The darkness in the magi, p.1
The Darkness in the Magi, page 1
The Darkness in the Magi
COVEN OF LOVE
L.J. ANDERSON
Contents
Also by L.J. Anderson
World Info
Chapter 1
Sophie
Chapter 2
Sophie
Chapter 3
Sophie
Chapter 4
Sophie
Chapter 5
Sophie
Chapter 6
Sophie
Chapter 7
Sophie
Chapter 8
Sophie
Epilogue
Also by L.J. Anderson
About the Author - Lark
Sneak Peek
Chapter One
Remi
Copyright © 2023 by L.J. Anderson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Also by L.J. Anderson
SCI-FI/FANTASY ROMANCE
Devoured by Dusk
A Beast So Broken | A Curse So Vile
Venus Quarantine Initiative
Her Chosen Mate | His Innocent Mate
Fairytale Retelling
Of Heart And Hook
Kings and Queens of the Apocalypse
Brutal Bargain | Savage Bargain | Desperate Bargain
Sinful Bargain | Vicious Bargain | Fierce Bargain
Cruel Bargain | Killer Bargain
Warlords of Tempest
The Warlord’s Survivor | The Warlord’s Runaway
Coven of Love
The Nature of the Warden | The Shadow in the Magi | The Defiance of the Magi
SERIAL READS
Kings and Queens of the Apocalypse
Brutal Bargain | Savage Bargain | Desperate Bargain
Sinful Bargain | Vicious Bargain | Fierce Bargain
Cruel Bargain | Killer Bargain
Desperation Ridge
Her Dark Savior
Venus Quarantine Initiative
His Innocent Mate
Reverse Harem
Monsters in the Woods | All the Bad Men Are Monsters
Sharp Little Daggers
Warlords of Tempest
The Warlord’s Survivor | The Warlord’s Runaway
Devoured By Dusk
A Curse so Vile | The Blood Maiden
A Court of Blight and Decay
Coven of Love
Coven of Love 1 - 2 / The Defiance of the Magi
For a FREE dystopian romance ebook, click HERE!
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Hunks The Show: Book Series
Hunked Over! | Hunk Me! | Hunk Off!
Hunk You! | Hunk Yeah!
The Beguiling a Billionaire Series
The Billionaire’s Board | The Billionaire’s Fixer Upper | The Billionaire’s Funding | The Bad Girl | The Dis-Graced | The Trainwreck | Hacking His Code
Reckless in Love
Love you…not! | Trust you…not! |Tempt you…not!
Savage in Love
Savage in the Sheets | Savage in the Sweets | Savage in the Streets | Savage Redemption | Savage Temptation | Savage Deception | Savage in Love 1 - 3
Cutler Family Christmas
Not So Jolly | Not So Merry
A Not So Christmas Duet
Standalones
Professional Consult
If you’d like a FREE ebook, click HERE!
World Info
Positions Within The Magical World:
Magi = a woman who wields magic
Warden = a man who wields magic
Maven Mother = a powerful magi assigned to lead a coven
Mavens = powerful magi that assist in the running of the covens
Typical Elements:
Natura = Nature
Ether = Air
Ignis = Fire
Terra = Earth
Water = Water (Sometimes known as aqua)
Fringe Elements:
Dark / Light / Metal / Time / Mind / Space / Weather /Life / Death / and many more!
Magi/Warden Pairings:
Magi and Wardens are paired based on opposing elements, so that a magi isn’t consumed by her magic. A natura magi could take on an ignis warden, but should never pair with a water warden. An ignis magi could pair with a terra warden or a water warden, but should never pair with a natura or ether warden.
The warden is meant to hinder the magi’s magic, not boost it.
About the Covens:
The covens were formed to guide magi and help them develop their talents in a responsible way. Before the covens, magi would sometimes accidentally burn whole villages, which would lead to fear of the magi. Humans would form hunting parties to track down rogue magi, even those that were known to help and heal humans.
Because magi were being hunted to extinction, covens were created and scouts were sent around the world to find any human presenting with magical abilities and bring them to a coven as apprentices.
At the age of eighteen, each apprentice undergoes the Witching Tribunal, where they are gifted with runes to enhance their talent, followed by a tethering, where they are bound to a warden. If they fail to take the runes, they are destined to live out their lives at a coven, serving in whatever capacity the Maven Mother demands. If they are thought to be dangerous, they might be rendered, otherwise known as silenced. This stops a magically inclined person from accessing magic.
Chapter 1
SOPHIE
One by one, the other girls are called up to the maven mother who places her hand on their foreheads, saying the words of old. I watch as their skin lights with runes and they grow giddy with excitement.
For most of them, the Witching Tribunal is a joyous occasion. They get to start their lives after a lifetime of being caged.
But I know that for me, it’ll just mean another cage.
The words that are spoken serve to strengthen us in the element we’re strongest in, which is great if you’re a typical apprentice.
I am not.
Watching a natura magi’s face light with elation as glowing green incantations rush down her arms sends me further into despair.
I suppose they could send me to another coven. Or maybe I’ll be called to study.
In the back of my mind, a dark seed has taken root. One I dared not give life to.
Until now.
No longer can I push my worries aside because now I must deal with the consequences of what I am, meaning they could choose to render me, silencing my gifts.
Every fiber of my being tells me I should escape, but I have nowhere to go. The coven is all I know, and they’re adept at hunting down rogue magi.
“Sophie,” the maven mother calls my name.
I have no choice but to go to her.
Her eyes bore into mine, hardening as they would when I’ve misbehaved.
She knows.
She’s always known.
I kneel and try not to recoil as she touches my forehead, because offending her could very well worsen my fate.
The maven speaks, bestowing her blessing upon me, and as expected, dark etching rush down my flesh.
There are a few gasps, because I hid my nature well. I can only imagine what they must think of me now.
Very few fringe magi are discovered during the tribunal, and the stygian are the most rare of all, because, over the years, the greatest of the magi have done everything in their power to thwart and stunt darkness from manifesting in the apprentices.
I look up and see that the maven mother’s lips have formed a thin line. She nods for me to take my place, and I obey, praying she’ll be merciful.
The uneasy looks the others cast me make me feel self conscious. It’s not fair for them to judge me when I never asked for this. Not that I wanted to deny it.
The truth is, I love the darkness and have dabbled in the words of the ancient stygian at every opportunity. I felt the call and couldn’t help myself, despite knowing the consequences.
And now, I must pay.
For curiosity.
It’s so unfair.
The dark knowledge that now envelops me serves as my only comfort. Though soon, it will undoubtedly be taken from me.
It’s not that darkness is bad, but as the mavens say, the stygians are the most likely to blur lines or defect to unacceptable practices.
Why take risks when it comes to magic?
The tribunal continues, but my attention is wholly focused elsewhere. If I could somehow plead my case to the maven mother, she might take pity on me. I could even be useful.
When I see the other magi rush past, I know it’s time for the tethering, but as I move to follow, a hand halts me.
“Not so fast.”
I look over to see the maven mother standing with her warden.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” I blurt.
“I never said you did.”
I watch as the other girls file into the other room, desperate for someone to save me.
But why would they give me a second glance when they’re getting exactly what they want?
Freedom.
“Please don’t render me! I promise I’ll stay away from forbidden practices!”
“You need not fear rendering from me, stygian. Now let us make haste.”
The maven mother may be harsh, but she doesn’t lie,
Because a stygian’s fate is rarely kind.
We stop in front of a door and I wait nervously as the maven mother knocks.
If she’s not going to render me and I’m not being tethered, what exactly does she intend to do with me?
The door swings open, and I’m nearly blinded by how bright it is inside the room.
Blinking, a figure comes into focus. Tall, broad, clad in white. It takes me a moment to realize who I’m looking at.
Lucius, the head warden, fills the doorframe.
Inwardly, I recoil, as there’s never been a more arrogant being to walk the earth, and he’s the very last person I wish to consort with when my life has just been turned on its head.
The maven mother steps aside and gestures for me to enter.
“What am I doing here?” I ask, confused.
The maven mother exhales an annoyed breath. “Haven’t you guessed? You’re about to be tethered.”
Chapter 2
SOPHIE
When I finally regain my senses, I enter the room and look around to see whom I’m to be tethered to.
But aside from me, the only people inside the room are the maven mother, her warden, and Lucius.
“I don’t understand. Who am I to be bonded to?”
The maven mother chuckles. “The only other person in this room still capable of forming a bond.”
I look around again, my eyes falling on Lucius, whose face reveals his fury.
As head warden, he manages the lives of those under his charge, testing them in each of the elements and moving them to other covens if needed.
He’d never bonded with a magi and it was always assumed it was due to his inclination towards the fringe element of light.
I guess inclination isn’t the right word. He’s the most lawfully good being the Great Magus ever created, which only strengthened his talents in the light, making him the perfect lux warden.
And he’s looking at me with glowing, condemning eyes because he hates me.
“No…” I blurt.
“Take your position,” the maven mother tells me.
“But Lucius isn’t meant to bond!” I hiss. “He doesn’t even go to the tribunals!”
“Just because he hasn’t been chosen for a magi yet, doesn’t mean he’s incapable.” She looks over at the lux warden. “The truth is, the reason he hasn’t been chosen is that I knew that one day I’d need him.”
Lucius mutters something under his breath that sounds hateful, but takes his place.
Of all the wardens to be tethered to, Lucius has got to be the worst. There is no kindness to him. Or joy.
Just condemning eyes and a shit personality.
Sure, lux wardens are all but worshiped because of their abilities to heal and cleanse taint, but from what I’ve seen, they’re all insufferable.
“There has to be someone else,” I beg.
“Lucius is strongest in the light.”
“How strong does my warden need to be?”
“Strong enough to keep you tame,” the maven mother says matter-of-factly.
My eyes draw to Lucius, falling on his thick, naked torso. I’ve never seen him without his warden’s attire, but I suppose he hadn’t expected us.
And unfortunately, I’ll be seeing more of him like this, as a magi can never stray far from their warden. While some revel in the closeness, I doubt anyone would be happy tethered to Lucius, because not only is he the most condemning asshole in the coven, but there’d be no hope of intimate relations, which some magi are keen to explore.
Lucius would never.
“I promise to be good!” I plead with the maven mother. “You’ll see. I’ll stay close and—”
“Do you think I have time to babysit you?” she snaps. “That’s why I’ve chosen Lucius. He’ll know your intentions before you do, and he’ll always do the right thing.”
She’s right. The bond between a magi and her warden allows them to sense each other’s emotions, and it’s said a warden often knows their magi more than a magi knows herself.
And magi who take to the shadows sometimes find themselves in a very dark state. A kiss from one is said to be poisonous, something only a lux warden could endure.
Not that Lucius would ever.
“Hurry and take your spot, unless you’d like for me to render you.”
Would rendering be preferred to being bonded to Lucius? I wish I had time to think on it because I’m genuinely not sure.
The maven mother turns to Lucius. “You will lead in all things, and if she steps out of line, you’re to tell me.”
“You need not worry,” Lucius says, his eyes ablaze with disdain. “I will manage her well.”
Everyone knows the magi always leads. I’m being punished for doing…nothing.
No wonder stygians so often turn to dark practices. We’re vilified for breathing.
Lucius raises his wrists, and I reluctantly follow his lead.
“Earth, fire, water, air, nature, dark, and light—blessed be the blood of old that runs through our veins…”
The addition of ‘dark’ and ‘light’ makes the whole situation far too real. Typically, only five elements are stated in the ceremony, as magi and wardens gravitate towards them and to list the hundreds of fringe elements would be exhausting.
To say the word ‘dark’ aloud is terrifying and exhilarating, because being stygian was never a punishment to me. It’s what I’ve always wanted.
And now, under the judgmental gaze of Lucius the lux warden, I get to spread my wings.
Too bad he’ll clip them.
Chapter 3
SOPHIE
As the bond between Lucius and I forge, our runes glow, dark mingling with light. I can feel the lux warden in a way I never knew possible, which is…confusing.
His emotions are cold. Icy.
But there’s something underneath that. A burning deep inside him, hidden from the world.
And judging by the look he’s giving me, he senses I feel it.
Which is just another reason for him to hate me.
Once we’ve been properly tethered, the maven mother turns to Lucius. “Your responsibilities as head warden will pass to Torin. Take the next couple of days to get acclimated to your bond. Then we’ll decide what to do with you.”
What to do with you? I guess I won’t get to taste freedom, after all.
Except now I’ll no longer be alone in my cage.
I’ll be with him.
Which could very well be worse than being alone.
Because now that I can truly feel him, I can tell he loathes his bond.
Without giving me another glance, the maven mother exits with her warden in tow, leaving me alone with Lucius.
Odd sensations swirl through my insides. I know more than I ever have, and the power that runs through my runes makes me eager to study.
Though I doubt the lux warden would like that. Can’t have me getting too good at my craft, can we?
His runes shine brightly, making his blond hair look luminescent.
Lucius has long been known for his physical perfection. As a girl, I’d watch him fighting in the yard with the other wardens, teaching them how to infuse their weapons with power.
Now, all I’ll ever do is watch him because I doubt he’ll let me near a tome.
Perhaps if I were to act agreeable, we could develop into something more than bitter enemies. Of course, we could never grow as close as some, as many magi and warden share a bed, but we might see ourselves lost in conversation on occasion. And maybe there will be room for me to learn my craft if I can gain his trust.
I give a small curtsy. “It pleases me to get to know you—”
“No, it doesn’t,” he barks back.
Frowning, I continue with, “I think you will find—”
“Speak not, stygian.” His lip sneers in contempt. “I care not for your lies.”
“I’m not a liar!”
