Illusions: Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (The Seekers Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

improving, but I worry about her. She’s quite defenceless without me.”
    “Well, I’m glad to hear that she’s a little better, dear,” said Hedy, smiling. “She’ll keep improving, with your care. And one day before long you’ll be amazed at how many defences she has . That one will be a skilled Aspirant, mark my words. After she bonds, of course. Like her sister.”
    “No doubt. I suppose I’m just protective, and will be until that day comes. And I know how things work: until I come fully into my own, she doesn’t have a chance to develop her own skills. Sometimes I’m not so keen on being the older sister, with so much responsibility on my shoulders.”
    “You won’t have to wait long to relinquish some of that, Sera. Remember that your Bonding will occur soon. I realize that it’s not an idea that you relish, but we will likely need to seek out a partner for you before the moon’s next cycle. For the good of all the Sisterhood. As I’ve said, the Crones have already been searching for the right match. The only reason that it’s taking so long is that we know how important you are.”
    “I know that it will occur soon.” Sera let out a long breath, attempting to calm her nerves. It was such an unromantic concept, somehow. An arranged marriage for a night, minus the vows, minus the potential for anything beyond a fling with an anonymous man. Minus any chance at love. “Anyhow, I’ll see you later, Hedy. Good luck with your windows. Maybe if you swear at them some more they’ll start cooperating with you.”
    “I damned well hope so.”
    With Nyx wrapped around her shoulders, Sera turned and made her way back down the dirt path flanked by long grasses towards her green house, her eyes fixed on the gabled wooden building, sizing it up for structural weaknesses. “Why couldn’t you have been a giant hound, Nyx?” she said, stroking his back. “Then you could guard our place and eat anyone who threatened us.” The Familiar jutted his head out and looked into her eyes, emitting a rather too adorable squeak. “Right,” laughed Sera. “Not so cute as you, those hounds. You wouldn’t be allowed to let out those high-pitched sounds anymore and no one would give you scraps and pat your head if they worried that you’d take a hand off.”
    She wondered for a moment if she could forego the Bonding, to learn to control her skills in time for the invasion that would doubtless come in the next few weeks. To shield her home from the Guild, and to protect Circe. If she could be the first Aspirant ever to go without the aid of a man.

----
    F rom the shelter of forest that circled Ealdor’s perimeter, a set of bright eyes watched her as she walked. They belonged to a man who had, for several minutes, been contemplating her vast array of gifts. He was no Guild member.
    But already he wanted to take her away from this place.

Chapter 4
Runes
    C irce was sleeping soundly when Sera entered her room. Her face, though pale, looked peaceful, her chest rising and falling in a calm, natural rhythm. All of it was a good sign, and Sera breathed a sigh of relief as she examined her sister from a distance. For now, at least, danger was at bay. But given the nature of what had been ailing Circe for days now, the beads of sweat and high fever might return at any moment.
    If the Guild was really advancing toward their territory, Sera would need her sister’s strength to help take them on, in addition to the Crones’ help. For now, rest was the second-best possible medicine. As added insurance though, perhaps a spell would be in order: one that wouldn’t draw attention from the outside world.
    A rune stone.
    She walked over to the small wooden desk which sat under one of the kitchen’s windows and pulled open the drawer, extracting one of the smooth, sleek dark grey ovals from within. Nyx took advantage of the moment to run down her arm and to curl up on the desk, eyeing her inquisitively. Serafina absentmindedly