Free The Queen of All Magick: Elizabeth by Kathi S. Barton Page B

Duncan would be a little more relaxed as well. Phillip touched her mind as she watched the two of them together.
    “ I’m glad you did that. It makes me feel better just knowing that he’ll be safe. We should start his training then. It would be nice for him to use this if the need came. I think he will do well with the right training. What do you think?”
    Instead of answering him, she looked at Mathew. “Starting tomorrow morning, I’d like for you to come to the castle, and Grandda and I will begin your magic training. I’m pretty sure I still have the books that your mother used. It might be fun for the three of us. And I’m pretty sure that Mel’s children can help you as well. Why, just the other day I saw little Grace making a messenger mist. You’ll need one of those as well.”
    The rest of the trip to the mall was made with much speculation on what he would do first. Mathew was such a treasure to them, as were all the children. But this little boy would hold a special place in their hearts because of his father. Logan had done so much for them.

Chapter 6
     
    Rythen sat on his bed and thought about all that was going on. And if he was truthful to himself he was a little afraid. When he’d returned to the castle, the woman was gone, yet her scent was everywhere. She had been back in his room and if he wasn’t mistaken, she’d managed to touch everything in there. He picked up the pillow that lay over his lap and brought it to his nose. Her scent was strongest there.
    A mate. He knew now that she was just that. A human mate was not something that he had planned for. And worse yet, she was mad at him. He glanced at the note that had been on his desk when he’d returned from the other realm and thought about what she’d said.
    “Stay away from me. And if you think I’m kidding, you just try and come near me again. I’ve no more use for you than you do me. Double that. I think you’re insane as well.”
    There had been nothing else other than her name. Kim Craft. At least now he knew the name of the woman who would haunt him for the rest of his life. Moving to the window, he watched the faeries move along the darkened field. He had seen it when he’d first come to the castle and wondered about it. One of the pixies told him what had happened.
    “Megan the Black did it. She had been told over and over not to go there to do her practicing. And over the months of her not listening to anyone, she destroyed it all. The queen tried to repair it, but there was no help for it. She said that it was dead very deep and that it would be centuries before she could try again.” The little pixie moved to just the edge of the forest. “My mom worked there, as did my dad. They said it was beautiful once.”
    “What happened to this Megan the Black? Was she punished?” She smiled and nodded. “Good. There should have been a trial as well for her actions.”
    There had been , she’d told him. Not only had Megan destroyed a large field, but she had kidnapped one of the Royal court. And for that she’d been hanged. Rythen was impressed that her punishment had been just and that it had been carried out so swiftly.
    Rythen walked out of the castle a few minutes later and found Draco sunning in the yard. The smaller creatures seemed to be all over him, and when Rythen asked him why, he laughed.
    “They find my warmth to be at odds with what I am. I would guess that I’d be cold, but the sun here keeps my scales warm, and they love it.” He opened one eye and looked at him without raising his head. “You seem to be in a low kind of spirit. Perhaps you should find a sunny spot and rest it away.”
    “I was thinking I need your help with something.” Rythen pointed to the dark forest. “I can repair that but will need you to help me. I was thinking that it would be nice for the other faeries to go if they wanted. You as well.”
    “I would be honored to bring back what was lost to us. Lady Elizabeth cried for