Blind Magic: The Sanctuary Chronicles Read online

  Ian lowered his big body once more over her, entering her quivering sheath. Faint pain mixed with the pleasure of having him deep inside her was all she needed. His musky scent, their slick skin sliding over each other, their mingling breaths as they couldn’t look away from each other, almost made her crack in sorrow. Risking revealing her deepest feelings, Sera closed her eyes, concentrating on the sensations instead. Without a word, Ian increased the speed and force of his thrusts, smashing his pubic bone repeatedly against her clit. Sera was spiraling toward orgasm fast, and when she finally surrendered, her eyes full of tears, she opened them, laying her gaze on a man in rapture of his pleasure, a beautiful guardian rendered vulnerable, at her mercy. And the sensations and emotions fixed into this indelible image of Ian, as the werewolf was hers one more time.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Something was up. Ian could feel it in his bones the same way his wolf could smell it in the wind. And it made him mad.

  Sera was hiding information. From the moment he entered her bathroom, he knew it, and had let it slide. He wasn’t sure it was caused by tiredness or something she had seen in her bloody vision, but it had dampened the light in her eyes, added a level of desperation in her touch. Realizing the state she was in, Ian had been ready to question her, but his body had other ideas. The need for her was visceral, making it difficult even when they weren’t together. He couldn’t keep it from her, and yet, she was keeping something from him. That when he regretted that their mating bond wasn’t real. Having been the case, he would have had a way to know the truth from deep inside her soul as it would have been connected with his very own.

  The thought nagged at him and the feeling increased when they woke up the next morning and went down for breakfast. On the outside, Sera was acting as her normal self; determined, stubborn and caring as ever. But the hidden reality lay in the details; her slightly trembling hands, the way she looked at every face as if it was the last time, how she reached for his hand under the table. It was subtle for everyone else, but not for him. What was she afraid of? What ate at her that she clammed up, to her friends and even him?

  Instead, his little witch was acting as if everything was normal, and he would play along. For now, at least.

  “Any news from Finn?”

  Asher put his mug down and shook his head. “After you came back, and not knowing the state he was in, we put him in the basement cell. He woke up during the night, seemingly his normal self and asked to be let out. I didn’t have the chance to talk to him before he left.”

  Violet puffed. “He’ll be alright and will reappear as normal and as annoying as ever when he’s had his fill of blood.”

  “Be kind, Violet. He came with me and suffered a great deal. I was glad that he was knocked out. He was struggling and fighting his impulses, and it wasn’t easy to do.”

  Violet looked at her blond friend and rolled her eyes. “Don’t baby him. He’s always saying how old he is and how old vampires are stronger and meaner than the rest of us.”

  Valeria rolled her eyes and ignored her friend’s rant, turning to Sera. “Are you sure about your plan, sweetie? I know you had a vision about it, but you could have mistaken being alone with only Ian by your side.”

  “Yeah, maybe we were all standing behind you, about to kick divine asses!”

  Ian arched an eyebrow at Violet’s words. If she had been with Pheme, only for a minute, she may have changed her opinion about her capacity to kick ass. Without any obvious enchantment, he had been brought to his knees in a matter of minutes. If not for Sera, he might have jumped out the window to alleviate his suffering, or even worse, fucked that goddess. Not a thought he liked at all. Even his wolf sneered at the idea. But he still remembered the pain inside his body. The forced lust coursing through him, unable to fight it in any way. If not for Sera...

  Sera let go of his hand and took her mug in both hands. Another sign that she was hiding something. Her body language was becoming clearer to him, the more time they spent together.

  “No, Vi. I only felt Ian’s presence with me.”

  Asher put his elbows on the table, looking at Ian before turning his gaze to Sera. “And you’re certain that the outcome is positive? You succeed and come back here, unharmed?”

  Ian analyzed Sera’s posture, waiting for her words to confirm what he saw, or not.

  “I told you. I saw Ian getting hurt, but I also saw him later on, alive and breathing. For me, I consider it a mission of success.”

  And yet, she omitted one person from the equation.

  “What about you, Sera?” Ian didn’t know he had spoken until the words came out of his mouth. From a quick look at his Alpha, he realized that Asher had been thinking the same, unlike her friends.

  “What do you mean, what about Sera, Ian? Of course she makes it out too!” Violet’s voice was as determined as ever.

  However, Valeria frowned, not yet convinced. “Sera?” She may have only spoken her name, but there were thousand of questions in his Alpha’s mate’s voice.

  Sera straightened and rolled her eyes. “Ian is a worrywart. If I saw him back here, it’s because I came back too, otherwise, who else would have summoned the portal?”

  Everyone around the table relaxed instantly, but Ian knew better. There was something else, and he knew that if he pushed her, tried to force her to spill the beans, Sera would continue to lie and get suspicious. He preferred that she thought him to agree with her plan. At least he would be by her side the whole way. And knowing that he made it through and back convinced him to keep his Sera even closer to him, making sure she would too.

  The rest of the breakfast conversation turned to Patricia and how her condition hadn’t changed, and about Hunter, who was coming back during the weekend to attempt reaching her. They didn’t like waiting so long, but Hunter had been drained after the first attempt. He had tried on his own when they had gone to Soren, but it hadn’t succeeded. He needed to rest before they did a new attempt, so there wasn’t anything that could be done for now.

  Ian was worried sick about the werebear, but he couldn’t afford to be distracted. If everything went as he hoped, he would turn his attention to this other matter when they both came back, safe and sound.

  And when everything was said, Sera pushed herself away from the table, everybody following suit. Her gaze looked at all of them, as if it was the last time, and it made Ian cringe inwardly. Why wasn’t she sharing what was on her mind? Why wouldn’t she ask for their help?

  Clenching his teeth, he followed her, torn between trusting her and protecting her. And he feared he would have that feeling with her for the rest of his life.

  In the living room, she prepared to open the portal.

  “You will send for us if you need anything. Promise, Sera.” Valeria had that worried look on her face, and, sensing her distress, Asher rubbed her back.

  “I’m going to see my biological father, I doubt that would end as a carnage, Val.”

  “If your father was anything but a god I would agree with you. And don’t forget that your aunt is a psycho bitch too.”

  Sera smiled at Violet who came forward and kissed her friend’s forehead.

  “Well, the family we come from, we can’t change. I prefer the family I chose for myself, and that’s standing right here and now in front of me.”

  Without waiting for an answer, Sera summoned the portal, and once more, Ian reluctantly followed her through.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Ian was glad to see that, the more he traveled through that portal, the less sick he became. Maybe immediate traveling was like being seasick, and you got used to it after a while.

  Sunlight was blinding when they stepped out. Sun and suffocating heat. It took him a full five seconds for his eyes to acclimate to the light and see where he was.

  The smell of the ocean was his first indication. They stood by an immense pool with a large, very modern-looking house, or rather mansion, all white blocks that seemed to hav
e been piled up by a six-year old. Large windows everywhere, and on the horizon, the vast sea.

  And no one in sight.

  Sera looked around, trying to get her bearings too.

  “Is this the right place?”

  He saw her swallow before looking back at him and nodding. “Yeah. The last part of my vision is right here, by the pool.”

  Ian wanted to find out if anybody was home when a shadow passed inside the house. Instinctively, he grabbed Sera’s arm and shoved her behind him. If he was to take a hit, he wouldn’t risk her being caught in the crossfire. The first thing Ian noticed was the young man’s blond hair, as the stranger came out of the house in a pair of white swimming trunks, a towel flung on his shoulder. He had the same hair and complexion as Sera. And his cheekbones were similar too. But he was so young. He must be her brother.

  The blond, beautiful man stopped in his tracks when he saw them by the pool. His entire body tensed and he seemed to shine for a brief moment. A wave of energy slid across Ian’s skin and he realized that a god stood before him. Most probably Apollo.

  “What are you doing here? Who are you?”

  The tone turned from menacing to threatening, his blue eyes like hard steel. The glint was so similar to Sera’s, in other circumstances, Ian would have smiled at the resemblance. But as the god walked in their direction, there was nothing to laugh about. On the verge of shifting into wolf form, Sera touched his arm, and stepped forward.

  “I came to see you.”

  Ian had to admire his witch. Calm and composed, her analytical mind was clearly taking the lead. What gave away her nervousness and apprehension was the faint trembling of her voice. And it wouldn’t have been easy to detect by an outsider.

  The blond god stood still as a marble statue, looking at her with empty eyes as if not believing her words. The sneer that had been there just seconds ago vanished, replaced by prudence.

  “I don’t know who you are, but I don’t have any female child. Whatever reason you want to trick me...”

  Sera broke contact to move forward. Ian felt panic rise inside his chest, but he didn’t move. His body braced to intervene, but Sera clearly needed to make her point. And even if he didn’t like it, she was right.

  They stood as if readying themselves for a showdown. And similar as before, Ian felt a wave of power coming their way, but this time, it was more contained, tentative almost.

  Sera didn’t react, and only stood there, eyes locked with the man, waiting. He imagined her brain going crazy with questions. It was so like her bookworm, researcher self.

  In what seemed like hours, but in reality, just mere seconds, they looked at each other until some sort of humanity returned to the god’s eyes and he shrugged.

  “Well, by all the gods. I have a daughter.”

  His shrugged and detached reaction was so surreal, it made Ian gape in surprise. But that surprise turned into insult.

  “You just found out that you have a daughter and that’s all you have to say?” Incredulous, Ian didn’t even flinch when the god turned his otherworldly gaze on him and seemed more annoyed than insulted.

  “When you have lived as long as I have, werewolf, you don’t get surprised by much.”

  Sera shifted on her feet and Ian immediately put a hand on her back, rubbing the tense muscles slowly. She never really spoke about having any relationship with Apollo, but he bet she would have hoped for another type of welcome.

  As if he was done acknowledging the people by his pool, he slung his towel on one of the long chairs and dove into the crystalline waters.

  Fury boiled over Ian’s normally calm demeanor. Sera appeared calm, but there was no way anybody, not even a god, would act in such a way with her. Before Ian even realized it, his wolf took control and walked toward the edge of the pool. When the god was about to reach the edge, Ian grabbed his hand and pulled the colossal man with all the strength of his wolf and fury.

  Apollo gasped as he flew out of the water like a fish and landed hard in a nearby bush.

  Sera ran to his side and screamed when a blinding light came from the small tree before it caught on fire and was turned to cinders.

  The human figure that emerged was less a man now, and the energy punch Ian caught, definitely predicted a fight that he would lose.

  Apollo extended his arms to his side and snarled. Ian saw swirling light gather at his hands, but, just as he was about to blast, Sera positioned herself before him and gave him a mighty magical push. Apollo stumbled back but this time, he seemed more puzzled than angry.

  “You are my daughter. Why are you siding with him?”

  “So far, you’ve given me nothing to make me do otherwise.”

  “I’m a god!”

  “So what?”

  Ian didn’t relax his stance, ready to pull Sera out of the way, but he found Apollo’s expression almost funny. Sera sighed before she continued.

  “I came here for your help, and you acted as if I was a bug to be crushed under your feet. And when my friend got angry at your dismissal, you threatened to blast him. Sorry, but your actions are not conducive to trust. It only leaned toward my own suspicions.”

  “What suspicions?”

  “That you are one of those trying to kill me.”

  That statement shocked the god. Ian didn’t have any doubt about it when he looked at Apollo’s expression.

  “It’s impossible.”

  The man said it like it was a statement, which made Ian exhale in contained laughter. “Well, I was there, someone tried to kidnap her and kill her. Several times.”

  Apollo slashed the air when he repeated his statement. “I told you, it’s impossible.”

  Sera leaned her head back, clearly exasperated. “Well, it happened. Believe it or not.”

  “No, you don’t understand. You’re half-god. And in your blood, there is something that prevents humans from even wanting to kill you.”

  Ian looked at Sera before returning his attention to her father. “What do you mean? If I wanted to kill Sera, something would hold me back?”

  Apollo shook his head. “No, you wouldn’t even have the inclination. All humans, even magical beings would be under that influence.”

  Sera pushed her blond hair back, shaking her head. “Well, my blood may be very diluted, because someone did.”

  Again, Apollo clearly wasn’t agreeing with this. “Impossible. Only those with divine blood are excluded from this and any attempt against gods or half-gods is strictly prohibited.”

  And now they were on shaky grounds. Ian locked gazes with Sera and they knew at that moment that they had to be extra careful.

  “We were told that some sort of edict had been decreed against all half-bloods. That all were to be killed.”

  At that Apollo laughed. “Impossible. I’m a member of the inner circle of Zeus and never has such a thing had been adopted. I agree that attempts had been done over the last millennia by some of us, but with ominous consequences. Don’t get me wrong, mating with humans is frowned upon, but Zeus is the last one who would adopt such a law, especially considering the number of half-gods he’s created.”

  “It had been confirmed to us, by one of yours.”

  Apollo took a step in Sera’s direction, and Ian moved immediately to her side, even if the god’s demeanor was more inquisitive than menacing.

  “Who?”

  Ian hesitated, the same way Sera did. If the god was as close to his sister as Artemis said, he wouldn’t welcome this information peacefully.

  But there was no going back now.

  “Artemis.”

  At once, Apollo’s face closed off, making it impossible to even guess his mood.

  Ready to make a quick exit, Ian touched Sera’s back in warning. The way she leaned into his touch assured him that she understood. But even if they were both prepared for anything, they couldn’t help but jump when Apollo screamed.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Sera grabbed Ian’s hand at the sound
of Apollo’s screaming, ready to open a portal and flee. But something held her back when she detected a word. Artemis.

  He was calling for his sister. And when the mighty goddess appeared beside him, Sera knew that everything and anything could go wrong in a heartbeat. She hadn’t seen her the first time at the edge of the forest, still blind. Artemis was incredibly beautiful, mesmerizing. Tall and slender with a wealth of luminous black hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders and down her back, silvery eyes sparkling, it was easy to forget the treachery.

  What made Sera blink was how she was dressed. A simple pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. Kind of a look when someone was doing a clean up or lounging around.

  Artemis didn’t even look in their direction and put her hands on her hips.

  “This better be good, brother. I normally don’t respond well to your toddler’s yelling fits.”

  Apollo crossed his arms. “You know those two?”

  For the first time, Artemis turned her mesmerizing face to them, and it was like receiving a shock. A powerful intensity but much cooler than her brother. Where Apollo had heat and sunlight in him, in Artemis, the moon and stars ruled. It wasn’t detached or without feeling, but rather like a warm summer night with a cool breeze through the trees.

  “A witch and a wolf. Never seen them in my life.”

  Ian took a step beside her, in a confrontational mood again, but Sera stopped him by grabbing his arms. Something was off. What was it? Slowly, Sera started shaking her head and released Ian’s grip as she took a step forward. Her mind was sifting back and forth between now and when she first met Artemis by the Sanctuary, checking for the discrepancies.

  “Your voice...” And as soon as she said the words, it clicked in her brain. Her voice was definitely different. She didn’t get goosebumps or that awareness when she spoke to her the first time. And the energy was not the same. In her memory, it lacked that power.