Sorcerer: Betrayal: Power of Air (Book 4) (11 page)

Chapter 18

Saturday, June 11
th
, 2016, 1:07 PM

The elemental courts were structured much like an
aristocracy, except they didn’t really have titles outside of lord.  Position
was purely a function of power, which was a function of age, and potential. 
Potential was determined by parentage.  The child elemental couldn’t grow to be
more powerful than the most powerful member of the pair that spawned it.

The elemental lord for the court I spied on had about the
same authority a baron would in a human kingdom, of course that could change if
he grows more powerful, and it isn’t up to some monarch to decide or grant
titles.  As for who Liantherius was, he would be king if such a thing existed. 
He was the strongest air elemental, and had the largest court, but was still
merely called a lord by his followers.

I didn’t know anything else about Liantherius though, just
his position.  Not why he had an interest in me, or anything else.  I also
learned that Aitheria was very high in the court.  Not quite on the level with
the baron, but she wouldn’t have been dismissed and kicked out nearly as easily
as Zale was.

The courts were fractious, and elementals could change sides
on a whim, and often did so.  The exception to that were those that swore
fealty, which was a bond that couldn’t be broken until the one they had sworn
to released them.

There was only one other loyalty that was as sure, and could
even trump a bond of sworn fealty.  When two elementals were compatible, they
could become something like soul mates.  But obviously not exactly the same as
the human concept, they didn’t have physical love with bodies, but were
dedicated to each other.

The other reason soul mates made sense, was because of the
soul bond that connected them that enabled them to share power.

I stared at Aitheria with disbelief as my mind stuttered to
a stop… as I finally understood what it meant when she’d shown me the core of
her being, and the connection we’d shared since.  How could that even happen,
without my understanding or consent?  Obviously that hadn’t been necessary,
just my love and devotion for the being I’d shared my whole life with had been
enough.

A being with more power than I can probably imagine, that
used to play peekaboo with a small baby me, years ago.

Then absurdly, I wondered if I was cheating on Sierra.  Not
literally, or physically, but in my heart.  Because apparently, I had more than
one mate.

Aitheria smiled sadly, obviously reading my thoughts, “
It’s
complicated, and you’re only halfway there, you don’t fully understand yet. 
But I do love you, and you are mine… but not this physical body.  It will
become clearer in time.

“What about Sierra?”

Aitheria shook her head, “
Anything you might tell her now
will be not quite right.  I’d advise you to keep it to yourself until you
understand.  I know you love me, we wouldn’t have connected if you hadn’t, no
matter what I did.  That said, you belong to her in mortal life, and you didn’t
betray her
.”

Then why did it feel like I did betray her?  Oh right,
because I was soul mates with another woman, elemental or not.  I didn’t even
know where to start to make sense of that.  Maybe it would make sense once I
learned the complete truth.  That said, I was going to have to tell Sierra
something, otherwise it would eat at me, fully understood or not, having two mates
was supposed to be a bad thing, not a good thing.

Right?

I sighed, “We should get back down, they’re probably
worried, not to mention ready for Caroline’s spell.”

I ordered the air to take us back to the ritual room in the
back of the shop…

 

When we got back, they all demanded to know what the heck
was going on, either by words, or glares.  They also weren’t happy I took off
without a word to anyone where I was going.

Leaving off all the knowledge I gained about how elemental
magic truly functions, and the rest of it.  I explained that there were spies I
had to drive off, and that I had family enemies that seemed to have found me,
and the probability that they’d be coming in force soon.  I also told them I
didn’t know why I was targeted.

There actually wasn’t much outside that I could tell the
whole group, since Sierra was the only one who knew about Aitheria, I was
really vague about how, and even who, drove off the spies.  My conversation
with Sierra tonight would be very different.

Of course, since the cat was out of the bag so to speak in
regard to the enemy knowing where I was, I wondered what dangers there would be
in revealing Aitheria now, but decided that doing so without asking first would
be foolish.  Just because I couldn’t see the danger in it didn’t mean that none
existed.

Still, it made me feel a little guilty, when they all said
they would stand by their promise of being allies.  They deserved to know the
full truth.  A young air sorcerer, a pack of werewolves, and one lone witch,
against who knows how many old and powerful beings?  It seemed insane, but I
wouldn’t run, and when they came we’d stand together.

I knew we’d come together in the days ahead and make plans,
but for right now I’d get Caroline’s earrings done, and get the jewelry delivered
to my friends and family.  What else could I do?

Epilogue

Saturday, June 11
th
, 2016, 9:57 PM

Sierra didn’t seem mad at all, after I’d gone through the
whole explanation.  It was almost scary how calm she was about it.  She was
snuggled up to me under the covers, and there was no sign that she was going
away, or kicking me out, anytime soon.

Sierra frowned, “Stop stressing it.  I trust Aitheria to
look out for you, if she says you don’t understand yet, and that we can’t judge,
it’s stupid to worry over.  Besides, you did nothing wrong, it was that hussy
that bared her soul to you, not the other way around.  Plus, all I really want
is this body, she can have your soul if she wants it.”

I was sure she was teasing me there at the end.  Almost
positive.  I think.

There was no doubt that she had faith in me, and that she
believed we’d survive what was coming.  I wish I was that sure, but I didn’t
believe it was hopeless either.

I’d managed to get all the jewelry where it belonged, and I
believed it would make a difference in the days ahead.  The only real question
was how long it would take for the enemy to prepare and come for me.  Days,
weeks, months?  Hopefully not the former, and probably not the latter, but I
could hope couldn’t I?

My mind wouldn’t stop though, as I considered all I could
lose.  Much more than just my life.  And suddenly, I was being kissed, softly
and passionately.  What followed then made me entirely lose my focus, which was
just what I needed…

 

 

Afterword:
 

I hope you enjoyed this story, if you did please leave a
review.  Reviews are the lifeblood of independent authors, and I would
appreciate greatly any constructive feedback or opinions. 

The next book in the Power of Air series, Sorcerer:
Elemental, will be the final book of the series.

I am not finished with the world however and have an
independent series Spirit Sorceress coming out.

About the Author
:  If you have any
comments or suggestions you can send me an email at
[email protected]
 
If you like my work, or even if you don’t, please consider leaving a review of
this book.  I can also be found at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7456808.D_L_Harrison

 

Other books by D. L. Harrison:

http://www.amazon.com/author/dlharrison

 

Spirit Sorceress series
is a new urban fantasy
series.  Miku is a spirit sorceress who spent the last one hundred years
growing up and learning about her power in the forests near Seattle
Washington.  She’s about to make her debut in the big city, but not in a way
she ever expected.

The first book is titled
Spirit Sorceress
:

Miku is a spirit sorceress who spent her unusually long
childhood in the forest away from the city with her mother and father.  After
tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone and on her own.  She knows that one
day she’ll need to move to Seattle, and fully accept her birthright, and if necessary
finish her training on her own.

But before she’s ready, and still in grieving, a rogue
vampire and his band come along and change everything.  She’ll need to learn
her new place in the world, and find some allies quick if she’s to survive what
comes next.

 

The Formerly Dark Mage, by D. L. Harrison
– This
stand-alone fantasy book follows the life of Silvia and takes place in a world
unique and separate to our own. 

Silvia is a dark mage. Unfortunately, she finds herself
about to be sacrificed. Someone must have told her evil master about her plans
to kill him and take over.  After that, things just seem to go downhill.
She has no choice but to escape the kingdom of Zual, something that to her
knowledge has never been done before. She will need to deal with many issues
she never had to face before.

Among those issues, the white mages, and her conscience.

 

Celia Winters Novel Series

Witch’s Moon: A Celia Winters Novel Book 1

Celia Winters was raised by her single mother, and her
earliest memories are of the store her mother owns and the nearby coven, who
have always been her family’s close allies and friends.

She grew up believing her magic was weak, but she was
satisfied with her life, and happy.  She was a midwife, healer, and
supplier of surrounding covens. 

Then her mother died, and she’s about to discover she isn’t
who, or what, she believes herself to be, not completely.  She will learn
that her entire life up until now was a lie.  She’ll need to figure out
her place, who she is when she no longer recognizes herself, and try to hold on
to her closest friends as she gathers enemies for the simple crime of her
existence.

She’s stronger than she believes, but will it be enough?

 

Power of Air Series:

Just a Psychic: The Power of Air Book One
starts off
this series.

Ben has grown up with missing memories of his early
childhood.

He has known he was a psychic since his earliest memories,
seeing the future and gaining knowledge with his gifts.

Is it possible he isn't just a psychic?

Ben's world is about to be turned upside down as he turns
twenty-one, all is not as it seems.

 
Alicia Jones
novels
is a series that follows a bright young inventor and scientist
named Alicia Jones.  It is a space opera and light science fiction.

The first book is titled
First Contact:

Alicia Jones is a genius, and a little odd.  At just
twenty-three years of age, she is close to finishing her doctoral
dissertation.  But when she tests her latest theory in the lab to generate
a strong EM field, it has very unanticipated results.  Results that lead
to faster than light travel, and first contact with another race.

 Her life just gets more complicated after that, when
she finds out who she really is, and that the universe may not be as nice a
place as she’d been told.  Her determination to help keep Earth safe takes
her to places more dangerous and strange than she’d ever envisioned.

 

Book Description

It’s been less than a week since Ben and his allies
vanquished the dark coven.

 

Ben has been cautious, or has tried to be, but he knows he’s
making a name for himself in the supernatural world, which is the last thing he
needs.  He’ll try to lay low, and let things settle down, but fate is fickle,
and the betrayal that awaits him will draw him so far out into the spotlight it
might be impossible for him to stay hidden.

 

He knows he isn’t anywhere ready to face his family’s
enemies, but sometimes the price to stay hidden is too high, and there is no
choice but to step out into the light.

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