Shadows of the Keeper Read Free Page A

protruding shafts shuddering from
the witch Elf’s abuse.  Dezenial’s growl vibrated the ground.  His
strong hand clamped Aurelia’s shoulder, and pushed her to her knees. 
Ardra’s hair-raising scream cut short, as did the din of surrounding
battle.  Aurelia’s ears throbbed in the sudden tomb silence.  She
dared peek over her shoulder. 
    Ardra twitched
before stilling, a javelin protruding from her ruined face.
    “I will release
your pain, Keer’dra,” the voice haunting her dreams assured before lapsing into
a garbled incantation.  Instantly, pain subsided, shallow breaths now
tolerable.  She flinched when broken shafts thudded in the snow next to
her.  He swept her, weightless, into his arms, then sank to his knees,
cradling her on his lap.
    “Dezenial.” 
Tears flooded her fading amber eyes.  “Impossible.  A dream.”
    “No,
Keer’dra.  I have searched far and wide, seeking you.”  His hand
gently compressed the saturated wound of her abdomen.  “Alas, only during
your slumber was I granted ability to see and touch you.  I have remained
hidden, fearing Pendaran would see me in your mind.”  Dezenial muttered
incantations before leaning to kiss her brow.  “I cannot stop this, little
one.”  Grief marred his sculpted features as he pulled back, luminous
white hair cascading far past his broad shoulders.  His amazing eyes fell
to the amulet bobbing against her throat’s weakening pulse.  “So, this is
why I fail to see you until you slip into the nether regions of slumber.” 
His eyes ignited into red flames as he tore the hated amulet from her
neck.  Instantly, their thoughts commingled. 
    “Pendaran,”
Aurelia coughed blood.  “His power . . . strong.”  The high druid had
insisted she wear the strange metal when she had been a child of four
summers.  Thoughts melding with Dezenial’s, she now understood why. 
It was to remain forever hidden from the Lumynari warrior—her true mate through
several lifetimes.  This time, the Elders had taken precautions.
    The Shadow
Master nodded.  “It is only a short time ago, Keer’dra, your whereabouts
were revealed.  Ardra paid with her life for this day . . . as will her
grandson, Drakar.”  The battle in Balkore had been a tactical delay,
costing Dezenial dearly.
    He shook his
head, openly grieving.  “Just as before, Xyn has kept you from me.” 
He rocked her, lovingly gazing down into her amber eyes, marveling how much she
resembled who she had been eleven hundred years earlier.  Had her precious
Elders trusted him, she would not be dying in his arms—again.  Azure eyes
darkened.  This time, their grievous decision would reap a higher
consequence.  “My father, Hades, will protect your soul from Xyn and
Pendaran’s manipulations.  Do you accept?”  His canines lengthened
over a sensual mouth she very much wished to kiss before dying.
    Strong and
growing louder, chanting penetrated her fading senses.  Joined male voices
gained power, the ritual melodious.  “At long last, the Elders
arrive.  Do you hear them?”
    “Yes,” Dezenial
growled.
    “How . . .
could you attack us?  Humans . . . no match against . . . Lumynari.” 
Her lids shuttered.
    “Keer’dra, I
hardly need a legion to eradicate mortals.”  His hand cupped her
face.  “My mother seeks your power in order to remain in the realm of
light.”
    “To
annihilate.”
    “That too,” he
grinned before grief once again marred his beautifully sculpted face.
    “Lord Dezenial,
we must leave,” urged his Lumynari companion.
    “I will hold
her until they arrive.”
    “They will kill
you without hesitation,” Inzyr hissed.
    “No.  They
fear my power.  Stay your temper, assassin.  We will not suffer their
presence long.”
    Tranquility
enveloped Aurelia.  Close above, air shimmered.  Her sire’s spirit
held out his iridescent hand.  “I have grieved your passing,” she
whispered, weakly raising her own hand to accept the