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

by Ivy Asher

His mumbling stops, and suddenly two of the big burly fighters explode into gigantic fucking grizzly bears. What in the furry fuck?

“Holy shit! So that’s how you kept from bashing my head in,” the tattooed guy marvels out loud. “I’m Evrin, by the way,” he offers.

“Well...we’re a race as old as time, with abilities that fall into one of five categories: Offensive magic, Defensive magic, Elemental magic, Spell magic, and Healing magic. There are casters out there with abilities in more than one branch of magic, but it’s rare,” Keegan tells me as if he’s reading from a brochure. “Our abilities first manifest about the age we reach puberty. It’s called a quickening, and we come into our full power around twenty-five, and that’s called an awakening,”

“Faron’s coming for you. Your free days are numbered. My sire will own you soon enough.”

“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.

“How do you call this a house?” I ask rhetorically. “This is the kind of place that has a name like Chateau be Jealous of All My Money.” I look around in complete astonishment. Aydin and Evrin guffaw with laughter. “I’ll get a plaque made,” Lachlan deadpans, and I see the faintest hint of a smile before the asshole in him scares it away.

“So Ryker heals, and Knox spells, what do you guys have?” “I have Elemental magic,” Sabin tells me. Valen raises his hand slightly. “I have offensive magic.” “And I have defensive magic,” Bastien finishes with a wink.

Ryker runs the tip of his nose up the side of my neck. “I just wanted a kiss, but now I don’t want to stop.”

Bastien pulls a cookie-filled hand toward his mouth, but I redirect it and manage to steal a huge bite. It’s then I learn that it’s okay when he and his brother steal my treats, but they can’t take what they dish out. The look on his face as he stares at the missing bite in his cookie screams betrayal.

“Well, Vinna Aylin, I’m twenty-six, same as the other guys, but you know that already. I’m a Paladin Conscript, but you know that, too.” He smiles at me cheekily. “What you may not know is that I’ll be the first in my family line to become a paladin.”

“I wasn’t planning on kissing you. I just wanted to talk to you, to get to know you better. That was my only goal with all of this.” He gestures to the horses. “But I was just so fucking relieved you were okay. Then you were smiling and laughing and just so damn beautiful. I just didn’t want to stop myself anymore. I didn’t want to hold back. I’m sorry.”

“Sentinel, Your Greatness, I can’t begin to describe how elated I am to meet you.”

Sentinels were caster royalty. They had stronger, more gifted magic, and therefore, they ruled over and protected the caster race since the first spark of magic.

“You have very strong Offensive, Defensive, and Elemental magic, as well as a strong affinity for Healing magic. I would not be surprised if your Healing magic develops into a very strong affinity with some work. It seems Spell magic, however, will not be your forte.” “Holy shit!” someone exclaims.

“What’s so backward about it? You kicked my ass, found yourself consumed by attraction for my awesome personality—and rock-hard body. You’ve marked me as your Chosen, and eventually, I’ll be turned into a magic weapon wielding, powerful, ultra-cool badass the likes of which the world hasn’t seen for almost a thousand years. I’m sure there are tons of stories out there just like ours,” Bastien finishes nonchalantly, and I can’t help but smile.