Enthroned by Amethysts (A Dance with Destiny Book 3) by JK Ensley, Jennifer Ensley Page A

nae forget exactly why we ended up in such a place as Eastern Spadroon. Shabriri wouldnae have sought ye had it nae been for that damnable Angel ye love so true.”
    She felt as if he’d slapped her face. All her glowing color drained away. Vittorio had never spoken to her like this before, ever. She didn’t know he was capable of such a thing.
    “Forgive me, Brother.” Her voice trembled. “I’ll never be able to make up for the harm I’ve wrought in your life and in your heart as well.” She looked off into the distance, at nothingness and painful memories. “I hate Angels, too.” Bitter tears spilled down her cheeks.
    He fell to his knees in front of her, grabbing her hands. “Apologies, Lass. My tongue moved with nae thought. Ye know I love ye true, naethin’ can ever change that. If ye were tae pierce my heart with a seraph blade, I’d beg for one last kiss before sweet death claimed me. Shock alone is tae blame for my words. Dunnae hold me tae them,” he begged. “In truth, I’ve suspected almost this same revelation for quite some time now. How else could a creature as enchanting an’ magical as ye come tae be? Let this treasured gift serve as but a token of my captive heart,” Vittorio said as he withdrew a small black pouch bound with a silver ribbon, and held it up before her.
    He gave a slight tug to one end of the ribbon. “I present to ye… magic , Milady,” he whispered as the velvety cloth fell away.
    He waited for the moment he dreamed of, the moment he could watch the spark ignite in her beautiful ethereal eyes. That was his ultimate reward. It was the reason he always extended his summonses, risking his very life countless times, acquiring the rarest treasures hidden within every realm. He would sacrifice everything… just to see her smile. He lived for those moments. And she never disappointed him. As he watched, her eyes went wide. Vittorio could actually see happiness dancing within their pink glow.
    An’ now, I am whole once more , he thought.
    She hesitantly reached out, barely touching one fingertip to the dazzling treasure this glorious Guardian held only for her.
    “Magic? It’s truly beautiful, but does it hold real magic? Truly?”
    She beamed and stole his heart anew. He loved her smile above all things in the universe, especially when he was the blessed one to place it upon her lovely face.
    “Aye, that it does, Lass. I retrieved this armband from a rather nasty wee Fairy Queen. Her whole court was in turmoil. It seems her loyal subjects had somehow gotten the idea tae overthrow her royal throne. I was summonsed to intervene. An’ nae on her behalf.” He narrowed his eyes and moved closer to her. “I cannae imagine where a wingless Fairy courtier came up with such an outlandish idea… as tae uncrown his reigning Queen.”
    Jenevier laughed. Her cheeks flushed at his insinuation. “Do you spend half your time on layer one?” She whimsically shrugged her shoulders. “I told that little Fairy you were a terrifying Death Angel. He almost cried.”
    “Aye, did ye now?” Vittorio chuckled. “Little did he know, poor dolt, the terrifying Death Angel was the beauty he was breaking words with.”
    He winked and she giggled.
    “So, what does it do?”
    Her impatient question came while Vittorio was still placing it upon her arm. He carefully wrapped the silver vine around her bicep seven times exactly. The heart shaped sapphire pointed up to her shoulder. And dangling from the bottom tip of the last coil was a diamond teardrop.
    “Aye, it looks as breathtaking upon yer lovely arm as I knew it would.” He stepped back, admiring her. “Now, wee Princess, with this enchanted bauble… ye can bind.”
    “Bind?”
    “Aye, Lass, bind. With but a word, ye can bind any living creature. Bind them from action or send them intae battle. Bind their mind. Bind their heart. Bind them tae ye, or bind them tae another. With this, ye can change their course an’ alter their