Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) Bridgette O'Hare (ebook offline .txt) 📖

“Now, that I d’not know. Because the last thing I recall is being assaulted with toxic magic. Then I woke up here. Or I s’pose I’m not awake right now, am I?”

“Correct. But if you’re here, you are still unharmed. Tell me how well you know Cian and how are you so certain the man at your door wasn’t him?”

I didn’t even have to think about my answer. It was simply there at the forefront of my mind. “I connect with Cian in an unusual way. It’s as though our individual energies recognize the other and reach out when we are in close proximity. There’s a certain mingling of our magic that has never happened with anyone else. It’s how I knew I could trust him even without being able to use my Soul Sight.”

Dark eyes focused tightly on me, examining me. “I have studied your background and your lineage. Have you not been taught to break through the façade created by artifacts?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Your abilities have boundaries, of course, but they are far beyond the limits exacted by artifacts. If someone has used an artifact to block the light from their soul, you are strong enough to press through the block.”

“Hmm. I have not been taught that. But I didn’t think Cian had employed the use of an artifact. He’s not the only one I’ve encountered with this . . . block, as you put it. There have been others since I arrived in Pyreshore. I assumed it had something t’ do with them being affiliated with Davar Magén.”

Ruman stopped dead still, his eyes fixed on me, unwavering to a point I found myself concerned by his stare. “Aisling, can you tell me the name of the second blocked soul?”

I shrank back a little, suddenly uncertain of myself. “Umm. Kage. His name is Kage. I don’t know his family name.”

His forehead puckered and he set aside the book he had placed on the table, stood, and grabbed another from a nearby shelf.

“Ruman, what’s going on?”

“Are you aware of who the Davar Magén are?” he asked, flipping through the book he had chosen.

“I once saw the term in the Silver Scroll but it explained nothing. So, I’m only aware of what Cian told me.”

Ruman snapped his head up from the book. “And what did he tell you?”

“That Davar Magén is The Order of Defenders. They are unseen protectors of what is good and right in the world. Protectors of the chosen few.”

Ruman concurred with a dip of his head. “Very well. But there is more to them. And based on your description of your connection with Cian, I believe you should know what that more is. But you also need to understand who you are in relation.”

“In relation?” I pulled back, wide-eyed. “Are you saying I’m related to Cian McCallister?”

Ruman immediately shook his head. “No, no, no. That’s not what I am saying. Let me try to explain without saying more than I should.”

“What? Now I’m really confused.” I slumped in my chair.

He blew out a controlled breath and mumbled something about regretting this as he glared at the table then lifted his head. “How much are you prepared to know, Aisling? Are you prepared to challenge everything you trust to be true? Are you willing to lose the person you believe you are to become who you were created to be? Because learning the truth comes with a high price.”

Tightness gripped my chest. His words slipped around me like an ominous fog. I swallowed hard. “Will learning this help me save Cian’s life?” I posed.

Ruman side-eyed me. “You have seen his death?”

I affirmed with a nod.

“Did you see this while dream walking?” he asked.

“Ya still haven’t explained this t’ me. Your friend called me a Dreamwalker. What does that mean?”

“Your presence here, in this realm . . . only a Dreamwalker can enter.”

“Hold up. After seeing what that translation said about them being from a heavenly bloodline, I really have questions. How am I one of these Dreamwalkers?”

“This gift comes from the bloodline of your father.”

Shallow, shaky breaths rumbled through me. “I don’t . . . I don’t know my father.”

“I know, dear one. And I’m afraid I am not in a position to change that. But I can tell you that his power runs through you. And it is because of that lineage that you are stronger than you have ever realized. Now, please, tell me what you know of Cian’s death.”

“Umm.”

I heard what Ruman had asked, but I was still processing what he’d said about my father and my bloodline, trying to piece it all together. Surely, he didn’t mean what I thought he meant.

“Aisling, did you see it in a dream?”

“N-no. Cian showed me the past, umm . . . the destruction The Saiad had left in their wake. But . . . uh, when we were connected, I also saw their plans to begin another war. They want to eradicate all Supernaturals from existence. And that’s when I saw Cian struck down by the Tartaros Blade.” My pulse raced simply recalling the vision.

He rubbed his chin slowly. “This is why you asked me about the blade before?”

“Aye.”

As we sat in silence, I reached up to fidget with my pendant for comfort and grounding. Only, it wasn’t there. Frantically, I looked around on the floor even though I knew it wouldn’t be there either.

“What’s wrong?” Ruman asked.

“Grams’ pendant. It’s gone.” My mouth went dry and my heart thudded against my ribs.

“Hmm . . . we certainly need to find that.”

His words came across as strange and I squinted in his direction, brow furrowed.

“I’m sure you didn’t know, but though your grandmother passed it on to you, it was given to her by your father for safe keeping until you were of age. It holds a great deal of power of its own accord. When combined with your inherent talents, well . . . the sky is the limit,