Westward Ho! Or, The Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the County of Devon, in the Reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizabeth by - (best books to read for self development TXT) 📕

They walked for hours under the harsh sun before they reached the base of a small mountain. Not far from it, they could see a paved road and a little dirt road that broke off and headed toward the mountain.

“What are these creepy things?” Daniel asked, drawing Mark’s attention.

The demon pointed at little figures carved from stone that encircled the mountain, every ten feet or so. They were covered in layers of dirt and grim, yet stood straight and solid, as if cemented in place.

Tristan touched the feathers and beads that were part of the little figures. “They are art made from these lands.”

“And they contain magic,” Surcy added.

Daniel glanced up at her. “What kind of magic?”

“A shield. When we step through it, we’ll sense the barrier created by the magic. They keep angels and other beings from teleporting in… and probably keep this place hidden from a lot of paranormal creatures.”

“So the person who lives here knows magic?” Mark asked, frowning.

“Someone who lived here did,” she explained. “But these are at least a couple hundred years old. I’m not sure if they put them here, or someone else.”

Weird.

They started forward and instantly felt the tingle that told them a shield was indeed in place. It wasn’t as powerful as the one the druids had erected around the sanctuary for the Immortals, but it would do the trick. Moving up the hill, they passed more cacti and red stone. Eventually they reached a dirt path that curved around the side of mountain, big enough to allow a car to travel up and down.

At the top, an adobe building stood silent near a beat-up car in the driveway. Neither the car nor the house looked as if they’d been used in a long time. And wide windows tinted against the bright sun appeared to watch them like eyes, but Mark sensed no movement.

Since they’d rescued two Immortals, Mark fully expected to find angels guarding every inch of this one’s house.

So why weren’t they?

“Uh, is this it?” Surcy asked.

Mark turned, and it took him a second to form the response. The sunlight was at her back, and it bathed her dark hair in a golden light. Even without her wings, Surcy was an angel, a being more beautiful than any woman he could imagine. And… he missed her.

She’d spent a year away from them, taken by Caine. And now that she was back, he thought that his heart would finally heal from her disappearance and he would feel full again. Instead, seeing her when she didn’t remember him hurt him in an entirely new way. He tried to pretend he didn’t think of her… every second of the day, but he did. Only his mission kept him sane.

“Mark?” she asked, his name holding a concerned note.

He cleared his throat. “This is her home.”

“And she’s a shifter?” Daniel asked frowning.

Mark nodded.

“What… like a lizard shifter? Or does she turn into rocks and dirt?”

Mark shrugged. “I’m not sure. I have all these pictures in my mind, but they don’t fit here. I don’t get it.”

“So what should we do?” Surcy asked.

“I guess,” he turned back to the house. “We knock. And keep an eye out for angels.”

“Good plan,” Daniel said, his sarcasm lacing each word.

Mark ignored him and started for the front door. He didn’t know what he’d find inside, probably danger, but this was his best plan. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

He heard movement inside and sensed someone on the other side of the door. For a long minute no one answered, and then he heard the sound of a chain being pulled. The door opened inch by inch, and the barrel of a shotgun appeared. He held his breath as it swung all the way open, and then, there was the woman from his visions.

Sort of. It’s her… but it’s not.

She was older, with long white hair, and tired eyes. She wore a nightgown and robe, both with seashells on them. And even though there was something sickly about the tone of her skin, her hands on the gun were sure.

“What can I do for you?” she asked, her eyes flashing with a challenge.

Mark held her gaze. “We’re here to see you.”

“Why?” she asked, her eyes running over all of them.

Damn it. Mark hadn’t thought this far ahead. And he really should have.

Daniel shifted closer. “We’re interested in purchasing your land.” He purred the words, a big charming smile on his face.

Mark’s heart raced as he looked between her gun, which was now pointed directly at Daniel’s chest, and Daniel’s grinning face. The fire mage was so damned cocky. Did he really think he could convince her with just a little demon charm?

It helps, but it isn’t fool-proof. He knows that!

The fire mage’s grin widened. “And we aren’t poor chumps. We’re talking about a good offer here. One that will set you up for the rest of your life.”

Her gun lowered. “I’d be interested in hearing what you have to say, but this gun is staying right by my side.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, ma’am,” he said.

For the first time, she smiled, then gestured for them to come in. “Sorry, the place is a mess. I’ve been sick for a while.”

They entered the room and were surprised by the strong scent of herbs. Everything was fairly neat. On one side of the room, there was a small seating area, with couches with little starfish on them. Bottles with ships and seashells on nearly every surface and a lamp made out of a blowfish continued the nautical theme. Around a slight corner, a kitchen table held different pill bottles and bags of herbs.

“Take a seat,” she said, gesturing toward the couch.

She sat on a big chair, her knitting in a bag next to it, and rested her gun against her leg. Her hand went to a chain around her neck, and as she fiddled with