Loved by Light (Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 4) Read online

  Loved by Light

  Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 4

  Terry Bolryder

  Copyright © 2020 by Terry Bolryder

  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.

  Cover art by Yocla Book Cover Designs

  Created with Vellum

  For my Readers,

  Those on the frontlines of the healthcare industry, those helping kids by delivering lunches, those who are essential workers, and those just trying to stay strong through these difficult times.

  I see your bravery every day.

  We will get through this together.

  Contents

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Also by Terry Bolryder

  Foreword

  Loved by Light is book 4 in the Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds series.

  You’ll want to read the others first, and luckily there’s a sale on them right now and they are in KU!

  Each book has a new couple and happy ending, but there are twists, turns and mysteries that will make more sense if you read the series as a whole.

  Found by Frost (Book 1)

  Defended by Darkness (Book 2)

  Held by Heat (Book 3)

  Ian

  The room is dark, the windows covered with heavy blinds—not that they need to be, as it’s already getting dark outside.

  Nonetheless, I avoid the light as much as possible lately.

  It reminds me…

  A memory flashes through my head of light searing through me, the feeling of my own heart stopping, and my magic going dark along with the light in front of my eyes.

  Killed by my own people.

  Brought back through healing magic, though I’m not sure it completely worked because I don’t feel all the way back.

  Or maybe I’m just not that person anymore. Maybe no one can be after being betrayed so deeply by everything they knew.

  I was raised in the light kingdom. A sad, lonely existence, held in a tower away from others when I wasn’t training.

  But I looked out my small window at the sprawling kingdom below and always felt a sense of pride. One day, I would be out there fighting. Saving the fae I imagined living beyond the walls of the light kingdom.

  I thought we were the pinnacle. Gifted with the greatest power and weighted with heavy responsibility to those below us.

  I was wrong.

  “Ian, you in there?” Tanner’s voice from outside is impatient and cautious at the same time.

  They know to give me a wide berth, but Tanner, formerly the commander of darkness in the fae world, also isn’t one to bear with sulking.

  “You need to come out into the light.”

  It burns.

  “Come on. Sun is almost down,” Tanner calls.

  When I say nothing, I hear a resigned sigh. “Don’t make me call Flynn over.”

  I sit up abruptly. “No, don’t.” I don’t want to bother Flynn on his honeymoon. Besides, there’s nothing he can do to help me.

  I do still have a purpose. A new purpose. But it’s not one my friends are allowed to know.

  They wouldn’t approve, but they don’t understand.

  And I don’t mind giving myself up to change everything.

  “I’m coming in,” Tanner says as he pushes open the door to the room.

  I put up a hand, making a hissing noise at the light streaming from the living room.

  Tanner shuts the door behind him. “Stop being so dramatic. You’re a light fae.”

  I glare at him. “I don’t want to be.”

  He folds his arms, looking as at home in the dark as I used to be in the light. “You have to stop this sulking. I know things are… different, but—”

  I raise an eyebrow, daring him to tell me how having everything I know turn out to be a lie is just “different.”

  He runs a hand through his dark hair. “What are you going to do? Lie here until the world ends? Until we’re sent back to the fae realm?”

  But I’ve already been back to the fae realm. Several times. With Ultraviolet, a light fae who gets us there using glamour to create portals.

  Together, we’re making plans.

  Tanner just doesn’t know that.

  “I sense chaos in you," Tanner says carefully. “You’re keeping something from me.”

  I suppose I’ve been so honest and open that it does feel like chaos to have any secrets from my friends and teammates.

  When the four of us princes came here to Earth to protect beacons, I was by far the most bright-eyed and innocent.

  Just because I’m not anymore doesn’t mean I’ll give in to chaos.

  “We’re going out to scout a beacon tonight,” Tanner says, leaning against the door. “Want to come?”

  “No,” I say flatly.

  “You wanted to find a beacon who soul-matched you,” he says, his dark eyes glittering against his pale skin. “Why have you given up?”

  I shake my head. “That’s not for me anymore.” I can’t go back to that innocent time when I thought loving someone would take away the loneliness and everything would be fine.

  No, my world is rotten and it’s up to me to change it, and I’m not going to bring anyone else into that mess.

  Though, it would have been nice to have a soul bond…

  My thoughts wander to my friends and their matches and how happy they all seem.

  They all deserve it after the lives they’ve had, putting up with shit from the light fae.

  “I don’t like this,” Tanner says. “I’m pulling rank.”

  I glance up at him. “What?”

  “It’s your turn to go out and find a beacon. You’ve been shirking work. I understand you’re depressed and upset. It makes sense. But you need to move on, Ian. Perhaps in helping someone else, you can stop obsessing over what you’ve lost.”

  “Fine,” I say, because I can tell he’s not going to let this go, and I might as well do something while waiting for the next call from Ultraviolet.

  I’ll just make sure and stay distant from whoever I happen to meet. I won’t be like the others and fall instantly for a beacon the moment I meet one.

  “It’s for your own good,” Tanner says as I stand, dressed in a tee and boxers, and walk to the closet for clothing.

  “Whatever. Just give me the coordinates.”

  Tanner sighs and does just that, then turns and opens the door to leave my bedroom. He looks over his shoulder somewhat sadly. “I miss my friend.”

  I glance up at him. “I’m still your friend. I always will be.”

  He just nods, then leaves the room, which feels darker than before without him there, even though he’s the prince of darkness.

  I grab a black hoodie and shove my arms through it, then chang
e into jeans and hefty boots.

  I leave my room, avoiding Tanner’s gaze from the couch.

  I’ll do what he says. I’ll find and protect the beacon.

  But I’m not looking or hoping for a soul bond.

  As a light fae, I no longer deserve one.

  Liz

  I’m just loading the last of my things into my beat-up LeSabre when I hear the voice of my landlord’s skeevy son.

  As if my night couldn’t get worse.

  “Wait, Liz, can’t we work something out?”

  I glare at him as I shut the door to my car because there’s no way I’m going to let him trap me anywhere. “Just leave me alone. You’ve done enough.”

  He runs a hand through his greasy hair. “I didn’t think my dad would actually evict you. I just wanted him to put some pressure—”

  I shake my head. “I’m done here.”

  Newt, as I’ve come to call him because of his slimy hair and way of sneaking around the apartment complex, trying to get in and peek at girls, is stymied.

  I can’t believe he thought his pressure campaign would actually work.

  He has been writing me up constantly for random infractions, making up excuses to examine my apartment, and I’m tired of it.

  Still, I hadn’t thought I would be evicted.

  I’m pretty sure what they’re doing is against the law, but since my landlord already changed the locks while I was at work and there’s no way I’m going to stay there with Newt on the loose, temporary homelessness is my only option.

  Good thing my back seat is comfy.

  “Come on,” Newt says, coming closer as I back up and feel my butt hit the car. “Don’t be so sensitive. If I stay with you and watch for infractions—”

  “Why are you so obsessed with me?” I ask, shoving Newt in the chest to move him back. “You know what? I’m glad I’m moving out because I won’t have to see your face anymore.”

  Why am I homeless rather than going to a hotel? Well, that’s because this is just the latest in a long string of bad luck. But what’s new?

  I’m still not going to let it get me down.

  Newt paces, his Cheeto-stained tee shirt flapping in the night air under his jacket. “I didn’t think you would actually leave. My dad isn’t going to give you any references. He’s going to make sure not a single landlord wants to give you a spot, unless you’re willing to live in a slum. Not that safe for a woman…” His dull-blue eyes sparkle for some reason as he thinks about what my fate would be there.

  Gross.

  “I’ll be fine,” I say, though I’m really not sure how.

  My last paycheck from the gallery didn’t go through because of an administration error, so I have a total of eight bucks in my checking account.

  I’m low on gas, which is typical, but hopefully, I have enough to run the car for some of the night and stay warm.

  But at least I won’t be here with this bastard any longer.

  “Bye, Newt,” I say, waving a hand as I turn to open my door. Perhaps if I just leave quickly…

  But I underestimated how fast the nerd can move when he’s motivated.

  I grunt as I feel him shove me forward so I fall over my driver’s seat. His sweaty, fat form falls over me, knocking my breath out, as his hands try to wrap around me.

  I’m not sure if he’s trying to squash me to death or get ahold of me so he can yank me out of the car.

  Either way, I’m done with this.

  I scrabble against his weight, opening my mouth to scream, but before I can, his weight is suddenly pulled from me.

  I hear an oof and a sound like a fist hitting a bag of rocks and then the sound of something heavy hitting the asphalt.

  Hopefully Newt.

  Slowly, my heart pounding, I push myself up on my hands and turn around to look behind me.

  The man who must have pulled Newt off me is holding up both hands and stepping back as if to show he’s harmless.

  I let out a sigh of relief as I turn over and get out of the car, shutting the door behind me again.

  It was a mistake to even open it.

  My breath is uneven, my chest still compressed, and I can smell Newt’s aroma of old cheese all over me.

  But at least I’m safe.

  “Thank you, I think,” I say, looking up at the stranger.

  I’m still a bit dizzy, in shock from what just happened, but as I regain my wits, my draw drops at the sight in front of me.

  The dude has to be about six feet four, muscled and lean, wearing a hoodie and jeans… but with the face of an angel.

  “Are you my guardian angel?” I ask him, smiling. “Because you’re a bit late, you know.”

  He frowns in confusion, pulling back his hood to reveal pale hair that is almost white in the moonlight. His skin is pale too, making him look almost alien.

  A gorgeous alien.

  “Not an angel,” he says. “I don’t know what you mean.” He crouches to look at Newt. “I don’t think I killed him. But I punched him pretty hard.” He looks over at me, and in the lights that cover the parking lot, I think his irises are light gray, though I can’t tell exactly. “How do I check?”

  “His pulse,” I say, walking over to nudge Newt with my foot. “Damn, he’s out cold. Looks to be fine, though.”

  Who is this man who just saves random women in parking lots and then looks worried about the person he attacked being okay?

  He’s a gentle soul, this one. I just get that feeling about him.

  He rubs the back of his neck, giving me a flash of flexing biceps underneath his jacket.

  Want to touch…

  Stop it, Liz.

  “Are you okay?” He looks from me to the car. “What was he doing?”

  I frown. “I’m not even sure. But I’m glad you stopped it.” I walk closer and put out a hand. “Name’s Liz. Thank you…?”

  “Ian,” he says, shaking my hand gently, letting his wide, strong fingers enclose my hand entirely against his palm.

  So warm. So soothing.

  Then again, I could just be hallucinating this after the day I’ve had. Maybe Newt knocked me out, and—

  “If you’re okay, then I’ll be going,” he says, turning to leave, showing me a broad back and powerful shoulders.

  “Wait!” I say, grabbing him by the back of his hoodie.

  He turns, raising an eyebrow in surprise, and I’m not even sure what I was going to say. I just don’t feel like I can let this magnificent specimen walk away from me.

  “Uh…”

  “Did you need something else?” He folds his arms as he turns to face me.

  “No, I just… Do you always save people and then walk away mysteriously?”

  He shakes his head slowly but doesn’t seem eager to say anything else.

  “Who are you? Some new superhero? The perv killer?”

  He snorts, and I think I finally see a twitch at the side of those solemn, perfectly shaped lips.

  “You have to let me thank you,” I say. Come in for a drink…” I trail off, realizing how stupid that is now that I no longer have an apartment.

  “Sure,” he says, and I curse myself for my impetuousness.

  “Uh, actually, I’ll need a raincheck on that,” I say. “Can’t do it tonight.”

  Gotta solve the whole homeless thing first.

  But I’ve always had bad luck. It won’t take me long to overcome this most recent bout of it.

  He looks confused but then nods and turns to go.

  “Wait, give me your number or at least your name,” I say. “Then we can meet up again.”

  He lets out a sigh, looking to the side and flashing me a beautiful, straight jawline, a nose so sharp and straight it could cut glass, and soulful, large gray eyes shaded by long lashes.

  Then he pulls his phone out of his pocket. “What’s your number?”

  I tell him and he types something in, and then my phone registers a text.

  It says, If you need me, call m
e. And that’s it.

  “So… just Ian?” I ask, putting him in my contacts. “No last name?”

  He shakes his head. Who is this guy?

  “All right,” I say, putting my phone away. “Sounds good.” I do need to get out of here and find somewhere to park my car before Newt wakes up and calls someone. “Well, good night, Ian. I hope you have success with the rest of your hero work.”

  He nods, the side of his cheek sucked in like he’s biting it. Then he ducks his head and turns to leave.

  I hurry and get in the car, shutting the door and locking it in case Newt gets any ideas of popping up.

  By the time I’ve mapped a spot to park on my phone, I look up to see Ian is gone.

  Maybe he really was an angel.

  I start my car and glance back at the place I lived for the past year one more time before I pull out of the parking lot and onto the street.

  Every ending is just the start of a new adventure.

  Just a couple miles down, there’s a public park, and if I’m lucky, no one will check the lot until morning.

  Then I can get breakfast at a cafe and find a new place to live. Though, how I’m going to do that until my paycheck goes through, I’m not sure. Still, things always worked out in the past. They will now.

  I park at the far side of the lot where some trees overhead might obscure my vehicle to passersby.

  Then I get out, stretching to the sky as I look up at the stars.

  I crawl into the back seat and shut the door, then lie back, trying to get comfortable.

  The scent of Cheetos hits my nose, and I fight back a wave of tears at the thought of my predicament.

  I’m not so much upset as I am angry.

  I hate that they could chase me away, give me a new set of problems and a night’s sleep that is sure to give me a pain in my back.