Mayan Blood by Theresa Dalayne

Marzena had woken him up and told him what happened, and about Zanya's healing session with Peter.
    Everyone was huddled on the marble patio overlooking the beach. Cups of steaming tea sat in the center of the coffee table. The scent of clove and honey mixed with the salty air.
    “His name is Sarian,” Renato said. Zanya was curled up beside Tara on the wicker love seat. She looked pale and clammy. Arwan removed a woven blanket from the storage ottoman and draped it over her. Even with Peter there, they couldn’t afford the time it’d take for her to recover from getting sick. Every day mattered.
    She gathered the blanket in her fingers. “Thank you,” she said softly, her gaze following him as he walked across the space. The irises of Zanya’s eyes seemed to swirl like storm clouds. Arwan blinked, refocused, and the swirling had stopped.
    Perhaps he was more sleep deprived than he thought.
    Zanya draped half of the blanket over Tara’s lap and turned her attention back to Renato.
    “We feared he may have the stone,” Renato continued. “We were hoping otherwise.”
    Zanya cradled her head in her hands. “He’s made my life hell.”
    Renato frowned. “I am truly sorry for your suffering. But the fact that he has been able to tap into your subconscious is only further proof he has the stone in his possession. The guardian is linked with the stone. He is using the connection to infiltrate your mind.”
    She picked her head up. “He said something about how I was useless without it. What does that mean?”
    “You must formally bond with the stone in order to have full access to the abilities it provides.”
    “Wait, what?” She lowered her legs and sat up straight. “What abilities?”
    “The abilities that lay dormant within you, Zanya. Haven’t you sensed them? When you’re angry, or passionate, or scared?”
    She shook her head. “Not that I can remember. But…something really strange happened to me right before The Man…Sarian…showed up. There was this light—”
    “Ah. The light is within every guardian. Ellie carried her light in the palm of her hand.”
    “Mine was in my chest.” Zanya tucked her hair behind her ear. Arwan tried not to notice how softly her fingers brushed against the curve of her neck. How was it the most powerful of all Riyata came in the form of such a delicate woman?
    He walked to the farthest side of the room to create some space between them. The scent of her hair carried in the wind, quickening his heartbeat. He turned his head away from the aroma of vanilla and lavender. Heightened senses were sometimes more of a curse than a tool. Especially when his instincts drew him towards her.
    “I’ve seen it before,” Zanya said. “Except only in my dreams. I never thought it was real.”
    “The guardian’s light is nothing short of miraculous. It is the link between you and the stone.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m just a little confused.” Tara sat forward. “So, who is this guy exactly?”
    Everyone’s attention shifted to Arwan as he leaned against the railing. While the group waited for a reply, he debated the outcome of what he had to share. How Zanya would react to the news was anyone’s guess. Unfortunately, there was no way to say it delicately. “He’s the general of the underworld forces.”
    Tara threw her hands into the air. “Well that’s fan-freaking-tastic.”
    “It’s both very good and very bad,” Arwan said. “Now that Zanya knows who she is, Sarian has come out of hiding. The bad news is, now he’ll be even more motivated to break the obedience spell.”
    Zanya sank into her chair. “I’m guessing I should know what that is.”
    “I’m guessing you haven’t picked up any of the books I gave you,” Renato said.
    She bit her bottom lip. “Uh…not yet.” Renato scolded her with a stern glance. She drew the blanket tighter around herself. “I’ll start on them. I promise.”
    Renato pinched the bridge of his nose. “The obedience spell