Aerial Magic (Witch Guardian Romance Book 2) Read online

  Aerial Magic

  Book Two of the Witch Guardian Romance Series

  Caryn Moya Block

  Copyright

  Published by Caryn M. Block

  Copyright © 2015 Caryn M. Block

  Cover Design by Cora Graphics

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Aerial Magic

  Book Two of the Witch Guardian Romance Series

  Elise Delaire, the Guardian healer, goes to the bonding ceremony of her best friend. While there, Mabel Avery, the commander of the Guardians, introduces Elise to Curtis Brant. But when Elise shakes Brant’s hand, she realizes that not only is this man not who he says he is, he is also her Destined One.

  Owen Avery is on a mission from the queen of the Fae: Apprehend the rogue Fae who is now being called the Red Wizard. Everything is going according to plan until Owen shakes hands with the delectable Elise. Not only can she see through his disguise, but her touch causes his magic-house tattoo to take on color, proving that she is his Destined One. Is he willing to give up his immortality and his home, the land of the Fae, to claim her?

  Dedication

  To Valerie Gordon, who twenty-five years ago brought me a bag of romance books and said, “You’ve got to read these. You’ll like them.” She was right and now I’ve gone from reading them to writing them.

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks always goes to my Beta readers! I couldn’t do it without you. Then to my editor, Tina Winograd. Thank you so much for helping me make each book better. Finally, to my husband, who is happy to let me do my thing and doesn’t mind questions about plot lines and sex.

  The Guardians

  Royal Avery:

  Mabel Avery

  Owen Avery

  Earth – Amhurst House:

  Garrett Amhurst, III

  Josiah Terren

  Damek Terren

  Air – Luften House:

  Elise Delaire

  Haytham Luften

  Water – Ainsworth House:

  Calder Ainsworth

  Kendria Ainsworth

  Fire – Brandreth House:

  Safara Pyralis

  Vahni Brenton

  Lycan – Siberian Volkov:

  Anatoly “Tolya” Mikhailov

  Seth MacDonald

  Witches Council

  Royal Avery:

  Mabel Avery

  Owen Avery

  Earth - Amhurst:

  Garrett “Rodric” Amhurst, Jr. – Speaker of Council, Head of Amhurst House, (Father of Garrett)

  Adam Terren (Older brother of Josiah and Damek)

  Fire - Brandreth:

  Collin Brandreth – Head of Brandreth House.

  Curtis Brant – Librarian of Magic Items and Artifacts.

  Air - Luften:

  Finley Luften –Head of Luften House, (Haytham’s Uncle)

  Clara Delaire –Head of Air House Healing Center, (Elise’s mother).

  Water - Ainsworth:

  Sevan Ainsworth –Head of Ainsworth House, (Sister of Venetia, Calder and Kendra’s mother)

  Kuval Trevain – (Brother of Arethusa, Garrett’s deceased mother).

  Other Characters:

  Blacksmith - Aiden Kindle, Fire Witch

  Candace Kindle, Fire Witch, (Aiden’s younger sister).

  Gabriella Ross, Water Witch, (Destined One to Garrett Amhurst III)

  Brenna Ross, Water Witch, (Gabriella’s younger sister, possessed by a Marwolaeth)

  Beach Inn Keeper: Venetia Ainsworth, (Sister to Sevan. Best friend to Gabriella’s mother).

  Angeline Penwick: Air Witch, Office Manager for Guardians, (Mate to Tolya)

  Arethusa Trevain Amhurst (Garrett’s deceased mother)

  Marwolaeth Undone

  Destined One full of love

  Strength of two hearts connected

  Love embodied magic makes.

  Upon the journey your destiny claim

  Four love unconditional-strength tested

  Only the pure of heart the mark will bear.

  In the East stands spring eternal

  Fairy's Breath whispers upon the skin

  Healing arms hold the wisp.

  In the South summer’s heat rises

  Dragon’s heart dances in flames

  Firelight transmuting into purity.

  In the West autumn dreams flow

  Living water quenches thirst for reprisal

  Peace drowning bitterness.

  North winter blankets fertile soil

  Renewing sand rests in crystal hands

  Order transformed to normal.

  The married elements, their purpose clear

  Celestial light shine on what is inflicted

  Magic undone, breaks the chains.

  As it is commanded, so it is done.

  Prologue

  “Uffern Dân!” What was wrong with him? He tried again to read the passage, but his concentration was nonexistent, his focus gone. He felt empty.

  His haven, his sanctuary, could no longer console him. Owen, Fae Duke of Lleufer, tried for the umpteenth time to read the same paragraph in the huge tome on magic resting in his lap. He sat in his favorite chair in the castle library, fire roaring in the hearth.

  How long he had been studying. Days, weeks, years? Being immortal, the passing of time didn’t matter. Owen’s life would go on forever, and finding worthwhile activities to fill the time became more difficult. He almost wished he’d found his Destined One, but didn’t believe a woman could complete him, or share his magic.

  There was no chance of finding her now, since the Queen of Ynys Afallon closed the portals to other worlds. His mate wasn’t among his own people, the Fae.

  Sighing, Owen closed the book and ran his hand lovingly over the leather binding. Unlike others in the gwlad y tylwyth teg, it wasn’t enough to spend his time dancing, feasting, and looking for new conquests of love. Political intrigue bored him to death. So, he stayed far away from the Fae queen’s court. He was a Gwarcheidwad y Earth, once celebrated and awarded for his bravery and service.

  Now he sat alone, night after night. Books from several dimensions covered the walls surrounding him; it had taken him and his ancestors millennia to collect such a wealth of knowledge.

  A flash of orange was the only warning before forty pounds of cath-cydymaith landed in his lap. The furry animal purred and rubbed against his chest.

  “Confound it, Hirael, a little warning might be nice, and do you always have to land so hard? Mind the book will you, it’s much older than both our ages combined.” Owen rescued the tome and placed it on the table.

  Hirael looked similar to a Eurasian Lynx except his color being bright orange. We have a visitor coming, a messenger from the queen, flooded Owen’s mind.

  “I hope she isn’t summoning me to court. I made it clear I’m done with such foolishness.”

  “Perhaps she has a new assignment for us, a new adventure,” Hirael sent into his mind as he turned around and around on his master’s lap, purring.

  “I wouldn’t get my hopes up. The queen ordered the borders closed centuries ago. If she’s sending us on a new assi
gnment, it will be to collect late taxes, or lecture one of her many nieces and nephews wheedling into her good graces to have a chance at the throne. Not that Her Majesty will ever retire, mind you.”

  “You’ve become cold, the only thing that interests you are your books. You need an adventure.” Hirael settled down with his tail wrapped around his body. He blinked several times before feigning sleep. Sighing, Owen ran his hand over Hirael’s soft fur, letting his familiar’s warm presence comfort him.

  Hirael was wrong, even his beloved books couldn’t hold his attention. Owen had become cold. Nothing mattered anymore. A sign the centuries of his existence wore on him. Maybe he did need an adventure.

  Several minutes later, Owen’s butler knocked on the door. He ushered in a fae who still bore the blush of youth on his cheeks, or perhaps windburn from his long ride. Owen didn’t care which. The courier tugged his blue and gold uniform into place before performing an elegant bow.

  “I have an urgent missive from the queen, Your Grace.” The fae officer handed over a folded piece of parchment held together with a large wax seal.

  Owen sat up a little straighter, intrigued, but wary. He pushed his thumb under the wax and broke the seal. Glancing at the envoy, Owen noticed their visitor waited, still standing at attention.

  “Get our guest something to eat,” he suggested to the butler. Owen motioned the officer to a chair. “You might as well sit while I read this.”

  Hirael stretched and then sat up, licking his paw, the flicking of his long bushy tail the only sign of his interest in the message.

  The man sat and Owen turned his attention to the queen’s writing on the vellum. The fact it was in her own hand told him it carried important information.

  Unto Owen, Duke of Lleufer, does Her Majesty Tatiana, Queen of Ynys Afallon,

  Mistress of the Dawn, hereby command your service in the return of Rhaim,

  prince of the realm and nephew to the queen. It has become known to the

  crown that he, in spite of the laws of the kingdom, traveled to Earth and allowed

  humans to know of his existence by becoming a blood cult leader known

  by the name Red Wizard. It is imperative that Rhaim be returned to his home world

  or be terminated to ensure the safety of Ynys Afallon.

  Owen, Duke of Lleufer, is expected to use every means possible to

  complete this quest in a timely manner.

  Signed this day, Tatiana, Queen.

  Owen sighed, his mind racing. One of the queen’s nephews had gone rogue and used a portal to Earth. He’d need to contact Mabel Avery, who was on assignment with the human Witch Guardians. Would the queen provide a port key? Under no circumstance could the humans learn the Averys were in fact tylwyth teg—those of the mythical Fae, which meant he’d need to use a glamour spell to change his appearance and hide his pointy ears.

  Owen leaned back, tapping the paper against the chair arm. He hadn’t been to Earth for at least a thousand years. “It seems, Hirael, you were correct after all. We leave for Earth tonight.”

  Chapter One

  Garrett and Gabriella’s Destined One Ceremony

  Loneliness swamped her and she stumbled. Elise Delaire, Air Witch and Guardian, wandered through the crowd of people gathered for the Destined One ceremony to bind Garrett Amhurst III to Gabriella Ross—people she knew and cared about. She pasted on a smile and greeted everyone she passed, even though her heart ached. She wanted to be happy for the couple. Garrett was her best friend, and at one time, the person she thought she would marry.

  Like so many other young witches, she grew up on tales of destined love and finding the one man who could share her magic. Garrett wasn’t that man, but lots of witches made do with a spouse that wasn’t their Destined One. At least Garrett was her best friend.

  “Elise, have you met Curtis Brant?” Mabel Avery called from near the magic circle.

  Elise sighed. She’d have to go and meet the man. Mabel was the leader of the Guardians, and as such, her boss. She waved to Elise and motioned. Tonight, Mabel’s petite form wore burgundy silk for the ceremony. Her mahogany colored hair gleamed in the torchlight, her fine features, ageless. Elise closed her eyes a moment and then made her way to the couple.

  Curtis Brant, of the Fire House, was known in witch circles as the Librarian, an expert on magical items and artifacts. He was also younger and more handsome than she expected. His light brown hair was disheveled as if he ran his fingers through it. His green eyes sparkled with amusement behind a pair of thick glasses. Did he realize she didn’t want to speak to him?

  “Elise, this is Councilman Curtis Brant. Brant this is Elise Delaire, Councilwoman Clara Delaire’s daughter and healer to the Guardians.”

  Elise held out her hand to shake his in greeting. “How do you…”

  As their hands touched, sparks shot from their fingertips. A shock of electricity traveled up her arm and into her heart. The man in front of her wavered, growing taller. His hair turned white blond and fell to his shoulders. The thick glasses disappeared and his eyes deepened in color to emerald. The bone structure in his face became more angular and his ears appeared to grow pointed tips. A look of shock crossed his features.

  Elise recognized a member of the Fae from reading the magic books at school when she was younger. A wave of yearning swept through her. The man was gorgeous, his body long and lean, he towered over her.

  They both looked at their clasped hands. On his wrist, his magic house tattoo changed from the dragon of the Fire House to the candle of the Royal Avery House. The star above the candle turned a metallic gold.

  The griffin tattoo of the Air House on Elise’s wrist also changed. The feathers on the fabled monster’s wings turned metallic gold and silver. There was only one reason a person’s magical house tattoo would take on color.

  “Destined One,” Elise whispered.

  They both looked up.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “Uffern Dân! You must let me explain, losinen, sweet,” the fae warrior standing before her said.

  §

  His Destined One. Owen couldn’t believe it. Mynd I’r uffern ydw I, he didn’t need this nuisance right now. This fragile human’s touch let her see through his glamour spell. His heart raced. He looked at Mabel who seemed just as shocked, her eyes wide.

  Elise reached up and grabbed his face bringing it down to her level, and then kissed him. Her lips, tentative at first…then searched with passion. Time stopped. Owen’s arms automatically wrapped around her, her body fit perfectly with his. She tasted sweet like honeysuckle nectar, a drink often enjoyed by the Fae. He licked at her lips, needing to sample more. She opened to him and he dove in, wanting more of her sweetness to savor.

  He’d kissed women, both human and Fae, but nothing prepared him for Elise’s kiss. His body responded immediately, growing hard and restless. A tremor ran through him as fire ignited in his blood. In his own dimension, he would be porting to his bedroom and indulging himself with her for hours.

  “Thank you for finding me,” she said as she pulled back. Her eyes sparkled, she looked radiant. He reluctantly released her. Her eyes had dilated showing her need for him. Now that he found her, what was he going to do with her? Could the stories be true? Would his need for this one woman become an obsession too hard to resist?

  “Owen is here at my request,” Mabel interjected. “He is on a special assignment.”

  “Owen,” Elise’s voice came out on a breathy sigh. “Of course.” The sound of her voice brushed against his skin like a caress. His fingers itched to feel her soft skin.

  “I am in disguise, losinen. You must call me Curtis.” Owen reached out, unable to stop himself, and brushed a wayward curl off her face. She was so lovely, her features delicate, as if she possessed fae blood in her heritage. Her long dark hair fell in waves to her shoulders while her blue eyes gazed up at him in longing.

  “Curtis, then,” Elise said.

 
Owen frowned. He didn’t like hearing another man’s name coming from her lips in that breathy tone.

  “What’s the matter?” Elise reached up and smoothed the frown from his face, leaving tingles in her wake.

  “Nothing.” He wanted her, this woman destiny chose to be his. He never expected to feel so possessive. His chest ached as if he had taken a blow to the heart. He couldn’t remember the last time his feelings surged as strongly.

  “Several centuries ago. Congratulations, Gwarcheidwad,” Hirael’s voice boomed in his head.

  “You’re supposed to be keeping out of sight,” Owen sent back to his animal companion. This couldn’t be happening. A delicate human, his Destined One?

  “I couldn’t miss your first meeting with your Destined One. Does this mean we get to stay here on Earth? We will need a bigger place to live than Mabel’s little apartment.”

  “We’re on assignment. Capturing the Red Wizard comes before anything else. He wants the Librarian’s knowledge and so now I am the Librarian. Destined Ones will have to wait.” Maybe indefinitely.

  “Curtis, are you all right?” Elise put her hand over his heart. Warmth spread from her touch, filling the cold, empty places in his soul. He wanted to bask in her glowing spirit.

  “While it is just the two of us, you may call me Owen. I find I like hearing my name on your lips.”

  Color flooded Elise’s cheeks and she lowered her head. Owen wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck and pulled her into his body. She sighed, put her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest, snuggling into his warmth.

  “It’s not just the two of you here, and if you don’t stop, people are going to ask questions,” Mabel hissed. “Fix your glamour spell, someone is coming.”