Retribution (79 page)

The majestic room was silent as everyone considered this. Then Lorcan turned to Bryce. “Venetia saved the wizard's life?”

“Yes,” Bryce answered. “His heart had stopped, and his aura was fading. Venetia resuscitated him with just seconds to spare.”

“Well, if the witch is indeed the earth angel, and Gavin’s correct in assuming she's found her guardian, Venetia has earned us the biggest favor possible.”

“It would seem so,” Bryce agreed. “But I feel I should warn you – after the defeat of Agro, the witch is no longer a mystery. Every magician in America has probably already heard of her power.”

“This would include Alistair Murdoch, I assume.”

“His mercenaries were on the scene when we found her, but they didn't live to relay the news to their boss. Those who weren't killed remain in the custody of the witch's family. Her grandfather granted us access to one of their clearings so we could keep an eye on the prisoners.”

“That's good news,” Lorcan noted. “It shows trust on behalf of the family and ensures the mercenaries' silence.” He paused for several seconds then looked to his fellow councilors. “We must act immediately. The Dark Guild won't sit on this news. They'll start making plans the moment rumors reach their ears. We need to get the earth angel on our side before the Dark Guild finds her.”

Everyone nodded their agreement, so Lorcan turned back to Bryce. “I want you to return to Venetia. I'm going to dispatch a guard of two-hundred to accompany you. Your objective is to get the earth angel back here alive, and I expect your lives to serve as her armor. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Lorcan,” Bryce vowed. “We’ll die to protect our future.”

“And she is our future,” Lorcan added. “If the Dark Guild follows through with their nefarious plan, the world will fall into darkness, and the earth angel will be our only way out.”

the end

destruction

the mystic series 5

Coming soon.

Author’s Note

If you loved this book, please consider leaving a review where you purchased it.
 

Because I know that writing a review takes time, I’d like to reward your kindness with some special content.

When this book has reached 100 reviews, I will release a preview of Destruction: book 5 in the Mystic series.

When this book has reached 200 reviews, I will release an extended scene from chapter 30 – fun with Quin and Layla in the barn!

This content will be featured on my website
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Acknowledgments

As always, thank you to my mom – an amazing proofreader, an avid fan, and the woman who made all this possible by giving me life and letting my imagination take flight.

A special thanks to Amy, Leona, Kenzie & Mint – four ladies who took time out of their busy lives to beta read
Retribution
and help improve the story. I love your enthusiasm, and I appreciate your time and feedback. You touch my heart and make me a better author.

Thank you to my new editor Beth Suit – who’s so amazing, she somehow managed to leave her mark on me from half a country away, and now that I’ve met her in person, I love her even more. She’s smart, talented and sweet, and I’m beyond grateful she’s in my life.

I could thank my publisher Jillian Dodd a million times and it wouldn’t be enough. The series wouldn’t be where it is today without her, and I’m a lucky woman to be working with her.

Then there’s my husband, whose support and understanding grows stronger every day. He and my son make endless sacrifices for my work, and I will never be able to properly repay them. In the end, they are the most amazing characters in my most important story.

And last but not least, thank you to my readers. Without you, the series would merely be a file on my computer and a pain in my family’s rear. I write the story, but you bring it to life
.

About the Author

B. C. Burgess is a small town girl born and raised in Oklahoma, where she still resides with her devoted husband and their young son. She’s addicted to coffee and writing and thinks the combination is heaven. Inspired to write by her love of reading, she feels fiction provides a healthy escape from the hardships of life, and hopes her stories touch the hearts of her readers, just as she’s been touched time and again. Though most of her visions flower in the form of fiction, she dreams of the day her passion for writing, along with determination and hard work, will prove to her son creative dreams can come true.

If you like the tales B. C. weaves, let her know.
 

She loves hearing from her readers.

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