Darkness Revealed (Guardians of Eternity #4)(78)

His frown deepened. “Of course not.”

“Then why should I feel any differently?”

His lips thinned. “You haven’t trained for battle, Anna, I have.”

“I’ve trained for the courtroom, which I can personally assure you, is as nasty and treacherous as any battlefield.”

The vampire wasn’t amused. “The judge doesn’t demand that you use your powers to kill anyone.”

Anna couldn’t hide her flinch. Dammit. This was the downside to having someone capable of reading her like an open book.

“If you want me to admit that I don’t relish the thought of killing anyone, including my evil Aunt Morgana, then fine, I admit it. But I’ve already proven that I’m willing to kill if necessary.”

“Not without cost,” he said harshly.

Her brows drew together. “It should never be without cost. To take another’s life…even someone horrible…it should demand regret and even pain.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t believe in revenge, Cezar, but I do believe in justice. My aunt has slaughtered my entire family, and who knows who else, and if I’m the one who must hold her accountable, then that’s what I’ll do.”

He studied her a long moment, a strange expression on his face. “I begin to understand why fate has chosen you, Anna Randal.”

Chapter 18

Cezar watched the puzzlement fill Anna’s eyes at his soft words. Not surprising. Despite her hard-earned confidence in her abilities, she was still remarkably oblivious to just how truly special she was.

The Oracles, however, were very much aware that her talents were more than her ability to control the elements, or even the ancient destiny that coursed through her blood. Her true power was her unwavering integrity.

This was not a woman who would be swayed by power or anger or fear. She would do what she felt was right in her heart.

He had chosen well, he acknowledged with a flare of pride.

“Is that another one of those mysterious comments that you have no intention of explaining?” she demanded with an edge in her voice.

Cezar smiled wryly. “I think we should move on to more pressing matters.”

“Such as Morgana le Fay?”

“Si.” His arm tightened around her. Dios. He would give his life if he could keep her out of this battle. As her mate it was his sacred duty to protect her and keep her from harm. But, while his instincts screamed to send her far from Chicago so he could hunt Morgana, logic dictated that his martyrdom would achieve nothing more than leaving Anna alone to face the Fairy Queen. He couldn’t kill Morgana le Fay. All he could do was stand at Anna’s side and do everthing in his power to see that she succeeded in defeating the bitch. “Morgana le Fay—and how the hell are we going to find her?”

“Oh.” Without warning she struggled from his tight grip and turned around on the bed to face him.

“What?” he demanded.

“I remember something.” Her forehead creased. “Something Clara said.”

“About Morgana?”

She gave a slow nod. “She was babbling about how she tracked me, and then she said that it took so long because the barn was nearly on Morgana’s doorstep.”

Cezar clenched his hands at the startling revelation. He knew he should be happy. If Morgana was within striking distance then this madness might soon be at an end and Anna would be safe. But happiness wasn’t what flooded through him. Instead it was a sharp horror at the mere thought that Anna would soon be forced to face the woman determined to kill her.

With an effort he unclenched his stiff jaws and pushed aside the fear.

“We must tell Styx.”

“Now?” With a small smile, Anna leaned forward, boldly pressing her lips to his chest. Cezar hissed at the feel of her soft caress and the magical scent that wrapped around him. “Right…” Her lips trailed downward. “Exactly…” She nipped the taut skin of his stomach. “Now?”

Cezar tangled his fingers in her hair as he squeezed his eyes shut in sheer bliss.

“Maybe we could wait a minute or two,” he rasped.

“Or three,” she muttered before taking him into her mouth and ending all coherent thought.

Morgana was seated in her bedroom having her long hair brushed by her current lover, a lovely fairy with long blond hair and blue eyes, when Modron staggered into the room and fell to her knees.

Ash screeched in alarm as the hag’s eyes glowed with an eerie white light, but Morgana was swiftly on her feet and shoving aside her squeamish companion.

It had been centuries since the last time, but she recognized when her seer was in the grips of a vision.

“What is it, Modron?” she demanded. “What do you see?”

“Green fire,” the woman moaned, wrapping her arms around herself as she rocked back and forth. “Bathed in green fire.”

“Green fire?” Morgana frowned. “Is it a magical fire?”

“Green fire is everywhere.”

“Yes, you’ve said that, you annoying twit. What does it mean?”

Modron moaned, shaking her head. “Fire…it burns. It burns.”

A cold fear pierced Morgana’s heart. Striding forward she slapped the hag across her ugly cheek.

“Damn you, what is it?”