AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
Soren
“Ready?”
I glanced up at my sister, Lexi, who was standing in the coven’s library doorway, leaning against the frame. She wore jeans, a long-sleeve T-shirt and sturdy hiking boots, the straps of a heavy backpack showing over her shoulders. She had braided her red hair back into a braid that was twisted into a bun on the back of her head.
Five years.
Five years since everything had started. We were now sixteen and our mates were twenty-one.
She was done waiting.
The fact she had waited all this time surprised me. Waiting wasn’t one of her strengths, but she had been aware Lark had needed the time to learn how to be a gatekeeper. And she wouldn’t let him leave Earth without her.
Sighing, I closed the book I had been reading, unfolding from the chair to my full height. I shoved it back into place on the shelf, only stretching my arm slightly to reach it. Having grown several inches in the last year, I was pleased I had passed the six foot mark already.
Picking up my backpack, I reached out with my bond to check on my mate Lily. She was with Ravenal, the Coven leader, discussing oracles and seers. I exhaled, filled with relief and longing. She wouldn’t be happy with me when I saw her next.
Ravenal knew why I was leaving. She agreed with me, realizing I had to do this. That Lily and I needed a brief separation so she would stop being so reliant on me and the power I fed her. It had been necessary when she was younger. But now that she was an adult? She had to figure out her powers on her own. I should only be her last resort for energy.
Me? I had to learn I was more than a battery source. Not only was I a lycanthrope, but I was a powerful witch as well, which had been unexpected. The magic that made up lycanthropes didn't mix well with that of the witches and the natural world. The coven leader had been first amazed and then delighted to find that I could use both types.
But I didn’t enjoy leaving her like this. I didn’t enjoy going behind her back, but if she had found out what my sister and I had planned, she would have tried to stop us.
No, we were going through with this.
Moving towards Lexi, she stood up straight to greet me, an impish grin on her face. “Cheer up, Soren. When we return, we will be old enough for our mates. I am tired of everyone getting between Lark and me. Betta doesn’t have anyone watching her.”
I snorted. “Our gaterunning sister doesn’t live on Earth anymore, either.”
Lexi nodded, leading the way out of the coven’s house. “True, but that is not the only reason they don’t bother her about her mate.”
Having nothing more to say about it, I lengthened my stride, walking beside my sister as we made our way to the tree on the side of the parking lot. It was just outside the wards the witches had up around their land. It was also a portal point, allowing anyone with the knowledge to use it for traveling long distances.
Lexi stopped and knelt down, tracing the symbols in the bark with her fingers. They lit up, and I slapped my hand on her shoulder. In an instant, we were at the Alemos Gate, with the house that gave it its name sitting on the small knoll in front of it.
My sister went straight for the gate, waving a hand towards the house as if it was alive. It was, in a sense.
The house pulsed, greeting her with joy. It loved the mate of its gatekeeper. That must have made Lark happy, as this was his home.
It then turned its attention to me and pulsed again, its energy more uncertain this time. I received the distinct impression it was worried about something, but I couldn’t quite figure out what.
We are trying to even things up, Alemos. When we are the same age as the others, we can do more. I know events have been on hold. That our enemies have been gathering strength these last few years. But we needed the time to grow and learn. The time for waiting is almost over.
I projected my thoughts towards the House, hoping it understood what I was trying to tell it. It went still before it pulsed once, this time in agreement.
I nodded. It would have to do for now.
Betta was standing at the gate’s entrance, talking to Lexi. Stetamus, her demon mate, was behind her, watching for any trouble.
I grinned. I liked Stet. He was a good guy and perfect for our reserved sister. I moved up and held out my hand to him and he smiled, grabbing my forearm in greeting. I copied him as best I could, even though my hand couldn’t wrap around half of his muscular red and black arm.
“Stet!”
“Soren. You know I don’t like not telling the Gatekeeper about this.”
Lexi shot him a glare. “You don’t have to like it. You only have to help us. Even Artie knows we need to do this.”
