Mira (32 page)
Turning away from the nightmare, Lilith left the house, wiping tears from her cheeks as she went.
Emerging from the house, Lilith stared up at the moonlight sky.
Gazing at the starry night, the world almost seemed to be okay with what happened.
Is this truly what the Fates want for us,
she asked herself.
Are we paying for what we created?
Was it so wrong?
As if answering her thoughts, a lone wolf howled into the night sky.
The beautiful wolf song almost sounded mournful.
It was as if the creature knew the tragedy and was questioning the Fates as well.
“Lilith?”
The elder refocused her gaze and found Liam standing in front of her.
His face was angry, but resigned.
Having her attention, Liam cleared his throat.
“Lilith, I know the elders are debating what is to come next.
No one is saying it, but everyone is scared.
If the Empire doesn’t take us over, the vampire appears to be willing to eat us.
I want to be part of what is done.
Please.
Tell me we’re not just going to accept this.”
So it seems that the population of the village knows more than the elders believe about what goes on in the council round house,
Lilith thought sadly.
So much for protecting them.
“Alright Liam.
Come with me.”
Leaving the distraught Helen with a small group of women to organize the cleaning of the mess, Lilith suggested that a group of men get together and create a watch for the rest of the night.
Lilith led the elders and Liam back to the council round house.
Her confident demeanor had returned and put the elders more at ease than they had been in days.
Once everyone was seated Lilith stood and looked them over.
“I understand Alwyn’s concerns, and to some extent agree with her.
However, I am unwilling to lie down and accept this change.
I will concede to the decision of this council if that’s what you wish.”
“Lilith, you must have some new thought on the matter or you would not be speaking thusly.”
Smiling Lilith looked to Alwyn.
Philosophy of acceptance or not, no one wanted to die or be forced to hand their knowledge over to the people in the Empire’s senate.
When no word of protest came, Lilith continued.
“I believe that Liam ap Arnauk and the wolves are our answer.”
* * * *
Letter in hand, Mira quickly navigated the familiar halls.
She could guess what the letter said.
There were only so many reasons the druids contacted Rillan.
Now that the sacrifices were no longer necessary, this could be only one thing.
Mira pushed open the door to Rillan’s practice room.
Even with her upset about the apparent news, she had to smile watching him busily cleaning the mess.
It had taken weeks to clean up the halls and rooms he trashed in his anger.
Still he did it all with a relatively good humor.
The frequent breaks to make sure the beds were still in working order didn’t hurt either.
Rillan knelt on the floor next to the practice dummy gathering the pieces into a pile.
He couldn’t stop smiling, and his face hurt.
Without looking up he said aloud, “I don’t think my cheeks are used to being happy.”
Chuckling, Mira leaned down and held out the letter, kissing him on the cheek.
“Not that I want to change that attitude,” she teased.
“But I think this might fix it for you.”
Rillan’s brownfurrowed, when he looked up from the shards of armor to see what Mira was talking about.
He couldn’t help the low annoyed growl that issued from deep in his chest.
“Of course we can’t be left alone for long.”
Standing, he unceremoniously took the letter from her hands, broke the seal, and flipped the paper open.
Patiently Mira watched him read.
Rillan’s expression was nearly impossible to interpret.
Finally, he let the hand with the letter in it drop to his side.
Without looking at Mira, he cast a gaze around the room.
“You look as though you’re thinking very hard,” Mira said with a note of worry.
“I guess I am,” he sighed.
“It may sound odd, but I’ve grown rather used to this place.”
“What?
You’re not making much sense.”
Mira placed a hand on his cheek, drawing his eyes to look into hers.
“What’s going on?”
“The Circle has decided that I’ve become a liability.
They suggest that I take care of the problem I created…”
“And?” Mira prompted when his sentence trailed off.
“And I’m not to come back when it’s done.”
Rillan read the letter one more time.
Then folded it carefully and placed it in his pocket.
The corner of his mouth rounded up in a half smile.
Reaching out, he took Mira’s hand.
“I actually expected something like this to happen someday.
In the very beginning, I thought they would be done with me much sooner than this.
As the years continued and began bleeding together, I adapted and waited.
My first thought was to where we could go.”
Rillan lifted her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her palm.
“But as I think about it,” he continued, dragging his lips to her wrist and placing another kiss there, “we can go anywhere you like.”
Mira smiled, leaned in and kissed his cheek.
“So it seems that we’re free to live our lives without the killing?”
Rillan nodded and grabbed her up into his arms, swinging her around, and making her giggle.
“So where do we go first,” Mira asked, suddenly excited.
Putting her down, Rillan’s face took on an apologetic expression.
“I think the Circle is right.
We should deal with Aris.”
Mira smiled widely.
Although the topic was unpleasant and Rillan sounded so upset and guilty, he had said ‘we.’
“Well, even though there is some unpleasantness to deal with,” Mira said cheerily, “when it’s over, there will be you and I, forever.”
“You truly are happy with that?”
Staring him in the eyes, Mira placed her hands on his shoulders and drew him closer.
“Forever,” she whispered.
The End
ABOUT LEIGHANN
PHOENIX
It’s always the quiet girl. She sits in the back of the class or stands at the bar, while her friends all mingle. She’s the one mom always said was a “good girl,” and all her friends believe is a prude. Leighann Phoenix has been writing since she was a child. The passion and pain reflected in her writing are little glimpses of what’s lurking just beneath the surface. Her publications to date will be left in the dark where they belong. The new incarnation of her writing burns with a fire of it’s own.
If you enjoyed
MIRA
, you might also enjoy:
Running for her life, hiding as a waitress in a sleazy bar, Aislinn never dreamed she would meet her soul mate. Compelled to save her, Cullen finds himself inexorably drawn to this mysterious woman. Aislinn believed her life couldn’t get any stranger than it already was, until she happened across Cullen. As Aislinn discovers her lost past and Cullen works to protect his pack, they find themselves stronger together then they ever were apart. Now they just have to convince the pack elders that the alpha werewolf in the pack should be mated to a supposedly human girl.
Warning:
This title contains graphic language, nonconsensual, f/f and group sex.
Review by Breia Brickey from Paranormal Romance Reviews
This is…wonderfully written and descriptive… I enjoyed every minute of it… Most of the characters are lovable and the ones that aren’t, you love to hate… I look forward to hearing more from Leighann Phoenix… and this pack.
Review by Chris from Night Owl Reviews
This is a highly intricate, imaginative story, peppered throughout with spicy interludes. This is a love story full of violence, anguish, betrayal and secrets. Not a walk through the park to read at an estimated 8-12 hours for the average reader, this book is well worth the time and effort. And I definitely detect a sequel in the future.
Review by Sandy Potterton, Dark Angel Reviews, 5/5 Angels
…A monster of a story with multiple plot lines, mystery, romance, danger and magic! I loved the richness of her characters, the unrelenting action and the heartwarming romance…an intriguing world of danger, betrayal, love and friendship I would certainly love to visit again.
Review by Dawn D, Manic Readers Reviews, 4/5 stars
Leighann Phoenix has created a fascinating world of werewolves and magic, with enough action, sex and danger to keep you on the edge of your seat. The complex internal politics of the pack were well crafted, and the glimpses of day-to-day life (werewolves running casinos) were fun to read as well. Following along as Aislinn comes into her true power, and Cullen protects his pack from external enemies proves to be a thrilling ride. Does true love prevail? You bet and getting there is well worth the trip.
EXCERPT from Leader of the Pack:
Aislinn approached the new guy who sat down at the bar near the wall. He was impressive. His presence caused most of the other patrons to make more than enough room for him, resulting in an unnatural amount of space at that end of the bar. Aislinn was perfectly happy to have a short lull in the number of people she had to deal with.
The man was pretty big, even sitting on the stool. He had black hair, brown-black eyes, and tanned skin. He looked hard muscled even under the black leather duster he was wearing. But the strangest thing was this ageless appearance to him. At first look she might have said he was in his late twenties/early thirties. Then, at second glance, he looked almost 100. Whether that was normal for him or due to the fact that he just had the worst day of his life was up for grabs. “What can I get you?”
The guy looked up at her as if he only just realized that he was in a bar. Aislinn waited and when he didn’t respond she asked again. “What can I get you?”
Cullen stared appraisingly at the girl speaking to him. She had an odd scent. It was hard to make out between the rancid smell of the bar, the smoke from the people around him soaking into everything, and some awful perfume she seemed to have bathed in. But there was something to it that caught his attention. She was attractive, but she wasn’t remarkable in any way. She had brown hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and medium build. She wasn’t his type. I would probably break her, he thought and grinned at himself. Besides she wasn’t what he was here for. The last thing he wanted was a woman tonight. No matter how intriguing her scent was…