Brilliance (Circle of the Stars #4) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,2

and noble woman. He’s immensely powerful, able to shape-shift, change perceptions of reality, and control the elements.”

I looked up at my grandmother, my mouth hanging open. “And you think I can beat him by myself?”

She looked down at me. With a finger under my chin to close my mouth, she smiled. “I have no doubts that you can best him, garinion. Whether that is by yourself, with your mates, or with a thousand armies, you will be the clear victor at the end of the battle.”

My heart caught at the idea that my mates would try to fight this monster at my side. While I wanted them with me always, I was unwilling to put them in danger to win a war not of my own making. That was simply the end of the discussion.

I nodded, looked at the newcomers and smiled tightly. “It seems I’m going to need a thousand armies. Do you have any I could borrow?”

The Warden smiled. “I know some people who would be willing to participate. A bit bloodthirsty, but since it’s for a good cause…”

Kiema smiled. “While I would love to get involved, I’m afraid me and my mates are out. We’ve recently welcomed our twin daughters into this world.”

I nodded. “Babies are much more important than war. I truly don’t expect anyone to help me. I’m the reason Merlin is waking at all. He is my problem to deal with.”

Chapter 2 – Tagan

I gritted my teeth at Cheeks’ answer. The woman was under the wildly mistaken idea that she would be facing this psychopath on her own. I was going to paddle her ass until she got it through her thick skull that she wasn’t doing anything without me anymore.

What the hell? Tove asked over our triplet mental pathway.

I just snarled.

I’m with Tag, Thane said. Even if we have to tie her up and kill that bastard ourselves, our girl isn’t going to dance with the devil. Not without us.

“Are any of you adept with magic?” Ari asked the new group.

Various smiles, facial quirks, and soft chuckles sounded.

“You could say that,” the tall man with dark hair, bright blue eyes, glasses, and what looked like a full shirt of tattoos said.

Two guys that had to be twins, rolled their eyes at each other.

“Kord’s the magical brains of the whole operation. The rest of us use pure talent,” one of them said. His eyes were a butterscotch color. Bit of a blowhard it seemed.

I turned back to the guy who’d spoken first. “Aren’t you a mate?”

He nodded. “Damn straight. So, while I won’t be staying to help with the party, I could give you some spells. Depending on your magic, they should work.” He looked at Cheeks. “Where does your magic come from?”

“The stars.”

His dark brows rose before they furrowed over his nose. “No, I mean, the source of your magic.”

Cheeks looked at him like he was stupid. I couldn’t say I blamed her. If he didn’t understand where she got her magic, none of his spells were likely to work at all.

Cheeks leaned forward slightly. “The stars.” She drew the word out as if talking to a person with intellectual delays or hearing difficulties.

The guy smiled. “Yes, I heard you the first time. But I don’t see how that is possible. There have been no magic systems that use burning balls of gas millions of miles away as a source for power.” His smile turned pitying. “Do you know where your power comes from?”

Cheeks got to her feet. She raised her hands as her shoulders vibrated with anger. As if she’d called a breeze to sweep through the room, her dark purple hair lifted and danced in the invisible drafts. She raised her hands. “Stella luceat.”

The room erupted in blinding light.

“When I tell you the stars are my power, I’m not mistaken or addle-brained. I mean, my power is of the stars,” she said. The harsh snap of rage ate at her tone, her words.

I reached out, slid my hand against her upper arm. With a low prayer, I tried to pull that anger out of her. Residue of Merlin must still be floating in her system. My girl didn’t do rage. Hell, she barely did anger.

Tove and Thane slid their hands against her exposed skin as well.

As I watched, she seemed to settle. To come back to us. Her shoulders relaxed as she took a deep breath.

She shook her hands out, letting the star shine fall away. “I apologize. When I absorbed