Guardians of the Boundary (The Conjurors Series Book 3)

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Book: Guardians of the Boundary (The Conjurors Series Book 3) by Kristen Pham Read Free Book Online
Authors: Kristen Pham
spite of the worried way her eyes flicked to each of their
faces.
    Thank you for joining us so
quickly. There is much that needs to be said.
    Summer patted Azra soothingly on
her back. Valerie watched the two closely, noticing the tenderness between
them, like sisters.
    Azra turned her dark eyes to
Valerie, and her words flowed gently into her mind.
Several months ago, I discovered that a miracle had
happened. Something I wished for my whole life, but was never blessed to
receive. I am pregnant.
    Joy swept through Valerie’s
entire being at Azra’s words. Azra was no longer the last unicorn in existence—no
longer alone. Valerie flung her arms around the unicorn’s neck, and Henry,
Kanti, and Cyrus piled on as well. When they pulled back, Valerie saw tears in
her friends’ eyes that matched her own. She didn’t think she’d ever cried from
joy before.
    “How is this possible?” Kanti
asked.
    Azra turned to Valerie.
I owe you a debt now that I can
never repay. When you used your vivicus power after Zunya attacked me last
year, you did more than save my life. You created new life within me then,
though I did not know until later what had happened.
    Valerie remembered Zunya’s
attack vividly. Azra had protected her and Henry, and had nearly died as a result.
She shook her head, and bumps rose on her arms.
    “I think you’re mistaken. I never
meant, never even thought—” Valerie stuttered.
    “There can be no mistake,”
Summer interrupted. “We have consulted with powerful Healers and the People of
the Woods. This manifestation of power from a vivicus is possible. There are
legends.”
    Elden suspected when he first
saw me after you used your magic to save me, but did not want to give me false
hope. It is true, Valerie. When you brought Sanguina back from the brink of
death, you also restored her humanity. When you saved me, you gave me the gift
of life.
    Valerie’s eyes met Henry’s. He
was staring at her with awe. But Valerie trembled at the news. To have a power
inside her that she didn’t understand, that worked without her conscious
intention, was as terrifying as it was incredible.
    Kanti put her arm around her
shoulders. “Doesn’t surprise me, Val. And so much magic could be in no better
hands than yours.”
    Cyrus gave her a tight smile,
but he seemed as stunned as she was. He gripped her hand tightly, and she could
feel how cold his was in her own, which was burning hot.
    Valerie heard a low voice in her
mind. It was Odysseus, the memory of Azra’s husband, was with them as well.
You have been told this so you
can be honored, not to cause you discomfort. If some part of my soul still
drifts through the universe, unable to leave Azra completely alone, the gift
you have given my wife would allow me now to rest. Our undying gratitude is
yours.
    Valerie wished she could run
away from it all—from the beauty and the immensity of her power, and from what
it meant.
    “Is there a way that we could
leave my part of the story out when you tell people this amazing news?” Valerie
asked.
    Summer and Azra exchanged
glances. It was Summer who spoke. “News of the pregnancy has leaked. We don’t
know which of the Conjurors we consulted shared the news, but it has become
public.”
    Oleander has called the Grand
Masters to meet three days hence to discuss whether I am fit to lead now.
    “That’s ridiculous!” Kanti
almost shouted. “Are we living in the dark ages?”
    Perhaps. My powers have vanished
with my pregnancy, but not my ability to advise. However, I will yield to the
decision of the Grand Masters.
    “Let me speak to them,” Valerie
said. “We can’t take on the Fractus without your help in winning the support of
the Grand Masters.”
    Azra nodded.
I have been authorized that I
may bring you, and you alone, with me to the meeting. But I cannot say if they
will give you a hearing.
    “I’ll make them,”
Valerie said, not sure if it was panic or determination that wouldn’t let

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