Silver Blood (Series of Blood Book 1) by Emma Hamm (bill gates book recommendations .TXT) 📕

those around her. She had picked up on his psychic scent long before he had reached the room and had likely told the others. It was sometimes difficult speaking to her as she was constantly managing multiple conversations with people in the room and thousands of miles away.

“Come in.”

He gulped once and walked across the oriental carpet towards the stone fireplace. Once there, he turned on his heel to look at the Five who lounged upon the ivory furniture. The red wine in their glasses darkened their lips and had hopefully warmed their minds towards him.

“Not likely,” Aether said, though her ruby red lips were twisted into a smile.

Gaia shifted on the couch next to Nurin. They were, as far as Burke knew, a couple and always had been. She represented the Earth and he Fire. Gaia was an unusually beautiful and blonde with long limbs, and Nurin was an older gentleman with grey hair streaking his temples. Together, they were beautiful.

“I would prefer to hear the report from your own lips, Burke,” Gaia said. She was considered to be the unofficial leader of the Five. They all made decisions with each other but deferred to her.

He clasped his hands behind his back. “I was unable to complete the mission.”

“Why?”

“She did not wish to come.”

“She?” Gaia raised her glass to peer at Jiminy through the warped goblet.

“Wren Rowan. She is a Juice producer in the Ruby Province.”

“Ah,” Gaia nodded for a moment before sipping out of the glass. “What was it that we instructed you to do, Burke?”

“Ma’am?”

“I’m asking you if you remember what exactly your mission was.”

His feet shifted on the carpet. “To find the referenced people in the prophecy and to return them to you.”

“Mm.” The sound vibrated in her throat. Her voice was too deep for a woman of her size and too intimidating for Burke to meet her scathing gaze. “Indeed.”

The Five remained silent as Burke stared at his feet. The tension in the room built as they attempted to stare him down. However, this was not the first time Burke had kept silent under interrogation. He remembered all too well his training with M.O.M.

Because of that training, he remained silent and refused to break under the hard stares that were burning holes into him.

A soft clink of glass finally made him look up. Gaia had set down her wine goblet and shifted forward until she was perched at the edge of the couch. Her husband, Nurin, remained stonelike as he watched the conversation with interest.

“Burke,” she began, “how is it that you interpreted this prophecy?”

“The first line and then the second, ma’am.”

Aether burst into laughter. She was the smallest of all the Five with hair that nearly tangled at her feet. Burke had always thought she would have made an impressive pixie if she hadn’t already been a powerful creature.

“Oh, Burke,” Aether said through giggles, “I have always enjoyed your mind. That’s not what she meant.”

“My apologies.” He frowned and tried not to give away any other information. He was well aware she was digging around in his head.

“A prophecy is a very delicate process,” Gaia explained. Her husband leaned forward to place a hand against her back. “When we returned from our sleep with this prophecy, we had certain expectations. This woman may not have been interested but that means little. Now where are the other candidates?”

Therein was the problem. The deep furrows between Burke’s eyes grew deeper as he attempted to understand what she was saying. Others? There had been no others. There was no need for others.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I already found the one who you spoke of in the prophecy.”

“How can you be sure of that?”

“She fits the lines exactly.”

“Has she done anything to make you believe that she is capable of saving us?”

Burke paused for a moment to think. Grudgingly, he shook his head.

“Has she said anything to make you believe she is the only candidate?”

Once more, Burke shook his head.

“Then what, exactly, is it about this woman that has you so certain that she is the one we are looking for?”

There was a pause which was quickly filled by the laughter of Aether. “He likes her!”

“Excuse me?” Burke turned towards her with a thunderous expression. “Stay out of my head, Aether.”

She was giggling too much to hear him. Her fingers were pressed against her ribs, and her body rocked as she attempted to contain her glee. Tiny bare feet slapped the ground three times before she peered through the long strands of her hair at him.

“You like her more than you want to admit.”

This time it was Gaia who frowned. “Burke, your personal feelings for any of the candidates means nothing. I had not expected this to cloud your decisions.”

“It hasn’t.” He attempted to assure her.

“How do we have proof of that? Some creature you found on the street caught your attention, and now you think she’s capable of saving the entire world? Really. I had thought better of you.”

“There is insanity in her that rivals any other creature I have ever met,” Burke explained. “Whatever is inside of her has power. She’s a Curiosity and exists in a city. She has to be the one.”

Gaia leaned back into the couch. “Ah. So she is insane and lives in a city. This is not enough reasoning for me to bring her here. And certainly not enough reason to stop your search.”

“I know it is her.” Burke couldn’t explain it. His hand raised to point at his chest which he struck hard with the tips of his fingers. “I know it here.”

“You expect me to put all my trust in a gut feeling?” Gaia looked as though she wasn’t certain whether she wanted to laugh or strangle him.

Another voice interrupted them, that of Aether. “He believes in her.”

“What?” Both Gaia and Burke asked in unison.

“He believes that she is the one spoken of. I must say, the insanity within her is quite impressive, sister. Even I am inclined to at