The League of Illusion: Destiny by Vivi Anna Read Free Book Online

course, child.” She waddled into the kitchen to get them a meal.
    Sebastian rubbed his hands together in front of the flames. “I don’t like the looks of that storm.”
    “Nor I.” She shivered.
    When they’d set out, she’d been comfortable in her thick cotton dress, but now she could feel the cold starting to settle in. Earlier it had felt like a beautiful warm summer day but now thoughts of winter filled her mind. That seemed impossible, as it was still many months away.
    “I haven’t seen one of its ilk since I’ve been here.”
    Drea frowned. “I can’t remember the last time we’ve had a bad storm.” She leaned in close to him. “Do you think it’s of the elves’ making?”
    “I’m not entirely sure. They do possess great power, but I don’t know if they could manipulate the weather.”
    “It just seems odd, doesn’t it? They appear and now this storm shows up as if from nowhere.” She shivered again.
    Sebastian took her hands and brought them toward the fire. “Warm yourself. You’ll catch a chill.”
    His sudden touch sent a jolt through her body. A pleasant jolt to be sure. Her belly did a few joyful flip flops. She didn’t want him to let go, but he did, snatching his hand back as if the flames had seared him.
    As she warned her flesh, she considered him. Why was he so jumpy around her? She was about to ask—she wasn’t afraid of being direct, another fault her daddy would say—but Lottie returned with their meal. This consisted of bowls of lamb stew, hard bread and mugs of mead. The smells made Drea’s stomach grumble. She’d forgotten that her last meal had been at dawn.
    “Smells grand, Lottie. Thank you.” Sebastian picked up the spoon and dug in.
    As they ate, the rain pounded down on the rooftop and the wind whipped at the walls. Droplets dripped from a hole in the roof to splatter on the floor near their table. By the time Drea had finished her second mug of mead, it was obvious they were not going anywhere until the storm let up. And by the blistering sound of it battering at the wood, that wasn’t going to be anytime soon.
    Lottie and John had joined them at the table. After eating some stew and drinking some mead, John had his head in his hands on the table. He was fast asleep. Lottie was quickly joining him. Drea had to pull on her arm a few times to stop her from slumping sideways off the bench.
    “Do you think they’ll still be looking for us?” she asked.
    “Maybe. It all depends on exactly what they’re looking for.”
    “The morrigan?”
    “That is the most reasonable guess, considering.” He nodded. “But why the interest in you, do you think?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Must be the rumors of how your brother died. They must’ve heard them.”
    “Well, they’re mistaken if they think I know where the morrigan is. I can’t remember anything of that time.”
    “I’m sorry for your brother’s death.”
    “Thank you, but honestly it was so long ago I can barely remember what he even looked like.” She drained the last of her drink then set the mug on the table. She was certainly feeling the effects of it. At least she was toasty warm now inside. She’d obviously been more tired than she first thought, and it was making her woozy.
    Drea watched Sebastian as he drank his mead. Most of the time he looked so sad. It was in his eyes. It made her heart ache to see such misery there. She wondered what he was thinking of. His lost home, lost loved ones, Evangeline? He must’ve loved the woman desperately. It hurt Drea to consider it. Maybe he didn’t have room inside his heart for another. She had to prove to him that she was worthy of a spot.
    She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. “I’m a good cook.”
    Sebastian frowned. “Are you?”
    “I’ve kept my father happily fed for years since my mother died.”
    “I’m sure you have.”
    “I can heal, but you already knew that.” She stroked his hand with her thumb. “I’m skilled in