Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
“Who cast dark magic on your lover?”
Talia gestured toward Cassandra and the woman’s eyebrows shot up.
“And you are traveling together?”
“She is here to explain what she did. She is harmless.”, Talia said.
“She uses black runes, and you call her harmless?”
“Her spells require preparations, and we are keeping an eye on her.”, Talia responded.
“And she took away my powers.”, Cassandra blurted out.
Talia gritted her teeth. Why was Cassandra talking?
The woman eyed Talia suspiciously. “You took away her powers? Didn’t you say you don’t do magic?”
“It’s not the same. I don’t need to draw diagrams or chant.”
“Show me.”
‘Liseli’, Talia called. ‘We need something impressive and non-intimidating.’
‘I’m on it’, Liseli responded. ‘Lift your hand.’
Talia’s hand started glowing in silvery light and the woman looked at it with curiosity. Slowly, very slowly, the woman reached for Talia’s hand and audible gasps came from behind but Talia didn’t dare to turn and see what was going on there. She guessed that all women who were dancing gathered and were observing this interaction.
The woman’s fingers touched the silvery light and her eyebrows shot up in surprise.
She flattened her palm and placed it in front of Talia’s with only an inch between them, and the light flickered between their palms.
After a few long seconds, the woman lowered her hand. “Your power is pure.”
Her lips lifted into a smile. “I am Cornelia, the priestess of the Silver Flame coven.”
Talia relaxed a bit. Cornelia definitely approved, and she said that she belongs to a coven! “You are a witch?”
Cornelia nodded and gestured behind Talia, Axel, and Cassandra. “We all are. We will take you to the high priestess and she will decide what to do with you.”
Talia turned to see more than a dozen women standing on the other side of the bush and observing them. Talia smiled and nodded in greeting, hoping that their curiosity was a sign they will be friendly.
Cassandra was reserved because her instincts told her they don’t like her much due to the black runes business.
As for Axel, he was staring at his shoes like they were the most interesting thing he has ever seen.
—
See Cornelia’s pic in the comments.
A walk through the forest was accompanied by soft jingling from the bells that witches had around their ankles.
The witches were observing newcomers and spoke in whispers.
Talia was looking around while trying to figure out where they were going. There were no houses or anything that could be called a dwelling.
They stopped at the bottom of a precipice whose top disappeared into the darkness.
“This way…”, Cornelia called, and she stepped straight into a rock that shimmered as Cornelia’s form disappeared.
Talia reluctantly extended her hand to see her fingers sinking into a rock like it was not there. It was an illusion. She wondered if her senses would be fooled by this, but she didn’t have time to stop and focus.
Talia was first to get in, with Alex behind her and Cassandra trailing behind.
All three of them paused at the intricate carvings in the hallway that was bathed in the warm yellow light of an unknown source. It was like the whole ceiling was glowing. It was fantastic.
After several twists and turns, the left side of the hallway opened up with archways to reveal a colorful garden that looked mystical under the shadows the moonlight created.
They passed by several small groups of scarcely dressed women lingering in the hallways, making Axel lower his gaze and Talia wondered where the men were. She didn’t see a single one.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a door.
“The High Priestess is expecting you.”, Cornelia said and pushed the door open.
Talia entered gingerly and observed a big room with stone walls that looked like a study. There were freestanding bookshelves filled with books, a few figurines, and tapestry hung on walls. The ceiling glowed in the same warm yellow light as hallways, but it was brighter in here.
In the middle of the room were three chairs facing a big desk made of dark wood, and a small woman with blonde hair behind it.
The woman appeared to be in her late forties, but the sharpness in her light blue eyes hinted at wisdom worth centuries. Her body was slender and delicate, just like those women they saw dancing around the bonfire in the forest.
Axel exhaled in relief when he saw that the woman was wearing a white tunic. It will be easier to look at her without her body being exposed.
“I am Evanora, the High Priestess of the Silver Flame Coven. I hear you are looking for me.”, she said with a smile that was more predatory than warm.
“Yes, we need your help, and we appreciate your willingness to see us on such short notice.”, Talia responded. “My name is Talia, and these are Axel and Cassandra.”
The woman spread her hands, gesturing to three chairs that were facing her desk.
“Tell me about it.”
“My lover was influenced by dark magic. Black runes, to be precise. Somehow, it impacted his memory, and he doesn’t feel the mate bond…”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.
Loving this