Pure Destiny (PureDark Ones #12) - Aja James Page 0,19
apparent to all from the stance of their bodies that he protected her and gave her his strength.
The resonance and magnetism of Eternal Mates.
Ishtar and Tal were the same. Though physically separate, Sophia, through her Gift, could see the colors of their souls melding together, blazing brighter, vibrating with beautiful layers of colors that weren’t present individually.
It was…downright erotic, actually. As if their souls were making love, feeding off each other, while their physical selves remained distinct and separate.
“Sophia?”
Rain’s prompt alerted Sophia that she hadn’t been paying attention, too distracted by her observations.
She even blushed to witness something so intimate. Thankfully, no one else saw what she could see.
“I’m sorry, what—”
“Eveline is here,” Valerius said. Likely repeated, since Sophia had been staring like a voyeur at the mating of souls.
Strangely, she hadn’t noticed before. Perhaps she never bothered to really look. Was this a new development in her Gift? If so, she didn’t understand its significance.
No time to dwell on it. It wasn’t every day that the undeclared Consort of the Dark King Ramses came to visit, not since she made her home with her male at the Cove. But more importantly, Sophia missed her friend.
For all intents and purposes, Eveline was still the Pure Ones’ Seer and Scribe, though she also took on the informal role of the Dark Ones’ Keeper. She was a very busy lady, and every visit was a treat.
“Business or pleasure?” Sophia asked.
“Both, it seems,” Valerius answered.
“Then have her come picnic with us in here,” Sophia said, turning to Benji. “Do you have enough food in that wagon?”
“I’ll bring more for you,” Ishtar said. “The cinnamon rolls should be ready by now.”
“You’re the best, Mama Bear!” Benjamin boomed.
With that, Ishtar and Tal left together, presumably to have their own dinner and put the final touches on dessert.
Ishtar owned an all-things shop called Dark Dreams in the Russian district of Brooklyn. Now that she and Tal lived at the Shield in downtown Manhattan, the shop was temporarily closed. But she still kept up her baking to feed the inhabitants of the Shield and to deliver batches to the Little Flower Orphanage near the shop.
And Tal kept up his wood work when he had a moment to spare. However, he spent most of his time training with the other Elite warriors and Chevaliers, having assumed the position of the General of the Pure Ones once more. The role he took millennia ago when he led their armies to victory against the Dark Ones in the Great War.
It seemed, in many ways, that history had come full circle. Sophia couldn’t help the shiver of apprehension that trickled down her spine at the thought.
Valerius and Rain exchanged a communication between them wordlessly, after which the Protector departed the enclosure in smooth, long-legged strides.
Shortly, he escorted Eveline Marceau into the healing enclosure, along with a rolling cart laden with fragrant, fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon rolls from Ishtar. After another silent exchange with his Mate, the warrior shut the double doors behind him, leaving Sophia, Eveline, Rain and Benji with the comatose Paladin.
“When Rain sent word, I came as soon as I could.”
Eveline came forth, taking Sophia’s hands in both her own. She squeezed the younger woman’s fingers briefly before releasing Sophia. No lengthy hugs from Eveline. Sophia had never known her to be a demonstrably affectionate woman.
Though, during her recent visits to the Shield, ever since she struck her… arrangement …with the Dark King, Eveline seemed to have thawed somewhat emotionally. The Seer of the Pure Ones never used to show many emotions, in fact. Hardly any.
Sophia had been in awe of her great intellect ever since she was a girl. Moreover, there was something else about Eveline that Sophia could never put her finger on. The colors of her soul sometimes threw up fiery sparks, like sparklers in the night on Independence Day.
The women and Benjamin moved as one to surround the padded table upon which the Paladin rested.
He had gained some color, the grayish tone of death having receded. But he was still unhealthily pale despite the natural honeyed hue of his skin.
Sophia was relieved to see that he no longer bore the marks of his wounds externally, not even the stains of fading bruises. Her…union with him must have helped. But that knowledge still did not take away her guilt.
The truth was that she’d used him as much as he’d used her. She couldn’t stop herself if her life had depended on it.