Free Magical Tendencies by Selena Hunter

to leave."
    There was silence.
    Von looked at me quickly. I shrugged. There was no way that I would know what had happened—I just found out that I had been lost. Whatever that meant.
    Von turned back to Tisha. "So you are saying… something of dire consequence happened?" He sounded beaten down, like someone had just taken his favorite scooter away and he knew he could never play again.
    "Yes."
    Von walked over to the coffee table and sat down on it gently. His long legs reached out to me on the couch, one on either side of mine. I was unable to escape his attentions even if I wanted to. "Celeste, I'm so sorry. What happened?" His penetrating glance was a bit much. Really, could he hear my thoughts?
    "She is not aware of what happened, Von, you know that. Why do you keep speaking to her like she is a witness to cross-examine?" Tisha puffed.
    Von shook his head. "Does she know me?"
    "Hello, you two. I'm right here ." I crossed my arms as I shifted against the back of the couch. It was getting annoying listening to them talk about me like I wasn't there. I was actually beginning to wish I wasn't.
    Von laid his gorgeous eyes on me again, the green in the hazel of his eyes highlighted in the lamplight. Squaring his shoulders, he licked his lips… those luscious, manly lips. Gosh I need a date!
    "I am Von Edwards," he began as he scooped my hands up in his. Damn me for not tucking them under my legs. "I have been the bond mate to the queen, and her husband." There was a long pause, "I am your husband."
    "I've heard that before." I stared him dead in the eye, waiting for his reaction. His eyes did pop a little before he nodded and continued.
    "We have been bonded for over fifty years which have been the most wonderful years of my life. We have been lovers for fifty-three." He glanced over to Tisha as if to beg her forgiveness. "I have always been loyal to the queen and her reign. I am her friend, confidant, protector and lover. That is my whole purpose in life—to be there for her. To be there for you." He looked me deeply in the eyes.
    A small sigh escaped my lips. My heart was swelling at his words and absorbing the intensity of what seemed to be love in his eyes. He just seemed so truthful, so sincere. My stomach fluttered like a flock of butterflies trying to escape into my throat. What was wrong with me?
    My eyes turned up to Tisha as I began to shake my head. What the heck was I doing here? This could not possibly be true. Shifting in my seat, I slowly began retrieving my hands from his warm and encompassing grip.
    "Um," I looked away ,"I don't know what to think of that, Von. I'm sorry."

14
    Thank goodness for Tisha because I don't know what I would have had to do to get my home back to myself. She had closed the conversation, quelled Von's objections, calmed my frazzled nerves and was working on making me some tea. I loved her.
    "So, Tish, who are you really?" I felt the freedom to ask because I honestly wanted to know.
    Tisha flipped her hair back out of her way until it cascaded down her back. "I am your mentor and protector." She walked across the living room to the couch to hand me my tea. "I have known you for over one hundred years. You were my student at the beginning and you were my student at the end. When events became what they were, I helped you disappear to protect you."
    "Protect me? Protect me from what?" A bead of sweat began to creep down my spine, making me fully aware that something big was happening. I was going to find out something that made me concerned for my own life.
    "There are great things in this world. Great happiness, great love, great despair and great evil. There are things that you could never dream of seeing, but in your lifetime you have."
    I closed my eyes. What was she talking about? "I will do what, Tish? You aren't telling me everything. What is there that I have done? What happened that would make me run away? What am I hiding from? Why does my own husband not know where I am?