by Alanea Alder
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Coming Soon
Other Books on Kobo
My SAVIOR
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Bewitched and Bewildered
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ALANEA ALDER
Copyright © 2015 Alanea Alder
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the address below.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law.
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P.O.Box 280
Moyock, NC, 27958
Digital ISBN- 978-1-941315-06-4
Print ISBN- 978-1-941315-07-1
Sacred Forest Publishing
Dedication
~Omnia Vincit Amor- Love Conquers All~
To Peggy, thank you for all your support, as always I couldn't have done it without you.
To Sabrina Stopforth, thank you for your amazing dedication. Your work sharing My Savior with everyone truly made some of the long days bearable, because I knew someone believed in the book already.
And to my readers, every single one who purchases my books and dives into my worlds. Thank you for loving my characters as much as I do!
PROLOGUE
Thirty years ago
"Do not be afraid; I am with you." Amelia smiled up at the very tall, golden prince. She swung her arm, and their clasped hands swayed between them. All around them, small, winged sprites sang and danced in mid-air. The warm sun overhead cast the clearing in a soft, honeyed light. The air around them seemed to sparkle and shine as the animals walked through the woods, completely at peace. The perfume of the gardenias and passionflowers made her feel lightheaded and content. She looked around in wonder. Even though she had never been here before, she knew she was in the very heart of the fae garden in the mystical city of Éire Danu.
"I know you won't hurt me; you're my mate."
The prince looked down at her, his lavender eyes kind and gentle. "That I am, little one."
Amelia sighed. "We have to wait until I grow up before we can mate, huh?" Even she knew that you couldn't get mated when you were six years old.
He nodded. "But do not worry; we are tied together by the light of our hearts. Someday we will find one another."
Amelia stared down at the ground. "What if you forget?" She knew it would be forever before she would be a grown up. What if he forgot her between now and then?
Her prince placed a hand over his heart for a moment before extending his arm. When he opened his fingers, a small orb of golden light pulsed in his hand. Smiling, he lifted the orb to her chest where it flared brightly before disappearing. Immediately, she felt its gentle presence surround her heart.
"Now there is no way that I will forget you, for you carry a piece of my light with you," he explained.
She placed a hand to her chest and beamed up at him. She thought of the long years ahead and frowned.
He tugged on her braid. "What has you looking so sad? If it is something I can fix, I will," he promised.
She looked up, feeling hopeful. "Can you make me a grown up so we can be together right away?"
He shook his head and ruffled her hair. She loved the feel of his large, warm hand in her hair. He made her feel special and safe. She silently thanked Fate for sending her someone so tender and kind.
"I know to someone so young the oncoming years seem far away, but in reality, the time will fly by in an instant. Before you know it, I will be standing in front of you, and we will be able to start our life together."
"Promise?"
He knelt before her on one knee, cupped her face between his two large hands, and kissed her forehead. "I promise."
"I won't let you forget. You're mine," Amelia declared fiercely.
A delighted smile transformed his face from charming to roguish. She felt herself blushing; her mate was very handsome.
"And you are mine." He winked before standing. He reached out to take her hand, and she felt herself tumbling backward.
"No!" she screamed. She felt the ground give way and she was free-falling into the darkness, the beauty and warmth of the garden disappearing.
"I will be waiting. Do not fear," he called after her.
Amelia woke up gasping and looked around her room. Her pink dolls and stuffed animals seemed so ordinary after such an amazing dream. Grinning, she hopped out of bed and ran for the kitchen. She knew her brother, Caiden, would be making breakfast before he and her other brothers, Kyran and Tristan, had to report in for drills with the other unit warriors.
She skidded to a halt in front of their small, wooden table in the kitchen.
Caiden turned from the stove, a white apron covering his training gear. "Why aren't you dressed, young lady? You don't have much time to eat breakfast before we have to drop you off at the Armstrong's for classes."
The guest at their table snorted, eyeing Caiden's apron. "You know, Caiden, you look adorable in that apron. Maybe your brothers should get you a nice string of pearls to complete the look."
"Good one, Kendrick," Tristan said and lifted his fist to be bumped. Kendrick looked at it and raised an eyebrow. Amelia giggled.
Tristan rolled his eyes and let his hand drop. "Of course, you don't do fist bumps. You're Mr. Dark and Mysterious."
Kyran laughed. "I don't think someone with hair that red can pull off dark and mysterious."
Caiden dished out scrambled eggs and then looked over at her. "Well?" He jerked his head toward the hallway. "Go get ready."
Amelia hopped up and down. "School can wait. I have to tell you about my dream. It was amazing!" She was practically vibrating with excitement.
Caiden frowned and turned to Kendrick. "I thought you bound most of her powers? I don't want her setting off another earthquake."
"I did." Kendrick looked at Amelia. "What happened in your dream?"
"I met my mate!" she announced happily.
Around the table, Kyran and Tristan began to choke on their breakfast. Caiden dropped his frying pan, and Kendrick began to rub his chin.
"Wha-wha-what!?" Caiden roared.
Kendrick tapped his lips thoughtfully. "It makes sense. The binding spell wouldn't be able to block a witch's mating dream. Those are how we find
our mates."
Caiden rushed around the table while Kyran and Tristan fumbled at their drinks and tried to clear their airways. He knelt down in front of her. "Are you sure? You're just a baby!"
Amelia put her hands on her tiny hips. "Yes, I'm sure, and I am not a baby!"
"You're my baby!" Caiden yelled.
"Our baby!" Tristan corrected. He and Kyran stood and crowded around her.
Remembering her prince, she sighed happily. "He was perfect, like a prince."
Caiden stood, his face like a thundercloud. He looked over at Kendrick and then pointed to her. "Fix this!" he demanded.
Kendrick looked at her oldest brother flatly. "Fix this how, exactly?"
Caiden began to pace in their small kitchen. Of the three, he was the most protective as he was both mother and father to her. Kyran, the second oldest, was her confidant, and Tristan was her playmate. Together, the three of them took care of her while her parents traveled the country.
"There is nothing to fix." She scowled at her brother. Of the three, unfortunately, she was the most like Caiden; they were both headstrong and stubborn.
Caiden walked back over and placed his hands on her shoulders, concern on his face. "Are you okay? Did he do anything weird to you?"
Amelia thought about it for a second. "He put his thing in me."
All four men froze.
The air around Caiden began to spark and crackle. "He did what?" he asked, his voice sounding odd and strained.
"He put his light in my heart, that way, he can find me later," she explained. She looked around confused when the men seemed to slump forward in relief. "What?" she asked.
"Nothing, baby." Caiden scooped her up and sat down with her on his lap. "I can't do this. She can never mate." He let out a long breath and cuddled her close. Kyran and Tristan sat back down in their chairs and rested their heads on the table.
Kendrick's smile was wicked as he stood. "Makes me eternally grateful I have a brother."
Behind her, she felt Caiden laugh. "As if you're any less protective of Keelan than we are of Amelia?"
At the mention of his brother's name, she saw Kendrick's eyes soften for a second before becoming hard again. "True," he agreed.
Amelia knew that nearly everyone in Storm Keep was frightened of the antisocial archivist, but since he was her brother's best friend, Caiden had made him her Athair; she had grown up around him. He might seem mean and prickly, but he had always been kind to her.
"Go get dressed, baby. For some reason, I can't wait to do drills today. Beating up on the Omicron Unit sounds very therapeutic," Caiden remarked, setting her on her feet.
Kyran stood. "Sounds like a good idea. We'll get the units started on basic drills while you drop Amelia off at school." He and Tristan kissed the top of her head and walked out the back door.
Kendrick sighed. "Try not to break too many bones. I have reached my limit of good deeds for the year. I don't feel like listening to the water temple beg for my help in healing any muscle-bound warriors who don't have the good sense to duck." Kendrick turned to the door.
"I'll keep that in mind," Caiden said, pushing her toward the hallway.
Humming, she skipped down the hall to her bedroom. She had met her mate, and he was a gentle, golden prince! She couldn't wait to grow up!
CHAPTER ONE
Darian watched his opponent carefully. In his mind, he identified the order of bones to break that would cause the most pain. They were standing in a damp, abandoned warehouse inside a caged fighting ring. The overhead fluorescent light bathed everything in an unforgiving, harsh light and cast stark shadows. To him, the world had faded to varying shades of gray so that even the blood running from his prey looked black.
It no longer shocked him to think of his opponents as prey. In his mind, the man before him was of no significance. Darian knew that his own soul was so damned that even these fights, which at one time held the rage at bay, could no longer help him control his murderous thoughts. It was another reason why he had been spending so much time away from Lycaonia and the Alpha estate. When he did finally lose control, he didn't want to be anywhere near his family.
"Come on, pretty boy, is that all you got?" the barrel-chested man taunted. Darian sighed. The tiny human disregarded his height and only saw his face. He was making the same mistake so many others had in the past. They saw a handsome face and long blond hair, and assumed he couldn't fight.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. He easily dodged the other man's futile attempts to land a punch. Darian pulled his arm back and punched him in the chest. He smiled when he heard bones break upon impact. Around him, he could hear the jeers and screams of the spectators. They wanted a kill, and he would give it to them.
Like the gladiators of old, he circled the ring, taking in the deafening and inhumane demands for the man's death. He walked lazily back over to the man who was coughing up blood. He put his knee in his back and brought the man's head back so that it was bent at an odd angle.
"Darian, no!" A young male voice screamed from the back.
His hands ached for the kill, and before he could be stopped, he twisted and the man fell limply to the mat. Seconds later, he heard Keelan yell above the crowd.
"Obliviscaris!"
The crowd quieted around him, and everyone stood around as if in a daze. Keelan had wiped their memories of him and of this night. Darian shrugged, stood, and walked over to the door. He kicked it open and jumped down from the ring, grabbed a towel, and started to wipe off the sweat and blood as Keelan pushed his way to him.
When Keelan finally reached him, his face was a mask of panic and fear. "Gods! Darian you killed him; you really killed him! What in the hell is going on?"
Darian shrugged. "Don't get involved. It's nothing."
"Why?!"
"Because for a while, fighting helped with the anger." Darian threw the towel down and picked up his bag.
"Anger, what anger? Why didn't you come to us?" Keelan demanded.
"You know what is happening Keelan. Is it really something that you can help?" Darian turned toward the exit.
Keelan grabbed his arm and spun him around. The only reason his fist connected was because Darian wasn't expecting the smallest member of his unit to sucker punch him.
"You sonofabitch! You're just going to give up?" Keelan's face was flushed with anger.
Darian rubbed his jaw. The little shit could hit. "I don't have much time left, Kee. I'm doing the best I can so that when I finally turn, I'm not at home with Meryn and the other women."
Keelan turned and looked at the dead body in the ring. "Are you? Have you already?" He sounded like he was having a hard time getting the words out.
Darian shook his head. "Not yet. The ones I have been fighting in the ring are known criminals. That one"--he jerked his thumb back toward the ring--"spent a lot of money last week bribing a judge to avoid jail time, I just made sure he received justice."
"What'd he do?" Keelan asked.
"He raped a six-year-old girl. The judge said that since she was wearing a tank top and shorts to bed, she was tempting him." He shook his head and began walking to the exit.
"You mean he was a bad guy? That's great, Darian! You haven't killed any innocents. There's still hope." Keelan said excitedly as they walked to where both their cars were parked.
Darian turned to the youngest member of his unit. "Why did you follow me?" He had to know if he was doing anything at the estate that would give him away.
Keelan rolled his eyes. "The other three members of our unit are mated. What the hell else am I supposed to do?"
Darian unlocked his car and threw his bag into the passenger seat. "You could be out wooing your own mate," he suggested.
Keelan looked down at the ground. "Something isn't right. I dreamt of her, sure, but I have met her, and I'm still having dreams of her. None of the others did that."
"It's probably because you haven't claimed h
er yet. You better be thankful for those dreams; the last one saved her life. If you hadn't told her to get her brakes checked, she would have had the car accident you saw."
Keelan looked up and stared at the moon. Darian knew that all witches were tied to the moon in a way no other race was able to explain. When Keelan looked back at him, the young witch's eyes were serious. "I'm not attracted to her at all," he confessed.
Shit.
Darian sighed. He had been counting on Keelan mating next so he could move on to the next world knowing that all of his fellow unit members were safely mated. Now it looked like someone had thrown a wrench in his plans. He really didn't have time for this.
"Have you tried being attracted to her?"
"What the hell kind of question is that? Of course, I have. We've gone out on dates, we get along great, but it's like something is off."
"You have time."
"So do you. We're all finding our mates, Darian. I know you have been dreaming of yours, too. Why aren't you doing everything in your power to hold on for her?"
Darian just stared at his closest friend. Keelan was right; he had been dreaming of a woman. She was innocent and bright and pure. She was always laughing and smiling. He had no right tying her to someone like him. He would drag her down into the dark hell that was his future. He would rather give up his soul than let even the hint of a shadow fill her eyes. "I won't tie her to me, not at this point, Kee. It's too late for me."
"Fuck that! I'm not giving up, Darian, and you better not, either," Keelan yelled.
"Or what, my friend?" Darian pushed. He stepped closer to Keelan until their chests bumped.
Keelan's eyes darkened, and suddenly, Darian wasn't one hundred percent sure he could take the young witch. Something in his eyes was wild and untamed. "Don't make me bind you, Darian," Keelan warned.
"It won't come to that," Darian promised. Keelan's display had been warning enough. When the time came, he would be nowhere near the witch.