Free Magick (The Unwanted Series Book 1) by Mira Monroe

raised at me.
    “What?” I challenge him.
    “So your best buddy is a Valkyrie, eh?” His accent sounds Irish. “Well, ya know, Valkyrie are a rare female warrior breed and they’re the best in all of Edayri. So you might wanna recheck that friendship, ’cause if push comes to shove, she’s gonna choose her blooded over the likes of a Wiccan — especially a royal.” He spits the last part like it tastes bad in his mouth.
    “And who are you?” I spat in his direction. He immediately is not my favorite. Apparently this Guardian is judging me, so I might as well return the favor. He doesn’t know Emily or me.
    He huffs and throws his hand in the air in frustration and turns around. He says walking away, “breakfast is ready.”
    My stomach growls at the mention of food. I follow Rhydian back downstairs around the side to an open kitchen and hearth area of house.
    “Let me introduce everyone to you Willow. Cross, you’ve met — excellent in battle strategy and fighting in general, and pissing people off.” Rhydian clears his throat as I sit down at the table. Cross gives a squinted look to Rhydian, but he ignores him and continues. “On your right that’s Quinn, our resident medic, IT wizard, and typical geek. Next to him is Tullen, he’s our historian and religious conscience.”
    Tullen has a different look than the others with his strawberry blonde hair pulled back in a man bun, with his beard in a brighter shade of red. Everyone else was clean shaven with short hair. Rhydian and Quinn look to be the youngest in the group, although not by much. There wasn’t much pretense when Cross brought over the food on the table. They all dug in quickly. I followed them as my stomach betrayed me with a louder growl smelling the bacon.
    Tullen is looking me over very intently, whereas Cross looks irritated that I’m there. Quinn leaves the room, calling someone on his cell phone.
    I break the silence. “Can you let me text my friends? I get we can’t go back but they are probably freaking out.”
    Rhydian shakes his head. “That isn’t a good idea.”
    “Why? I know Lucy, she’ll call the police.”
    I forget he knows nothing of my life, my friends. “She’s one of my best friends. You haven’t met her, but you saw Emily before you… by the way, how did we get here?”
    “Transporting magick.” He says it matter of fact. Tullen taps his wrist band that is the same one Rhydian is wearing. It occurs to me they all have the same wrist band. Nothing good will come from me disappearing.
    “Look, it’s dangerous. Your magick is unbound, and more will be hunting for you. Before you take the crown at the winter solstice, your fair game.”
    “For what, exactly?”
    “Changing of the guard, taking over the crown. It would raise a lil’ chaos, all eager to take ya blood magick.” Cross’s taunts eyebrows raise, taking a drink of coffee.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply.
    Tullen says, “you have to die for your magick to be released, and if it goes to the void no biggie but if someone incorporates it into themselves, it becomes their magick.” I bite my lip contemplating that more, like the demon, are coming for me.
    Tullen, gets my attention, “Hey. I don’t mean to scare you. Do you know much about Edayri? The realm in general?”
    Cross chuckles and says. “Hell no she doesn’t. She’s what Quinn calls a noob.”
    “You’re what I call an asshole.” I respond back to Cross.
    He seems to relish my retort. Tullen gets up and grinning and pats Cross on the back. Rhydian is trying to hide his amusement, but it’s unsuccessful. I haven’t done anything to warrant Cross’s smarmy attitude, but I’m not going to be intimidated by him. He seems to acknowledge this, his dark brown eyes crinkle at the sides with his smirk. He likes to push, and I will push back.
    “So, basically, you’re a pure source of magick and all the crazies are gonna want a taste.” Tullen says from