Illusions: Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (The Seekers Book 1) by Carina Wilder Read Free Book Online Page A

the edge of the bed, pressing the back of her hand to her sister’s forehead. “And I actually think it did its job.”
    “You’re coming into your powers. You really are.” Circe couldn’t stop smiling. “But I don’t even care about that. Tell me about the man.”
    “He came from the woods.”
    “Well, that’s not entirely surprising. Everything around here comes from the woods.”
    “Fair enough. He’s large. And he dresses…oddly. And his eyes…”
    “His eyes?”
    “Like fire and brimstone. Many colours combined. Unreadable.”
    “You don’t think…” began Circe.
    “Don’t think what?”
    “That he’s one of the Guild.”
    “No. I don’t. He was alone, for one thing. They say that the Guild moves in packs, like wolves.”
    “True. I wonder who he is, then.”
    “I don’t know. But I felt as though he was here for a reason. He was looking for me. He wanted to talk to me, specifically.”
    “Sera. Why didn’t you invite him in?”
    “Because he’s a man. The question answers itself. You know that I have no interest in men.”
    “Something tells me in no uncertain terms that you had interest in that one. I know you, remember.”
    “Fine, he may have been moderately interesting. But I’m not in the market for interesting males.”
    “Sera,” said her sister, taking her hand. “You have always wanted to enhance your powers. And if you bonded…”
    “I will bond only with the person chosen for me by the Crones,” she said. “Not with some random stranger who shows up on our doorstep.”
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    “ M y name is Rohan ,” the young man said as Hedy studied him. “And how do you know about Changers?”
    “My name is Hedy. And I know because I know. It’s my business to be aware of powers beyond this world.”
    “Are you telling me that you’re what they call a…”
    “Don’t say the word,” laughed the woman. “Don’t you even think it. Its very use is foolishness being spread by a few power-hungry lads in the territory who seek to keep us—the Sisterhood—in check while they steal innocent women from their homes.”
    “Who are these men? And where do I find them?”
    “They are known as the Guild. They tear young women from their homes and use them for their own gain. The townsfolk—the Simple Ones, we call them—they think it’s all about religion and politics. Well, they’re partly correct. But it’s not what they think.”
    “And what do you know about me?” asked Rohan.
    “I know that you are strong. That you have powers that we could only dream about. And that you don’t come from this time. And I know that you have seen the lovely Serafina, and that you would like to make her yours. But Serafina and the other young Aspirants don’t know about your kind, about your Rituals or what you’re capable of. And I would prefer to keep it that way.”
    Serafina. So that was her name. An apt name for such a beautiful woman.
    “I can’t deny that I find her attractive.”
    “Well, you should know that men aren’t allowed here, in the village. The Sisterhood is very firm about the rule.”
    “So you’re telling me to stay away from her, then?”
    “I’m telling you that I don’t need to do that; she’ll let you know herself, if she hasn’t already. Sera is also very strict about the rules; too strict, if you ask me. But if you would help me with these confounded windows, I could make an exception and allow you to visit me on occasion.”
    “I would help you,” he said. “I’ll do my best, at any rate. Meanwhile, though, I assume that I can’t stay with you?”
    Hedy lowered her chin, looking up at Rohan as though to say, “Are you nuts?”
    “All right,” he laughed. “I just thought I’d ask. Is there some sort of inn, or…?”
    “I know of a place that you could take,” she said. “It was recently vacated: a cabin in the woods. Secluded, not considered part of the village. But close enough that we could call on you, should we need