Shadows of Fate (Shadow Born) Read Free Page B

day, it got bloody. Sometimes worse.
    She was halfway to her office when she sensed it. Magic. Not your normal everyday run of the mill magic, but Shadow Bearer magic.
    Brenna froze, pulse racing. There were very few from her home world who would voluntarily cross over to the earthly plane. They had their own civil war to worry about. This plane was used solely for banishment. Her defenses flared, and she cloaked herself in protective magic. She would be surprised if her father had sent an assassin after so many years, but she wouldn’t put it past him.
    She moved closer, blade clutched in hand.
    The shadows from her office light danced across the glistening white floor, allowing her to see the outline of two figures inside.
    “Quit screwing around and get in here.” Seraph’s gruff voice echoed in the hall. “I don’t have time to wait.”
    Defenses sliding away, she rolled her eyes. She was the most dedicated employee Seraph had. It wouldn’t kill him to show some patience. Her red flag still at half mast, she stepped into the office.
    And panicked.
    Praying it didn’t show on her face, she glared at the man sitting behind her desk. Magic poured off him. Magic so powerful it was unmistakable. He was one of her kind, perhaps even her clan.
    Heart pounding, she took him in. Seated behind her desk, on her chair, his leather boots propped on the metal top, he seemed to fill the entire room. She put him at six-and-a-half feet. His shoulder length black hair was pulled back with a strap of leather, but a few tendrils had escaped and draped across his violet eyes. There was a virility about him that was frightening—and breathtaking. He was the epitome of what she both loved and loathed about the men of her world. But it was more than that, her body immediately responded to his presence. She burned to touch him, to remind herself of what she had left behind, and it appalled her.
    “Have I been replaced?” She shrugged off her duster and tossed it on the chair by the door. “Don’t you think two Shadow Bearer mages are a bit much? You can barely handle me.”
    Seraph snorted. “I could handle an army of you, little girl.”
    “Sure you could.” She walked over to the desk, motioning for the gorgeous stranger to move. “Do you mind?”
    “Not at all.” His raspy voice slid over her like hot fudge. Thankfully, she was allergic to chocolate.
    He stood, towering over her by more than a foot. His body was as lean and chiseled as his face. He stepped aside.
    Careful not to touch him, she took possession of her chair again. The scent of sage still lingered in the air around her.
    “Gray is one of my new recruits,” said Seraph, but Brenna quickly tuned him out. Vaguely paying attention, she stared at the picture that hung on the wall next to him. Puppies, playing in a field of daisies. Happier days. Happier thoughts.
    “Are you listening to me, Brenna?”
    She jerked. “Of course. Gray is working with us. That’s great, welcome.” Giving Gray a quick salute, she turned back to Seraph. “I’m glad you brought him by, but I am busy so, if that’s all…”
    “He’s your new partner.”
    Her hand froze in midair. “I’m sorry?”
    “Xavier’s tests came back. It’s bad. I can’t keep him on active duty.”
    “So you’re giving me someone who’s wet behind the ears?” She cringed at the power surge coming from Gray. His anger was tangible. Too bad, but there was no way she was working with someone who was probably here to kill her. “I don’t have time to teach him the ropes. Give him to someone else.”
    “He’s one of yours.”
    “Which is exactly why I don’t want him.”
    “ He isin the room. And he doesn’t care what you want.” Gray’s hands landed on the desk in front of her. “You are the only person who comes close to my power level. I might kill the others in less than a week. Do you want that on your conscience?”
    He had a point. Although he clearly had a skewed perspective of his