AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Your mates will be essential in tying you to the mortal realm, but if any are impure, you must be strong enough to sever the tie. I feel your power inside of me as you grow, sweetheart. You are the strongest Keeper there has ever been because you are so much more than any of us ever were. You were created from a chosen love between two races. I’m so sorry you carry this burden, my Little Light, but you are never alone. Your father will do what he must to keep you safe, but know we love you and are with you always.
I love you beyond measure. Be strong, be bold, hold on to love, and never give up.
With all the love I have to give,
Mom
Crushing the paper to my chest, I let the tears fall. My whole life I’d wondered who my birth family was. As a child, so many possibilities ran through my mind, but never had I considered just how much I waswanted. The last thing my mother had done was give me life. Everything she’d done had been to keep me safe, including hiding the grimoire.
She loved me. I cried through our bond, unable to get the words physically past my lips.
One by one, my mates surrounded me, holding me up and lending me strength as I held onto the letter that brought my past, present, and future together.
The strength of new power filled the ache in my heart until I was calm enough to swipe at my tears and dry my face. Folding the letter carefully, I magicked it away, keeping it with me where it would always be safe.
As much as my mother’s words had made me break, they’d also awakened a new vengeance. My mother had died because Elan had been a power hungry bastard. He’d driven her away and poisoned their bond with darkness.
You must defeat him.
I let her words sink through the mate bonds, and my men growled their accent.
Outside, the midnight sky darkened with gray clouds like the mortal realm sensed the impending battle about to be waged.
Because I was done waiting for conflict. Done waiting to save my father. Done letting Elan rebuild the forces he used against us. I was done waiting for some inevitable end to this war.
I was the child of a chosen love.
I was the mate of men who’d chosen me, who I’d chosen in return.
I was the chosen Veil Keeper, protector of the realms.
And with my mates, allies, and power behind me, I would not lose.
Chapter Nineteen
Lorn
My heart swelled as I stood at the bottom of the stairs, soaking up the sounds of the house and the sight of my mates scattered throughout the main floor. Since I’d declared we were taking the fight to Elan, there’d been a range of emotions running through all of us. There was anger aimed at our enemy, anxiety about the upcoming fight, worry that one or more of us would be injured… or worse. But there was also an electrifying excitement about being in control. To fight for the world we wanted for our future. To end Elan and his reign of terror.
The mate bonds were a flood of emotion, and I dimmed them slightly so I could have time to work through everything I was feeling. Like love and worry as I watched my mates. Chayton and Jolon were in the kitchen surrounded by an excessive amount of flour as a delicious aroma wafted from the oven, Axel had mumbled something about mindless stress relief and sprawled on the couch to watch T.V., and Tye, Syler, and Kota were going over the hand-drawn maps of his father’s estate again, reviewing contingency plans for our upcoming battle.
For a long moment, I clung to the banister and prayed I was making the right decision. The plan to bring the fight to the enemy had been mine, and I’d never forgive myself if something happened to any of my men. It should have stunned me how deeply I’d fallen in love with each one of them, but the depth of my feelings was as natural as breathing.
Dason, Jolon, Chayton, Syler, Kota, Axel, and Tye were a part of me as much as my beating heart. I rubbed my chest, letting the warmth of my love flow to each of them with a soft smile on my face, and I felt their love in return.
Padding down the hallway, I went in search of my growly alpha. I knocked lightly on Dason’s office door and slipped inside, closing it over again when I saw he was on the phone.
“Thank you. Yes, we’ll see you tonight,” he spoke into the phone and then swiftly hung up.
Stretching and blowing out a relieved breath, he swiveled his executive chair as I rounded the desk. He reached for me and pulled me into his lap. “Efram, Darbonne, Rook… They’re all ready to stand with us.”
“I knew they would.” Light stubble pricked beneath my fingers as I ran a hand over his short hair. He looked good like this, with his buzzed head and light scruff on his jaw. Leaning down, I kissed him sweetly.
What started out as innocent, however, quickly blossomed into something hot and heavy. Adjusting me in his lap, he had me straddle his waist.
“Putting you into danger could be the biggest mistake of my life,” Dason growled against my ear and then placed devouring kisses down my neck. I shivered.
“I’ve been feeling the same way about all of you, but we’ll feel that way whenever we end up in battle. A fight is coming either way. We don’t have a choice.” I gasped as he growled and removed my shirt, making quick work of my bra until my tits bounced free.
