A zap like an electrical current jolted through my body. And also theirs by their flinches.

It felt primarily of spells and time — Mage magic — as we crossed the barrier.

Ezra shook his head hard, rumbling, “Keep going until we see the Elder.”

Shuddering at the uncomfortable impact of the immense protection that had zinged through my system, I nodded jerkily, but slowed our pace to scrutinize the darkness beyond the thick trunks of the trees. Gravel crunched under the tires, and two hundred yards inside the deep forest, I started braking and turned on my brights.

After stopping our progress, I stared in stunned amazement. “Is that Richard?”

Ezra’s attention was already turned in the elderly Mage’s direction, probably having heard his heartbeat. “Yes.” His lips pursed. “I didn’t realize he was an Elder.”

Jack snorted, eyeing the Mage. “We’re all dumbasses. He has enough power to light up the entire continent. We should have known.”

“Were we ever told his last name?” Pearl asked, staring hard.

Richard hobbled toward our stopped vehicle, a merry smile on his wrinkled face.

We shook our heads in unison to Pearl’s question.

This past year, all Richard had been to us was the kind, gentle ancient Mage who had allowed us to use his private beach for our entertainment. We seemed to have issues following rules when it came to sand and water, and Coms, the combination not mixing well for us when we had been attacked by Coms, resulting in us killing the lot even after the Kings had expressly stated we were not to fight. We had been ‘grounded’ and had been allowed only on Richard’s property. Once the Kings had let up on their original punishment.

We stared at Richard, dumbstruck, not believing our own stupidity.

My red brows lifted. “I wonder if he watched over us from his window.”

Ezra grunted. “Hell, he probably sat on the beach next to us without us knowing.”

Richard halted next to the front passenger door, his hands folded in front of him and his expression peaceful and patient as he waited.

I squeezed Ezra’s hand. “Roll the window down.”

Ezra continued eyeing the Mage, evaluating, before he finally did as asked. The action permitted the showy drone of crickets weighing the night air to filter through the silence.

Richard merely asked, “Would you mind giving me a ride?”

I jerked my head toward the back seat, my eyes still wide. “Hop in.”

Pearl opened the back passenger door, and then scooted over.

Our eyes were glued to our new passenger as he climbed inside.

Richard chuckled softly while he shut the door, and instantly put on his seatbelt. He pointed toward the road. “If you drive straight, I’ll give you my name.”

Pearl hurriedly thumped my shoulder. Her attention was avid on the Mage. It was probably killing her she hadn’t known he was an Elder, and she obviously wanted to know exactly who he was.

Nodding, I stepped on the gas again, rolling forward.

“There will be a sharp right ahead, so go slowly.” Richard rested comfortably on the seat, and after I made the turn carefully as he had instructed, he stated, “Even though I would much prefer Richard, in light of current events it would be best if you addressed me by my title, which is Elder Richard Harcourt. Or rather, Elder Harcourt.”

Pearl gasped, her jaw dropping.

Ezra’s hand twitched in mine before he relaxed his hold.

Jack jumped enough I felt his knees bump the back of my seat.

I, on the other hand, still had no clue who he was.

Pinching my lips, I kept quiet so my Mystical ignorance didn’t show.

Elder Harcourt chortled, but I could feel his gaze on me. “I’m one of the Elders who fought to bring our factions together when they were living alone and frightened a very long time ago.”

Pearl snorted. “We know who you are.” Not all of us. “Why didn’t you tell us before?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Elder Harcourt shrug. “Anonymity’s a priceless gift.”

Ezra hummed, his eyes forward and analyzing the area with his keen gaze. “You prefer to be nameless.” It both was and wasn’t a question, his tone one of implied curiosity.

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

I blinked, hearing a bit of Elder Cahal Zeller in Ezra’s tone. Ezra had said he had learned plenty from his father. I wondered just how much my bestie was like his daddy-o, except with his own personal brand, unique to him, of ferreting information. I glanced in Ezra’s direction. He appeared serene, but his eyes were still darting across the landscape, not missing any detail of the lushly wooded area.

Elder Harcourt sounded as if he were smiling when he countered, “Mr Zeller, I believe I will let you make your own assumptions.” He waggled a wrinkled, creaky finger between the front seats. “Please slow down, Ms Ruckler. The road dips here.”

Instantly, I reduced our speed.

The shadowy gravel road was precarious on the down slope, which was most definitely heading toward the beach, the thud of crashing waves steadily approaching.

Pearl made a choking noise. Began fidgeting. Gasping, she blurted, “May I ask a few—”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t, Ms Cooper,” Elder Harcourt interrupted. There was steel in his tone.

Pearl huffed quietly, but stayed mute, respecting his wishes.

We exited the tree line.

The Sound could be seen in the light of my headlights. Gravel gave way to grass, with periodic splotches of sand, and the ground appeared to sharply drop off some thirty yards ahead.

Elder Harcourt murmured, “Turn right if you want a good parking place.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, accepting his guidance and turning right along the tree line, driving onto the tall grass. My Hummer had no issue with the off-roading. When the side of a rounded pitch-black cave came into view, rising fifteen yards out of the grass and spreading back from the beach into the forest, I asked, “Park with the headlights toward the Sound?”

“That would be best,” Elder Harcourt affirmed.

On the verge of the glossy black cave’s roof, I turned the wheel and drove until we were almost at the edge of the embankment. The ground was now mixed heavily with sand. Between the small dunes stretching the ridge, a set of weatherworn stairs could be seen leading down to the beach. Where the cave’s entrance had to be.

Once parked, I grabbed my gun and exited my Hummer with my friends and Elder Harcourt.

The parade of vehicles behind us began following suit.




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