جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

Elara'S POV I stared at him, taking this in.“But everyone knows hybrids don’t exist. Not as adults. It’s impossible. The aKaelenmy teaches us that they would die at birth from DNA disorders. It’s just a myth anyway.”“For argument’s sake, let’s say that a fraction of that point-one percent lives to adulthood,” Xavier said. “Of course, no one would know of them because 5th Circle makes sure of it. They hunt and kill hybrids.”Suddenly, the personal implications hit me.“I’m not a hybrid. I’m a witch.”“Mm, well, 5th Circle holds a different opinion.” Xavier’s black eyes searched my face. “Do you have any idea why?”I hugged myself. “Both my parents were witches. I can’t be a hybrid. Plus, I don’t shift into an animal or crave blood or anything. Orion… he would have been too young, since magical abilities don’t even start surfacing until the teen years.” I grasped my locket, taking comfort in the smooth metal. “So they are after me, not him,” I said to myself.“It would appear so. Ori

Elara'S POV The note reads, Elara, beware of Penumbra Syndicate. They are your enemy. They will betray you, as they’ve done to one abomination before.I set down both the paper and the box, doing my best to ignore the hatred in Kaelen’s eyes.“Xavier told me how years ago you all turned over a person that 5th Circle was hunting. How would my stalker know about that?” I glanced at the three men.I was pretty sure they wouldn’t hand me over to the hunters. Well—except Kaelen, who would drop me on their doorstep in a heartbeat. My latest bout of curiosity hadn’t exactly smoothed over our troubled relationship. The fact that I’d meant no harm didn’t matter to the burly Fae.Lysander stepped forward, halting a couple feet away, as if he didn’t want to be too close to me. I had no idea where I stood with Lysander or Xavier after the incident with Kaelen, only that they refused to let me leave and wouldn’t tell me why.So, status quo?Or maybe they were also angry with me. Xavier had been q

Elara'S POV I sat with rapt attention as she told her story of escape and venturing into a new life here in Washington State. She’d come from a crime family and established her own illegal empire when she was younger than me.“But you see, even though I am cutthroat with my business dealings, I have a weakness for lost creatures. And these three boys were the most lost I’d ever come across.” She glanced at the three bosses before continuing. “I found Kaelen first, then Xavier, and lastly Lysander. We grew into a family. Eventually, they took over the leadership of Penumbra, so I could retire.”Hearing her story was amazing.What a life.“You will be a most wonderful addition,” she said.I gave her a weak grin. Did she know that I was held here against my will? She obviously adored her boys. I was sure they could do no wrong in her eyes.“Thanks,” I managed.Xavier squeezed my knee under the table.The staff served more courses throughout the evening. Once they were finished, a single

Elara'S POV I was sprawled on my bed in my underwear, with numerous books open to different pages and the magically blazing fireplace keeping me toasty. According to everything I’d read, hybrids were created from a rare—and deadly—genetic mutation. In short, they were possible, but they never lived for long after birth. All of this reconfirmed what I’d been taught at the aKaelenmy.Yet Xavier had admitted to handing over a hybrid to 5th Circle. Apparently, the man had been dangerous, destructive, and too much even for Penumbra Syndicate to handle.The fact that 5th Circle even existed, and their purpose, pointed to hybrid adults existing in the world. My questions now were—How? Why did the aKaelenmy deny the possibility? And what the hell did all of this have to do with me?I switched my focus to another of the open books. This one was a history of dark witches. I had no idea such a sect was within the witch community. At school, and in my life experience, witches were pretty much al

Elara'S POV I did my best to slow my thundering pulse and catch my breath. The horny part of me berated the voice of reason for being so damned stubborn. But I couldn’t give in. The seductive pleasure Xavier tempted me with would consume me. It wouldn’t be a casual fuck—it would be comparable to last night with Lysander. So much more.No. Xavier would bare my soul. He’d wring every ounce of wantonness and every naughty fantasy from my eager body. Then I’d never escape here, never escape them.I couldn’t let that happen.Pulling myself together, I lowered into the chair opposite him. He moved his white chess piece without giving me a word or a glance. I squeezed my thighs together, feeling the wetness there, and frustration burned in my blood.This was going to be a long game.It was a long, grueling game in which, several times, I considered shouting yes and demanding he spank me, or drink my blood, or fuck me on the table. But I refrained. My concentration was shit, but so was his,