Retribution(53)

The sad recollections were over… for now, and as Layla reflected on them, she realized she had mixed feelings about them. On one hand, bringing in help was crucial to their success. And on a more personal note, hearing their reasons to fight eased her guilt. She didn't feel so bad about calling in strangers when they'd spent much of their lives waiting for the invite. But on the other hand, reliving the sad stories of others while constantly hiding her aura took a toll on her energy, and she needed fortitude for their next task – a trip to a fireproof location to test her and Quin’s new abilities.

Everyone on the lawn was going, and the family members who weren't present, planned to meet them there, including the seven sent to find Agro's camp.

Everyone lined up, and Layla and Quin shared the task of concealing them and their auras. Halfway through the process, Caitrin looked to the sky. Then he sadly shook his head and found Quin.

“Kegan and Weylin are here.”

Layla looked at Quin as he looked at her, and they knew they were thinking the same thing – Kegan and Weylin aimed to fight. “What can we do?” Quin asked. “Cut them out of our lives? Not let them see and hear what's going on?”

“I guess not,” she conceded.

Everyone looked up as Kegan and Weylin flew into the clearing and landed. Then Kegan headed for Brietta while Weylin walked toward Quin.

“You guys going somewhere?” Weylin asked, slowing his approach as he eyed the strangers.

“Yeah,” Quin answered. “We're heading to Washington to play with magic. Would you like to join us?”

“Sure,” Weylin agreed, closing the gap between them. Then his hand covered Layla’s shoulder, warm and surprisingly gentle as he scanned the air around her. “Hey, gorgeous.”

“Hey,” she replied, flashing him a smile.

Turning his bearded grin on the newcomers, Weylin offered his hand to Grant, who was nearly as big as he. “I'm Weylin.”

Quin took it from there, rushing through the introductions between his friends and the guests. Then he and Layla continued concealing the group. Once they were done, the lawn looked empty save for Cinnia and Arlen, who planned to conceal their own bodies, but leave their auras visible so they could lead the way.

“Fly straight,” Caitrin called. “Try to avoid collisions.”

The invisible crowd murmured their agreement, and Quin picked Layla up into a hug, smiling as she dove for his neck. “We're going ahead,” he announced, grasping her backside and pulling her close. “See you when you get there.”





Chapter 14





Layla stayed lost in Quin’s tingles and magical warmth as he flew to the fireproof location, but when he descended, an icy breeze found her fingers and toes. She flexed against the chill, and he filled her with another dose of heat while whispering in her ear.

“Lift your spells, love.”

She pulled away from his neck while exposing their bodies and lights, and her mouth fell open as she took in their surroundings. He stood on a spacious expanse of ice blanketed in loose snow, and no matter which way she turned, snowy mountains towered over them. The frozen surface was remarkably smooth for a natural formation, and it gently sloped toward a small lake so vividly blue it looked like an animated drawing. Nearly everything glittered – the ice, the snow, the water's surface, even the mountains, except for the ridges where dry snow had blown clear of the land, leaving it lackluster gray.

“Where are we?” she asked. “A winter wonderland? Shouldn’t there be an ice princess floating on that lake or something?”

“It's a glacier,” he laughed. “There are several around here. We're in Washington right now, but there are some in Oregon as well.” He curled his fingers into her hair, compelling her to look at him instead of the scenery. “Are you cold?”

“No. I can still feel your heat.”

He hovered from the ground and leaned back, letting her lie on his torso. “Let me know when it wears off and I'll give you more.”

She wore a cloak, but his chest was bare, and she perched on bronze muscle as she smiled down at him. “You know, you could teach me how to warm myself. Then you wouldn't have to constantly worry about it.”

His eyebrows drew together as his lips dropped into a frown. “Is that what you want?”

“No,” she answered, forcing his lips back up with her forefingers.

“Me neither,” he whispered, pulling her to his mouth.

Magical heat rushed her body as his tongue slipped over her bottom lip, and her blood pumped faster, increasing the warmth. She stretched and vanished her cloak, taking his face in both hands. Then she contributed to the kiss with an expertise she didn’t possess two weeks before.