The League of Illusion: Destiny Read Online Free Page B

pointed ears. It was an elf in his woods. What the hell were elves doing here?
    “Don’t move.” The voice came from behind where they crouched. And he felt the telltale sharp point of an arrow poking into the back of his neck. “What are you doing here, sorcerer?”
    Eyes wide, Drea turned to him. “I knew it. I knew you could do magic.”

Chapter Five
    “Stand up, the both of you,” the cloaked man demanded.
    Drea did slowly, her hands out to the side. They shook a little, but not so much from fear as excitement. She’d been longing for an adventure and here it was. Maybe it wasn’t in the form she’d dreamed about but it was definitely exciting. And she’d known she’d find it with Sebastian.
    Ever since he’d arrived in their village, she’d been curious about him. She’d known there was something different about him, something thrilling. And it went beyond his comely appearance, although that didn’t hurt one bit. Looking at him was indeed a pleasure. But it was also in the way he carried himself, always looking around, always ready for anything. He was definitely a man full of secrets and she’d always wanted to ferry those secrets out.
    “Walk.” The man demanded, pointing the arrow in front of them. They did as demanded.
    Sebastian glanced at her as they marched through the woods. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded. “You?”
    “Yes.”
    “What’s happening? Who is this man? What does he want?”
    They came through a thick tangle of branches and into a small clearing. Two other men stood there waiting, horses tied up nearby. Except they were like no men she’d seen before.
    Their skin was unnaturally pale and it seemed to shimmer like dusted silver. They both had long straight black hair and bright intense eyes. Almost luminous. And peeking out from all that hair were pointed ears. The man who had commanded them here pulled down his hood to reveal the same features.
    “What do we have here?” the taller one asked.
    “They were watching us,” the man with the bow said. “And this one’s a sorcerer.”
    “Is that so?” The taller one, obviously in charge, stepped toward Sebastian. His eyes narrowed. “You’re a Davenport, are you not?”
    “Yes. Sebastian.”
    “I knew your great-grandfather, Noah. He was decent for a sorcerer.”
    “And you are?” Sebastian asked.
    He made a little bow. “I am Acari.” He cocked his head and studied them both. “You’d be from nineteenth century London, yes? What are you doing in this realm?”
    Drea frowned at them. What were they talking about? She had no concept of nineteenth century or of a place called London. “What does he mean? What is he?” she asked Sebastian.
    But he ignored her question and said to the man in charge, “I got lost through a portal. Ended up here by mistake. What are elves doing here? I thought your religion forbade you to open any portals.”
    Acari looked at the other two, then back to Sebastian. “We are not as devout as some of our brethren.”
    Sebastian tensed. She could see it in his face and his hands.
    “You’re here for the morrigan.”
    Acari flinched before saying, “You’ve seen her?”
    “No, I haven’t.”
    “But, Sebastian, we saw...”
    He cut her off with a look, then glanced at Acari again. “Is that what you are doing here?”
    “Of course not. We are merely on...holiday.”
    Drea sensed he was lying. But the morrigan? What did it have to do with these elves? And with Sebastian for that matter? He obviously knew more about the beast than he ever let on. Maybe that was why he’d gone charging after it.
    “I’ve never known elves to go sightseeing.”
    The elf took another step forward, all courtesy gone. His gaze was fierce and direct. “Where are the others?”
    “What others?”
    “Another portal opened early this morning. Only a bunch of careless sorcerers would dare open what they’ve been warned not to.” He eyed Sebastian. “Did the council send them?”
    “You mean