"And your 'network' spread news about this item?" Morgan asks Col. "How can you trust somebody who placed a curse on your girlfriend?"
I pull a face at the word girlfriend. Col snorts a soft laugh but doesn't respond to that part. "I think we established that Malvorn didn't curse Syv. He’s incapable. He’s human."
"But he tipped somebody off that she was looking for the box. That ‘someone’ sent those guys after her that night."
"If that’s true, tell me, Cillian. Who tipped you off?"
"What are you accusing us of?" growls Dex.
"We were tracking the box too," retorts Morgan. "We already told you. We didn’t know Syv would be there—just that it’s where the item was hidden."
The Collector gestures in the air. "Then I don’t know what to say to you. Tell me the name of this box and what it contains and I will make enquiries."
"The box is one of several we’re aware of. They’re called Sunde boxes," says Morgan. "And contain powerful magic."
"Powerful magic such as what?"
Cillian chews on his lip as he watches Morgan, and Dex crosses his arms. I keep my mouth shut. I can’t betray him.
"Fine. Don’t tell me but I will find out what this box is and how it connects to Syv. Somebody wants to hurt her. That won’t happen."
I rest my elbow on the table as I listen, hand supporting my head. As they talk, the day catches up and washes over me. Dawn light spreads across the sky and my aching head pounds. I’m at my limit for today. I close my eyes and their voices become distant as if I’m in a dream. My elbow slips and I jerk my head up.
"Syv?" Dex takes my hand. "What’s wrong?"
"She’s exhausted," retorts Col.
Cillian ducks his head down to meet my eyes. "Will you come back to the Institute with us? We can discuss everything in the morning. Including what happened at the warlock’s house. No more secrets."
" Yes. I need to know more about this," says Col.
I cover my head. Oh crap, please not more questions about the Dana situation. I can barely think straight, let alone analyse my bizarre meeting with the man who knew my name. I’ve not told the guys much yet but tomorrow they need to know everything.
" I’m too tired to talk about shit right now.” I look up at the group. “Sorry. I need to get my head around what happened at Dana’s and we can figure out what to do next. But… tomorrow please."
Most of all, I don’t want to confront the death mark issue. The whole situation confuses me. Not only the ‘is there a cure?’ issue but also that it may kill everybody but one person. Probably me. Why me?
"Stay here, Syv," says Col sharply and snaps me out of my half-asleep thoughts.
What do I do? Am I safer with Col? But these men’s skills help with my hunt for a cure. If I don't go with them, they may move on to try and locate this item themselves.
Then no cure for me—unless the man at the shop lied and there really is something out there that can help.
"I think I'll go with them," I say. "We have more to talk about."
"We can bring Syv back tomorrow, to prove she's safe. Maybe you could look through your books and contacts?" suggest Cillian. "We’ll think about whether to let you work with us."
Oh crap. Cillian doesn’t understand who Col is. How powerful. Nobody really knows what he’s capable of, but people steer clear. They don’t upset him. I tense, waiting for an explosion.
Instead, Col sighs and shakes his head. "Sometimes, I forget how insane you are, Syv. You barely know these people, and one of them is a shifter. You worry me."
His concern bolsters me. "Then they'll know not to piss off an immortal fae. Your magic may not be the same, but I bet you can do the guys some damage."
"This is true." He addresses the trio. "Perhaps listen to what Syv tells you about me."
"Oh, she's difficult to ignore," Morgan replies.
"Have you ever tried telling her no?" asks Cillian with a half-laugh.
Col gestures at me. "Then Syv should tell you to stay. All of you."
I stand and stretch. Every muscle in my body aches and my head pounds in pain and confusion. "I’ll take my usual room, should I?"
The men share a smile. I watch the strange group around me. Maybe they could work together after all.
Maybe we all can.
Because it looks as though we’ll need to.
To be continued.
Read on for preorder details.
The series continues with Elements of Magic which is now available for preorder on Amazon here:
Elements of Magic
As usual, I have put a long preorder date but will hopefully publish earlier (late July/early August).
Have you read the Four Horsemen series books yet? Start the original Four Horsemen reverse harem series with Legacy for 99c or read on Kindle Unlimited. The series is complete.
The Four Horsemen have found their Fifth and she's about to change their world. Vee discovers demons, fae and powerful and dangerous men who’ll do anything to protect her. But is she the most powerful of all?
Prepare to follow the lives of Vee and the Four Horsemen through addictive books filled with action, supernatural suspense and magic and discover why readers have fallen in love with the books--and the Horsemen!
If you want to keep up to date with all things LJ Swallow, including early sneak peeks and cover reveals, giveaways and more please join my Facebook group here.
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OTHER BOOKS BY LJ SWALLOW
The Four Horsemen Series
Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy
(COMPLETE series available now)
Legacy
Bound
Hunted
Guardians
Chaos
Descent
Reckoning
Coming soon
Bright
The Demon’s Covenant Series
Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy
Held by Magic
Preorder
Elements of Magic
Coming Soon
Shades of Magic
Huntress (Trials of the Gods)
Reverse Harem Fantasy
Written with Angel Lawson
AMAZON
The Soul Ties series
New Adult Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy
Fated Souls: A Prequel Novella
AMAZON US
Soul Ties
AMAZON US
Torn Souls
(Jack & Dahlia’s story)
AMAZON US
Shattered Souls
Releases 2018
www.ljswallow.com
LJ Swallow is the pen name for USA Today bestselling author Lisa Swallow… if you like contemporary romance then read on!
Books by Lisa Swallow
Like contemporary romance? I write those too!
What would you prefer to read?
British rock star romance?
Try broody Dylan…
Summer Sky
Or bad boy Jax…
Cadence
College romance at an English university?
Because of Lucy
Hollywood romance?
Unscripted
A gamer romance?
End Game
And More….
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About the Author
LJ Swallow is a USA Today bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who is the alter-ego of bestselling contemporary romance author Lisa Swallow.
Giving in to her dark side, LJ spends time creating worlds filled with supernatural creatures who don’t fit the norm, and heroines who are more likely to kick ass than sit on theirs.
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