair

and kissed her neck.

“So we’re going to try to lure her to a fake location, let her take the piece you’ve

created, and then get the real piece. When she discovers she’s been tricked, she’s going

to be pissed. As well as her ally, the unknown Dark Sorcerer.” Meagan leaned back

against Jaeson’s chest. She liked being held between them. She felt wanted, secure, and

as sexy as hell, especially when she could feel their cocks pressing against her.

“Someone else will be getting the generator while we’re baiting the Dark Sorceress.

But yes, that’s what we’ll be doing. Now that we know where it is, let’s go talk to the

others and begin planning.” Samiel’s hand slipped down. She felt it stroking up and

down. Since his palm brushed her mid-back she knew that stroking probably wasn’t for

her. A harsh groan rolled against her neck as Jaeson pressed tighter to her. She chuckled

as she realized Samiel was teasing Jaeson.

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“You think it’s funny. Let’s see how you like being teased when you know that

there isn’t a chance that you’ll be able to satisfy the hunger anytime soon.” Jaeson

nipped her neck.

She felt the sharp edge of his teeth, but knew he wouldn’t break the skin. Those

nips sent a thrill straight to her core, but it was pure excitement causing her to gasp. His

hand slid down her belly. His fingers traced over her thigh. She drew in a slow breath.

She knew where that hand was going and she wasn’t about to let him tease her and

leave her aching. It was funny when it happened to him, but she didn’t intend to walk

around frustrated for the rest of the day or until she could get one of them alone for a

reasonable period of time. She grabbed his wrist and pulled, determined to keep his

hand away from her pussy. Those fingers were too talented. He laughed and his hand

moved slowly down in spite of her grip.

“No, Jaeson.” She tightened her fingers digging her nails in enough to let him know

she was serious. “Don’t make me get mean. You haven’t see me mean yet.”

“Ooh, a threat. I wonder if she actually thinks she can scare you.” Samiel laughed.

Jaeson’s low chuckle was filled with amusement. “I’ve seen worse than what you’d

probably do from Samiel. Do you think that’s going to hold me back? I could have you

begging in almost no time.”

“And I’d get even. How would you feel about a long stay with the Acolytes of the

Bruis? They’ve got a nice little potion that would give you some time without worries

over your magic. So your talent wouldn’t do you much good.” She didn’t have to keep

the grin off her face since he couldn’t see it.

“You wouldn’t do it, Meagan. Never threaten unless you’re prepared to carry

through with them.” Samiel laughed softly. “I know you wouldn’t put his life at risk

and so does Jaeson. You’ll have to try something else next time.”

She didn’t have to ask what he meant by next time. Jaeson’s hand slid down. She