The League of Illusion: Destiny by Vivi Anna Page A

face. She thought he was going to brush a finger against her cheek. Instead he tucked one stray curl behind her ear, and when he lowered his hand there was a large silver medallion in it. The medallion had a picture of two crossed swords and was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. Apart from him, of course.
    “Treasure can be found in the most interesting places.” He’d handed it to her.
    She’d smiled and clutched the medallion tight.
    “ I will come for you. ”
    Frowning, Drea looked around. Where had that voice come from? This was not part of her memory.
    Sebastian grabbed her hand, his face a stern mask, blood dripping down his forehead. “ Hold it tight and I will find you. ”
    She pulled away in a panic. This wasn’t how the day had gone. This wasn’t what had happened.
    “ Don’t let it go. It’s a beacon. I’m coming , Drea. I’m coming! ”
    Drea startled awake. She was still on horseback, her head resting on the back of the elf. She sat up and looked around. They were still in the woods, but in a section she didn’t recognize. It was denser, greener. And, she had to admit, creepier.
    Without drawing notice to herself, she drew a finger down the chain she wore around her neck and slowly pulled out the medallion hidden in the bodice of her dress. Sebastian had given it to her. She’d been wearing it around her neck since that day.
    She clutched it in her hand and thought about him. She closed her eyes and pictured his face in her mind. He had that sad but determined look in his eyes, and she knew he’d come for her no matter what.

Chapter Thirteen
    True to her word, Avaira showed Darin how to construct a portal. It used a darker magic than he had ever dreamed of. Magic that he coveted with all his heart.
    They required room to work and privacy, so Darin paid off the cardinal who was in the service of the Hawthorne family, and they used a portion of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was a place of great power. Many ley lines of energy converged in that one spot. It was the reason the Catholics built the church there in the first place. Their worshippers would be loath to know that old world pagan mysticism chose their place of worship.
    Once inside the small oval chapel of St. Michael and St. George, Avaira shut and sealed the heavy gold inlaid doors. Thick candles were already lit along the altar and at the four corners, casting a golden glow around the room.
    Avaira was wearing long dark robes and a circle of onyx. She looked like a dark and terrible goddess, the candlelight making her even more enchanting, and his cock tightened at the sight of her. If they hadn’t had pressing matters to attend to, he would’ve bent her over the altar and buggered her rotten.
    As it was, they were on a tight schedule. The solstice was only five days away, and he needed to ensure that no Davenport returned to London ever again.
    Avaira handed him a piece of charcoal. “Draw a circle with a triangle inside on the floor, as large as you can make it.”
    Darin glared at her for a moment. He was unaccustomed to being told what to do. Only his father had that kind of power over him.
    The elf glared back, unafraid of him. “If you want this to work, you have to be willing to do the things that need to be done. Did I pick the wrong sorcerer to share this powerful magic with?”
    He fiddled with the charcoal, his fingers quickly turning black. “No, you chose wisely.”
    “Then show me.” She gestured to the black and white marble-tiled floor.
    Despite the violent urge to hurt her that ran through his body like wildfire, Darin pushed aside two benches, then dropped to the floor on his hands and knees. He drew the circle carefully, then added the triangle. The second the last point of the triangle met with the circle, a surge of power swept the room. He could feel it brushing against his skin. The little hairs on his arms and on the back of his neck grew to attention. The sensation made him hard.
    Avaira took a