Free Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) by Morgan Wylie Page B

couldn’t be sure. Although it makes sense. If anyone could have intercepted my magic she would have been one of them.” He smiled softly, looking down at Kaeleigh’s head.
    “Who? Who is she talking about?” Daegan spoke out of the moment of reverence when the others dared not disturb her. He got a glare of insensitivity from Chel, but there were things to know.
    Kaeleigh stiffened at the sound of his voice. She looked up at Hunter with a smile and backed out of his embrace. She turned to answer Daegan, whom she suddenly felt awkward being so emotional around. “My mother,” she answered. She stood up straight and then finally looked into his stony eyes. At least that’s what she expected to see, but when she saw the raw naked emotions swirling in his eyes and a multitude of colors swarming around him she felt extremely confused, and a warm fluttering sensation stirred in her gut. She didn’t know what her reaction to him was, but she felt completely out of control around him and felt lightheaded. Kaeleigh faltered in her step as she reached out for the table to steady her, but a hand grabbed her arm instead, guiding her to the closest chair and easing her down into it. She looked up into Daegan’s eyes with gratitude when he spoke solemnly, “It is regretful about your mother.” The genuine look in his eyes reminded her that he knew that pain. She nodded her thanks.
    Rushing up next to her, Chel asked, concerned, “Kaeleigh? Are you all right?”
    “She’s probably just weak. She hasn’t eaten anything in days and her body has changed,” Finn interjected, knowing that Kaeleigh and Chel both could rival him in any eating contest. They both had faster metabolisms than the average human.
    Hunter brought over a ceramic bowl he had filled with a clear liquid. It turned gold when he combined it with a powder that he had ground with a mortar and pestle. At her cautious expression, he chuckled and said, “It’s an ancient remedy,” then looked down almost sadly, quietly adding, “from your mother’s side, in fact, that will cure what your body needs. It’s made from a plant that grows in both of your worlds and has already had a great significance to you, I believe.” He winked and added, “An orchid.”
    Kaeleigh just stared at him with confusion, going through her mind, trying to figure out how he would know anything about the orchids that had followed her throughout her life up to this point. It seemed to only make sense that they would follow her into this new life as well. Her brain hurt from trying to make sense of too many things at one time and she took the bowl from him. After she drank all of the gold liquid, she smiled at Hunter and, well, everyone for that matter. “That’s good stuff!” Kaeleigh blurted out louder than necessary, surprising her friends surrounding her.
    Laughing out loud, Hunter took the bowl from Kaeleigh’s hands. “I forgot, you are not used to anything other than mortal food and drink. It will wear off in a short time.” Taking the bowl over to the sink, Hunter chuckled to himself. Kaeleigh kept talking to her friends as they stared at her with mouths gaping. She was still talking loudly and was starting to slur her words.
    Walking back to a chair near Kaeleigh and the fireplace, Hunter caught Chel’s gaze and she blurted, “Is she... Is she drunk?”
    “In a matter of speaking, yes, but it will fade soon enough,” he said. “At least I hope that it does, we have much to discuss and little time.” Turning to Kaeleigh, he tried to get her full attention as she was looking everywhere but at him in a sort of silly daze. Chel was sitting on one side of her while Kaeleigh petted her friend’s arm. “Chel, why don’t you take Kaeleigh to rest in the bedroom, perhaps she can sleep it off faster,” Hunter said, suddenly deep in thought.
    Chel helped a slightly unstable Kaeleigh get up and walked her to the back bedroom. She noticed Finn seemed agitated, as though he