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men around her that thought they were in charge.
Alexia thought about that. Her father had told
her about elves in bedtime stories as a child. There
were three types of elves, nature elves, animal
elves and water elves. He had said that they value
keeping things balanced. They barter for
everything and believe in an eye for an eye.
Balance is a religion to them. They are definitely
not creatures you want to be indebted to or make
angry they will get even as a way of keeping
things balanced.
She thought all types of elves could teleport
and do some magic, like hiding their scent
apparently. She knew they could use a magic
called glamour as a way of camouflaging
themselves around humans and appear as nothing
more than another human. Although this didn t
work on most other creatures of myth, they could
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Keeping Blood
see right through the glamour unless it was done
by a very powerful elf. Similar in looks, they were
tall and slender with long white hair and pointy
ears. Her father said they were all quite beautiful,
male and female alike.
The only way to tell which type of elf you are
looking at was by its eyes. Animal elves have
brown eyes, nature elves have green eyes and
water elves have blue eyes. Each species of elf has
special abilities. Animal elves can speak to animals
and entrance them for short periods of time to do
as they command. Water elves can control water,
drawing it out of objects and air. Nature elves can
make plants and such grow or die as they wish.
Why an elf of any kind would be after her
parents she couldn t imagine, but it didn t bode
well if they were trying to get things even. They
were nearly impossible to stop if that was what
they were after.
What kind of dealings has your father had
with animal elves, Alexia? Kairos asked, agitation
in his voice contrasting his calm demeanor.
None that I know of, she answered honestly.
They won t attack unprovoked, he said in an
accusing tone.
My father has never sought to harm or cheat
any creature, she said indignantly.
Paxton scoffed at that, but kept his obvious
disagreeing comment to himself.
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Courtney Breazile
Well, someone did something and if we don t
know what, it is going to be that much harder to
figure out how to get them back.
Alexia felt cold fear grip her at Kairos s
comment. For the first time she felt like she really
might not see her parents again. It could already
be too late.
Ian reached out a comforting hand and placed
it on her shoulder.
She shook it off and tamped down on the fear
and grief she was sure everyone could smell. It
would do no good to freak out, even if it was what
she really wanted to do. So what do we do to get
them back? she asked stiffly.
As the men started talking amongst themselves,
debating what the motive and method could have
been and where to go from here, Alexia started
inching toward the door. They didn t need her
right now and she needed some fresh air and time
to think. She needed to deal with all the
confounding feelings Ian brought out in her so she
could focus fully on the problem of getting her
parents back from the elves.
Why, Ian, your wolf has mated. Kairos s
jubilant voice echoed through the suddenly silent
kitchen.
Alexia froze, one hand on the doorknob. She
had been so close to escape. And it was all her
stupid wolf s fault, cuddling up with Ian s so
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Keeping Blood
blatantly. Not a care for her keeper s feelings on
the subject.
Yes, Ian said in a completely detached tone.
Alexia s back stiffened even more and she
turned slowly to face them all.
How wonderful. Why didn t you tell me
Alexia was going to be a part of our pack?
Her eyes flared red and yellow as Ian sat there,
shrugging in answer. I am not Ian s mate, she
said forcefully, meeting the gazes of each of the
five men in the room briefly to emphasize her
point.
You have refused my son? Then why hasn t
your wolf refused his?
All eyes looked down at the two wolves in
question. Alexia s small red-brown wolf acted the
submissive to Ian s large white one, who guarded
her from the other three wolves who looked at her
with open interest.
Ian turned to the others and growled. The
twins, Mabon and Malcolm, both looked guilty
and their wolves backed down. His father looked
unaffected, but his wolf backed off as well.
If the lady refuses you, Ian, you have no right
to keep others from pursuing her, the twin called
Malcolm pointed out boldly.
Ian shot her an accusing look, as if she were
stirring up trouble on purpose.
Alexia took on a serene expression and avoided
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Courtney Breazile
looking at him. I am not anybody s mate, nor do I
wish to be.
Kairos smiled, amused by her show of defiant
independence. That is a female s choice, as it is a
male s choice to fight off other suitors in his own
pursuit of her.
Alexia s eyes widened. The last thing she
wanted was anyone fighting because of her.
Before anyone could say anything further on the
subject, lights flashed across outside. The pack
was arriving.
Kairos and the twins stood to meet with the
arriving keepers outside. All three flashed her
bright smiles as they passed. Paxton followed with
an amused expression on his face.
Good luck with that one. I saw your little interaction
outside my house today. He is hot and he is angry and
he is all about you, Paxton thought as he passed.
Alexia hissed under her breath.
Ian stayed where he was and stared darkly at
Alexia, who pressed herself against the counter,
suddenly quite nervous about things. Not the least
of which was the open interest of not just one, but
four wolves and their keepers. How the hell had
that happened? What was wrong with these BC
keepers, thinking she was mate material?
Ian stood and stalked toward her.
Panic rose in her chest.
Why did you lie to me about the blood?
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Keeping Blood
There was something in his eyes that made
Alexia feel unreasonably guilty. She didn t really
have anything to feel bad about. She hadn t
technically lied to him. But she had deliberately let
him believe something that was false, and that
was just as bad. She knew it, but she didn t have
to be sorry about it. All her life she had done what
was best to protect herself, why should that
change just because he said so? I didn t lie, I just
didn t correct you, she stated truthfully, lifting
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