The Lost and the Chosen (The Lost Sentinel, #1)

by Ivy Asher

I’m pretty sure they put some kind of magical LoJack on me, but I can’t figure out how to find it, let alone get rid of it. It either has to do with Lachlan and I being related or with the blood I gave them for the beacon spell. Caster lesson number one: don’t give your blood to any fucker for a spell.

“Hello there, little caster. You’ve certainly been a hard one to pin down.” The lamia smiles, flashing just enough fang to leave no doubt as to what he is. He’s slightly taller than I am and possesses an angelic beauty, just like all the others I’ve encountered. I’ve never seen a female or even a fat fanged fucker.

“Faron’s coming for you. Your free days are numbered. My sire will own you soon enough.” My blade slices through his neck, cutting off any more bullshit threats.

There’s a black duffel bag on the kitchen table, and I walk over to it and unzip the top. There’s a note inside: Little Warrior, Here’s your cut. Sorry I couldn’t stay, but business calls. I’ll be out of contact. I’ll call when I’m back. Talon

I’ve lived here for five years now, but it still doesn’t feel like home. When Talon offered me the deal to train and fight for him, he did it on the steps of this building. It wasn’t a difficult proposition to accept. Not a lot of options existed for girls in my circumstances, and working my ass off was infinitely better than selling my ass. When I agreed, he walked me up to this apartment, and I’ve lived here ever since. It was fully furnished when I moved in:

“We aren’t going to leave you behind. Like it or not, you are now a part of this coven, and it’s not safe for you to be on your own,” Lachlan tells me, his voice a smooth calm I haven’t heard him use until now. “So ask me then.” Lachlan looks confused. “Ask you what?” he finally relents. “Ask me to come with you. Don’t dictate or command like you would a pet. Ask me, like you would a person you actually gave a shit about.”

I can tell that my meager collection of belongings bothers them. I keep catching looks of sympathy and dismay being exchanged back and forth, but it is what it is. “So where the fuck are you dragging me off to?”

I pull out my phone and place it next to the keys I left on the kitchen table. I set the note I wrote for Talon in the same place and take one last look around. This place wasn’t mine, and it never quite felt like home, but I was protected and nurtured here, all the same. Gratitude and a twinge of sadness fill me as I close the door on this chapter of my life.

A quiet but consistent hum sounds all around me, and I groggily try to figure out what the noise is. I settle on I don’t care, as I snuggle into the side of whoever’s holding me and breathe out a contented sigh. What the fuck? Where am I, and who the hell am I snuggled up against? A jolt of panic shoots through me, adrenaline slamming into me like a tsunami. My heart thunders and a charge laps across my body, making magic crackle over my skin. Voices whisper around me, and something makes a chill run down my spine at the hushed tones.

“Shit, that’s on us,” Lachlan admits, and I look at him confused. “We just passed through the boundary. It would have pulled on your magic. We’re used to the sensation, but you’ve never experienced it before. It can feel alarming.”

“Who trained you?” he presses. “YouTube.” Aydin and Lachlan scoff and laugh like I’ve just told the best joke. Laugh it up, bitches. They’ll be choking on those chuckles when they realize that endless hours of videos can teach you to do practically anything. With my ability to mimic the things I see, I’ve developed quite a diverse range of skills.

“I have Elemental magic.” Aydin holds up a tiny ball of fire as proof. “Lachlan has Offensive magic.” I snort and try to swallow my laugh. Everything I discovered about my uncle thus far has been offensive, so it’s only right that his magic is too. “Evrin has Healing magic, Keegan has Spell magic, and Silva has Defensive magic,” Aydin finishes ticking off his fingers.

“Something is happening,” I announce and stare at my runes. “Don’t worry, we’re approaching the barrier, it’ll be over in a minute,” Lachlan says dismissing my concern. Without any additional warning, the runes on my body start to glow…well shit, here we go.

Whatever the hell just happened has completely drained me. The others get up and dust themselves off. I can tell that none of them have any idea what the hell just happened, so I don’t even bother asking.

“Vaughn originally set up the wards. I’ve just been reinforcing them. I didn’t see a point in redoing perfectly good wards,” Silva tells Lachlan.

Out of nowhere, three elderly women pop out of a door, and I squeak out a surprised noise. “Vinna, I want to introduce you to Roberta—who everyone calls Birdie—Adelaide, and Lila. They manage the house, and if you’re in need of anything, track one of them down.” The three women appear related. They all have beautiful white-gray hair, cut in different but complementary short styles and similar facial features. They’re all about a couple inches shorter than I am, and they have lightly lined faces with strong looking arms and hands. They seem like they’ve laughed a lot in life and aren’t afraid of hard work. Each of them gazes at me with such warm affection, and I’m not sure what to think about it.

Roberta aka Birdie, Adelaide, and Lila—soft blue eyes, white-gray hair in different cuts

“We couldn’t be any more excited that you’re here. My sisters and I have been all aflutter since Lachlan called and told us about you.” I stare at this woman before me, seeming so comforting, so loving in a way that feels safe and genuine, and I shock the hell out of myself when I start crying.

“Well crap, sisters. You broke her. She’s been tough as graphene until now, but one minute with you three and this happens,” Aydin teases.

I ignore the incorrect observation, not bothering to enlighten him. It’s not that I don’t like to be touched, I’m honestly just not used to it. Beth never touched me unless it was to punish me, and since I’ve been on my own, I focused only on training and fighting. I’m affectionate with Talon now, but it took time for him to earn my trust.

“I’m glad you’re here, Vinna,” Evrin tells me, and I regard him for a couple beats. “Thank you, Evrin,” I whisper. He continues his exit from the room, but Silva hesitates. “I am sorry about what happened after the beacon spell,” Silva tells me. “I know things have gotten off to a horrible start, but they’ll get better.”

I follow my nose toward the kitchen, which I find filled with the rumbling sounds of deep laughter and animated conversation. I passed out yesterday afternoon, and I just woke up maybe ten minutes ago in full starvation mode. I take the back way into the kitchen and find the paladin sitting at the island, enjoying a delicious looking spread laid out before them. My mouth waters, but I hesitate to interject myself on their happy breakfast.

“Who gets the bill?” I inquire, trying to figure out how I go about paying for things. “You don’t have to worry about that,” he dodges. “Aydin, I have money. I can pay my own way.” “I know, and I don’t care,” he huffs.

I began to pick up on the veneration and esteem that everyone seems to treat Aydin with. I’ve noticed most people used the word paladin like a title, and it reminds me that I have no idea what it means.

“So where do paladin fit in the supernatural food chain?” I finally query

When we both finally agree on what’s on the screen, Aydin hands over a card to pay, and that’s when I execute my plan. I snatch Aydin’s card and replace it with my own. My sleight of hand apparently needs a lot of work, because Aydin catches me in action and scowls at me. “Give it back, Vinna!” He growls, and I narrow my eyes in challenge at him.

“As soon as that blade’s gone, you’re going to get it, Little Badass.” Aydin’s playful threat hangs in the room as Neil runs my card. He hands it back to me with a huge, beaming smile. “You’re going to make a fine paladin if you can best this one already,” Neil points at Aydin.

“I like it, dear,” she states dismissively. “My sisters and I have been with the Aylin family for a very long time, and we love what we do, so don’t you go feeling bad about it or trying to put us out of a job.” Lila gives me a don’t mess with me look and snaps me on the butt with the drying towel in her hands.

I’m thinking about how I can bottle the smell of fresh rain when I hear the sound of heavy footfall pounding behind me. Before I can so much as look for the source, something slams into me from behind.

A tanned, masculine face glowers at me, while simultaneously ripping my hood back from my face, taking some of my hair with it. I wince in pain and watch shock fill the hazel eyes of the man pinning me down. He gawks at me, taking in my features, and I feel his grip on me loosen.

Bastien is 1st twin, Defensive magic

My mind stutters for a second as I stare into the same face I was just hitting. No, not the same, I realize as I look to the man still groaning on the ground. These two must be twins. This one’s hair is pulled back into a knot, but the same pissed off expression crosses his face. They’ve got to be at least six foot five, and they’re sporting lean, defined muscles. They have a golden tone to their skin, strong angled jaws, and full lips. Their noses can join mine in the posh club, and long obsidian lashes surround their hazel eyes.

Valen is 2nd twin, Offensive magic/glowing magic orbs Twins—decadent dark chocolate wavy long hair past collarbones often put into topknots, hazel eyes but Bastien has more green around his pupil, 6’5, lean defined muscles, golden tone, strong angular jaws, full lips, posh noses like hers, long obsisidian lashes

“My Uncle Lachlan owns this house.” “Funny that, as our uncle is in his coven. I’d think we’d know if Lachlan had a niece.”

“Why is there a hot chick raging in your gym?” The question belongs to a tall guy with buzzed black hair, mocha skin, and stunning gray eyes. He has a square jaw, thick neck, and if the rest of his body is as cut as his arms, then he is all hard angles and delectably chiseled muscles. He has a very hot jock vibe about him.

Knox—tall, buzzed black hair, mocha skin, stunning gray eyes, square jaw, hard angles and delectably chiseled muscles, jock vibe, goes with the flow, Spell magic

shorter than the others. He’s still taller than the average guy, but shorter than the group surrounding him. He’s blond with hair almost to his shoulders. His nose and jaw are angled, but his lips are plump and soft looking. He has a defined runner’s build, and I would suspect he’s fast and agile. His eyes are a dramatic bright blue that reminds me of Laiken’s. She had pretty blue eyes just a touch lighter than this guy’s.

Ryker—shorter than the twins n Knox but taller than average, blond hair almost to his shoulders, dramatic bright blue eyes that remind her of sister Laiken’s, angled jaw, plump n soft looking lips, defined runner’s build, Healing magic which is rare

“Tell me how it works?” I ask hesitantly. Ryker steps closer and a flutter sweeps through my body. “It may not even work,” I tell him nervously. “When I was fighting with the paladin, Lachlan tried to throw a couple of shiny orb thingies at me. They didn’t work the way he wanted them to. Which was good for me in the end, but…my point is…don’t get too excited about your magic working,” I proceed to ramble like an idiot.

“And this”—I gesture to the rest of the bruises on my back and neck—“is from Lachlan. The asshole blindsided me when he realized we were related.” “He attacked you? Why?” Ryker asks quietly.

He grips my chin, and his gaze morphs from something clinical to something curious and sultry. He lightly runs his thumb vertically down my lower lip. The pressure pulls my lips apart and opens them for the briefest of seconds before he steps back and away from me. There is a sudden void where the heat and mass of his body once was, and my instincts urge me to pull him back into me.

“Did you do something else to me?” I accuse, my eyes landing back on Ryker who’s now sitting in a chair. He looks at me unsettled. “What do you mean?”

“So, Vinna, tell us about yourself,” Ryker says. “Yeah, we’re all dying to know,” Knox adds, his thumb rubbing absently on my shoulder.

“I’ve had these weird abilities since I was about twelve, but I never knew why. They’d show up off and on, usually when I was in trouble or super emotional, but what would happen was always unpredictable. “I ran into my first lamia at fourteen, and since then, my abilities have become more reliable. At sixteen, the runes showed up, and four days ago, I learned that all of this means I’m a caster.

“I’m not used to people touching me. Well, in a non-threatening way, I mean. Try to punch me, and I’m in my comfort zone, but hugs and cuddles aren’t exactly in my wheelhouse,” I blurt awkwardly. His joking smile disappears. “Sorry,” he offers. “No, I like it,” I rush and then realize how that sounds. “I mean, the sisters have been hugging me a lot, being affectionate to help me get used to it. So it would probably help if you touch me, too.” I stop, repeating my words in my head, and I cringe. Knox gets a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I run out for a quick pee break. When I get back, World War Z is queued up to play, and I crawl back toward my nest to find that Valen is lying in my spot. I catch Ryker and Knox watching me out of the corner of their eyes, clearly waiting to see what I’m going to do about it.

I’ve never had many friends. I’m not socially awkward by any means, but as much as Beth moved us around, it was hard to make and keep friends. It feels nice joking around and sharing the same space. They’re the ones who keep initiating things I tell myself, getting a little more comfortable when Valen wraps an arm around my waist. Now, if I can just get my attraction and my body’s reactions under control.

“Hey. Sorry, I was trying to move without waking you up, but you’re not making it easy,” I explain, pointing to where he’s holding on to my hips. Valen chuckles sleepily and easily lifts me up and off of him. “Don’t be sorry. I like waking up to a beautiful female on top of me.” He winks and stretches out.

I look over and discover a guy I don’t know is looking through the books on my bookshelf. “Uh, who are you?” He looks up bashfully. “I’m Sabin.” Sabin’s voice is a smooth baritone, and just like the other guys, he’s sex on a stick. He has a trendy crew cut that’s combed to the side. It looks medium brown and wet, or maybe he has product in it. He has masculine eyebrows over gorgeous forest green eyes. His nose is straight and a defined cupid’s bow slopes into luscious lips. His ears are gauged with small black plugs. My attention is drawn to a full sleeve of tattoos on his left arm. I can make out trees and what looks like a full moon, but I’d have to get closer to take in all the details. Sabin smiles at my obvious inspection of him, revealing a set of dimples. Everything about Sabin screams heartbreaker.

Sabin—smooth baritone voice, Captain Cockblock at beginning, trendy medium brown crew cut combed to the side n wet with product, masculine eyebrows, forest green eyes, straight nose, luscious lips, ears gauged with black plugs, dimples when smiles, full tattoo sleeve on left arm of favorite thinking spot, secret romantic, Elemental magic but family one of strongest with spell magic

“Did you just rock-paper-scissors for me?” “Well, not for you exactly, just to see who you’d ride with.” Valen smirks at me.

I feel like I’ve laughed and smiled more in the past couple of days being here than maybe I have in my whole life. Something about all of this feels so natural and right. It’s like I can feel layers of sadness and loneliness peel away with each smile and laugh. My life up to this point has required me to be so serious and vigilant, always looking for the next thing to come at me. But right now, with these guys, it feels like I can let go, be silly, laugh, and tease.

I catch the shit-eating grin across Valen’s face, and it confirms my suspicions. “Why are you all such pervs?” I ask with a laugh, slapping the back of my hand against his abs. “You all act like you’ve never been around a girl before. Bunch of Neanderthals.”

Sabin looks at me. “Vinna, we all just met you; none of us knows you well enough to navigate what could be a fine line between silly fun and making you uncomfortable. None of us should be crossing into that territory this quickly.” “Sabin, I appreciate that you’re looking out for me, but

It sounds like he just recited a slogan of some sort, and I’m not sure what to say. I just told him I could handle myself, but he’s decided I’m wrong. I can protect myself just fine, you presumptuous fucker. “Sabin, you can turn your dad mode off,” I suggest, a little irritated.

“Just start using your magic more, that burns a ton of calories,” Knox tells me. “Oh, I didn’t know that. Aside from fighting and my runes, I’m not sure what other things my magic can even do. I don’t know how to use it except for little things here and there,” I admit.