Marked Descendant
L. D. Goffigan
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Marked Descendant
Descendants Book Two
L.D. Goffigan
Copyright © 2017 by L.D. Goffigan
All rights reserved.
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.
Ebook and Print Cover Design by Ebooklaunch www.ebooklaunch.com
Created with Vellum
Marked Descendant
Still adjusting to her magical abilities, Naomi must confront a new dark enemy—only to discover they share a mysterious connection.
Torn between love and duty, Alaric wants nothing more than to protect the woman he loves, even if it means risking everything he's fought for.
When their former allies turn against them, Naomi and Alaric are forced to go on the run, towards a showdown that will put Naomi's newfound powers—and their relationship—to the test . . .
A meld of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, Marked Descendant is the suspenseful second book of the Descendants series.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
A Message from the Author
About the Author
Also by L.D. Goffigan
Chapter 1
A dozen pairs of witch and vampire eyes settled on Naomi as she entered the ceremonial room of the Alliance headquarters. They all sat around a large circular table, their cool gazes surveying her.
Alaric stood protectively at her side. Her hand was in his, and he gave it a reassuring squeeze. With his great height and preternatural beauty, Alaric was hard to ignore, but everyone’s focus centered on her.
“Please,” said Blaize, a copper-eyed vampire with raven black hair, “sit.”
Blaize’s tone was frosty; none of the vampires and witches seemed friendly. The only one who exuded any warmth was Madalena, who’d first told Naomi she was a witch and trained her how to use magic. Madalena gave Naomi a small smile while the others remained stone faced.
Alaric gave Naomi’s hand a final squeeze before releasing it. He stepped away, leaning against the far wall. An empty chair slid out from beneath the table towards her.
She took a seat, trying to still her racing heart. She knew they could detect her nervousness with their heightened senses; her accelerated heart rate, rapid breathing, rigid muscles. It didn’t help that the ceremonial room, with its stone walls, circular granite table, and dim lighting, was claustrophobic. Her nervousness was partially due to what she had come here for, and partially disbelief; only weeks before she had thought she was human, and the creatures before her myth.
They were the leaders of the Alliance, a group of witches and vampires who had joined forces to stop the Order of the First Witches, a group intent on destroying all creatures who weren’t witches—humans and vampires.
“Madalena tells us you’ve detected another Incantation Stone,” said Zahara, a tall and beautiful African witch.
“Yes,” Naomi said, “I believe there’s another one out there.”
The leaders exchanged uneasy looks. Naomi could understand why. A few weeks prior she had located and destroyed the Incantation Stone, a powerful magical object capable of unleashing a deadly plague on humans and vampires. She’d thought that Stone had been the only one. But she was wrong.
“You said you heard whispers? In your dreams?” asked Isobel, a witch with short silvery blonde hair and coal black eyes.
“Yes. The same whispers I heard from the first Incantation Stone in Athens.”
“And you’ve only heard the whispers in your dreams once?” Blaize pressed. “That’s all the evidence you have that there’s another Stone out there?”
A wave of defensive anger filled her. She was trying to help them, and they were interrogating her.
“Yes,” she hedged, “but—“
“Can anyone else attest to these . . . whispers?” Blaize interrupted, his eyebrows raised.
“I can,” Alaric said, stepping forward. His voice was low, but she could detect the anger shaping his words. “I was with her when she heard them.”
“She said they came to her in the middle of the night,” Zahara said, frowning.
“They did. Naomi is my mate. We are lovers.”
Heat spread across Naomi’s face as the Alliance leaders looked from her to Alaric with surprise.
“We weren’t aware of this,” Blaize said. “Weren’t you assigned as Naomi’s Watcher in Athens?”
“Yes. Our relationship only began recently,” Alaric said, “and I’m telling you, I was with her when she woke up from the nightmare. She heard the whispers.”
“We can’t count on his testimony, Blaize,” Isobel said. “As her lover, he’ll want—“
“Excuse me,” Naomi interrupted. Her embarrassment had faded, replaced by annoyance and anger. “Do you not believe me? Why on earth would I make this up?”
“We just want all the information,” Zahara replied. “If there is another Stone out there—“
“There is,” Naomi said, eyes blazing. “The whispers I heard were—“
“If there is another Stone,” Zahara cut across her, “we will of course do everything in our power to find and destroy it. But if you recall, many Alliance members died during the confrontation in Greece. Before we put any more of our members’ lives at stake, we want to make sure we have accurate information. Raphael Ibano was able to lure you to his estate with the Stone at one point, correct?”
“Yes,” Naomi said, “but that doesn’t mean—“
“Is it possible you were just having a nightmare?” Isobel asked. “You destroyed the Stone and killed Raphael. You even made the ground shake. Using that much magic would cause a great deal of mental stress.”
“I know what I heard,” Naomi said, firm. “The Order has—or somehow created—another Stone. I felt it, just the way I felt the first Stone. I’m a Descendant, remember? I’m connected to the damn things. If we just sit h
ere debating, the Order’s going to—“
“I know you aren’t used to Alliance protocol, but you need to stop interrupting us,” Zahara snapped, glaring at her. “Am I understood?”
Naomi expelled a tense breath and gave Zahara an abrupt nod. This wasn’t going the way she thought. As a Descendant, someone the Alliance had been searching for since its inception, she’d assumed they would welcome her with open arms. She couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Have you used a Locator spell to try and ascertain its location?” Zahara continued.
“Yes,” Naomi said, trying not to show her frustration. She had tried repeatedly to sense the Stone’s call using her magic, but it had eluded her. “I haven’t been able to locate it yet.”
“Madalena told us you were able to access the full potential of your powers,” Blaize said, looking confused.
“I have,” Naomi said, an embarrassed flush spreading across her face.
Descendants were pureblood descendants of the earliest witches, making them more powerful than other witches. Her entire life, magic had simmered beneath the surface of her senses, dying to get out. Yet even though the full potential of her magic had been unlocked, and she’d performed some powerful spells, she still often struggled with her awakened abilities; magic was still new to her.
“I see,” Blaize said after a pause, and she saw a faint trace of disappointment in his expression. “Well. We’ll investigate on our own to see if there’s any hint of another Stone in the Order’s possession. We’ll put all our best Trackers on it.”
Naomi wanted to protest. They needed every single Alliance member to search for the Stone; the threat wasn’t over. Her eyes locked with Madalena’s. Madalena subtly shook her head. Clenching her fists at her side, Naomi remained silent.
“There is a second order to attend to,” Blaize continued. “We understand you want to join the Alliance?”
“Yes,” Naomi said, though she felt less enthusiastic about joining now. “I’m a part of this. As long as the Order is out there, they need to be stopped.”
“And you understand the dangers? You’re already a target. Joining the Alliance will place you in even more danger.”
“I’m well aware of the danger,” Naomi said, trying to keep her voice even. Did they not know what she’d already been through? “I was aware of it when the Order tried to abduct me, twice. I was aware of it when Raphael captured and tortured me.”
“There’s no need for the sarcasm,” Isobel said, narrowing her eyes.
“I apologize,” Naomi said stiffly.
“May I remind you that Naomi destroyed the Incantation Stone—something the Alliance has been trying to accomplish for decades?” Alaric asked. He was no longer leaning against the wall, and Naomi could see his body vibrating with tension.
“We make every prospective member aware of the dangers,” Blaize said, giving Alaric a dismissive glance before turning his focus back to Naomi. “Since you have already accomplished so much, we would be thrilled to have you join the Alliance.”
Naomi blinked in surprise. The way this was going she’d expected them to refuse her.
“We already decided to approve your request to join as soon as Madalena told us your intentions,” Zahara said, answering Naomi’s silent question. “We wanted to question you about the Stone first. We’ll hold your induction ceremony tomorrow. Madalena will provide you with the details.”
Zahara raised her hand, and the door flew open behind them. It was a dismissal, and a rather cold one. Flummoxed, Naomi got to her feet and turned to head towards the door, with Alaric right behind her.
“Why do I get the feeling they hate me?” she whispered, as soon as the door closed behind them and they made their way down the corridor.
“The Alliance leaders are a tough crowd,” Alaric said, reaching out to pull her close to his side. “I also got the third degree when I wanted to join. They knew all about my murderous past.”
This didn’t ease Naomi’s worry. There seemed to be an extra layer of suspicion towards her when she had done nothing but help the Alliance’s cause.
“Don’t worry too much about Zahara, Blaize and Isobel. They’re the tougher ones. The others leaders are kind, as are the other members. I’m not so bad, right?” he asked. He gave her one of his heart-stopping smiles, and she relaxed.
“I guess so,” she said with a teasing smile, before leaning up to kiss him.
Falling in love with Alaric had taken her by surprise, considering her life had undergone so much change. While she was coming to terms with being a witch and possessing magical powers, her feelings for Alaric had flourished and grown. During the battle with Raphael in Greece, when she thought she lost him, she’d realized the full extent of her feelings. Now her heart and soul were inextricably entwined with his, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
They stepped out of the building and onto the street, which bordered Regent’s Park. They had come back to London from Alaric’s estate in the northern English countryside. It wasn’t safe to return to Madalena’s penthouse; the Order had nearly abducted Naomi the first time she stayed there. Instead, their small team of witches and vampires, which included Elias, Casimir, and Madalena, were staying in a town home provided by the Alliance. But the house had gotten claustrophobic over the past few days.
Naomi took in their surroundings. The fading day was beautiful; the sky a lavender color, the air brisk with the hint of fall. She wanted to stay out and enjoy the fresh air; after that interrogation, she needed it.
“Let’s take a walk—a brief one,” she said, as Alaric tensed.
She’d thought his overprotective ways would lessen, but they’d only increased since returning to London. He scanned the surrounding street with unease. He was acting more like a Secret Service agent than a boyfriend.
“Once a Watcher always a Watcher, huh?” she asked, giving him a playful wink.
“I worry,” he murmured, though he returned her smile. “You know that.”
“Where to?” he asked. A mischievous look entered his eyes and he shook his head. “Wait, don’t answer. I haven’t taken you out on a proper date.”
Naomi studied him, pleasantly surprised.
“No, you haven’t.”
“Why don’t you apparate us to where you want to go?”
“I’ll try,” she said with hesitation. Apparating was a tricky spell; she’d only managed to do it twice thus far. The first time she’d done it, she’d accidentally apparated into Elias’s bedroom, which amused Elias but irritated Alaric.
They found a small side street, and after scanning their surroundings to make sure they weren’t seen, she took Alaric’s hands in hers. She closed her eyes, visualizing the place she wanted to go. Once she had a clear picture of it in her head, she recited the spell. Erel here sleri. She repeated the spell until the air around them picked up, and a vortex of air sucked their bodies forward.
When she opened her eyes, she grinned with delight. They hadn’t gone far; they were in the southern part of Regent’s Park. But her spell had worked.
“I have to say, magic is cool,” she said, and Alaric laughed. If it wasn’t for the constant threat of the Order, she’d take time to truly enjoy what her magic could do.
“The park?” Alaric asked, looking around.
“Well, we have been cooped up in that house. Did you know Elias snores? I can hear it through the walls.”
“I did know that, unfortunately,” Alaric replied with a grimace. “You’re right; we did need some time outside.”
He turned, spotting a man selling flowers on the edge of the park.
“Stay right here.”
Naomi obeyed as he left to approach the man. Breathing in the fragrant scent of the nearby flowers, she allowed herself to relax. She wouldn’t let her encounter with the Alliance leaders, or the knowledge that there was another Stone out there, ruin her day. For the next hour or so, she just wanted to enjoy her time with Alaric.
&nbs
p; But as soon as she had the thought, she felt something in her mind, like a gentle feather stroke. Whispers. But this time, they weren’t unintelligible, nor were they in the ancient language. They were communicating with her.
Naomi, the whispers purred. It’s almost time.
Chapter 2
“No offense, Naomi,” Elias grumbled, “but I was hoping you were wrong.”
Alaric and Naomi stood opposite Elias and Casimir in the drawing room of the town home that served as their temporary residence.
Alaric looked down at Naomi with concern, placing his hand on the small of her back. Even though the whispers had rattled her, she’d managed to apparate them both out of the park.
“Deep down, so was I,” Naomi admitted, rubbing her temples.
“’It’s almost time’,” Casimir mused, repeating the words she’d heard, his brows knitted with concentration. “That could mean a variety of things.”
“I’m going to hazard a guess it’s not anything good,” Elias said.
“It’s so strange . . . usually the whispers are unintelligible or in the ancient language. This—I don’t know. It sounded modern. Maybe the Order’s created a brand new Stone?” Naomi asked, her eyes wide with worry.
“We don’t know anything about the Stone yet. We shouldn’t worry ourselves when we don’t have any information,” Alaric said gently, before turning to Casimir. “Any updates on the locations of Order members?”
“Their movements are all over the place. Raphael Ibano’s family is MIA. I’ve been working with other surveillance members of the Alliance, but most of us don’t know where to begin.”
