She inclined her head in a slight nod. “They are ancient. Older than me.”
That tracked with what I thought we already knew. Licking my lips, it was difficult to hide my excitement. “Have you ever met one?”
Aurelia shrugged as if it weren’t important. “If so, then I am unaware of it. One never knows with shadow borne.”
“I… Can you explain that? Please.”
“They are named thus for a reason. Our witch creators spoke of them.” Aurelia’s lips pulled back in disgust, showing off her sharp teeth. “They were fearful of shadow borne, but covetous as well. They wished to harness this power. It did not go well.” Aurelia’s disgust turned into a feral grin. “The witch who attempted it was torn to pieces. I was not fortunate enough to witness this, but it was satisfying nonetheless.”
My heart pounded, its rhythm uncomfortably painful. My hands were shaky and my skin clammy. While Aurelia might find the thought of a powerful witch being torn to pieces by a shadow borne wonderful, I didn’t. That thought wasn’t the least bit comforting.
Licking my dry lips, I asked, “H-how long ago was that?”
Another shrug. “Time has no meaning to me.”
I should have expected that answer. “But you were still with your witch creator at the time?”
Aurelia’s eyes narrowed again, their depths lit from within. A hissed “yes” was my answer.
“Have you heard anything about them since?” That had to be hundreds—no, thousands of years ago.
“Only whispers here or there. To my knowledge, there are none left that are active. However, I believe that information is speculative. If a shadow borne does not wish to be found or acknowledged, then it will not be.” Aurelia sounded very certain.
“I see.” I wasn’t completely certain I did, but the picture was clear enough and the painting it created was a nightmare.
Head cocked to the side, Aurelia’s gaze pierced my own. “Why do you ask?”
I gave a weak smile. “Because I’m pretty sure a shadow borne has taken an interest in me.”
Very little seemed to truly surprise Aurelia. Her response was rare. “Are you certain?”
“Fairly.” I related what happened in the cemetery a few months ago, how I’d come close to death and the way my attackers were killed. Aurelia quietly listened, her expression a mask of indifference. When I was finished, I asked, “What do you think?”
Silence filled the space, Aurelia’s expression remaining neutral. Only her eyes betrayed an ounce of emotion. “I think you are a very unfortunate necromancer, Erasmus Boone.”
Crazed laughter burst from my throat. “You think?” Sarcasm thickly dripped from those two words. “Gaia, I’m totally screwed, aren’t I?”
“I believe that fact was established when you took the human as a mate.”
I blinked, mouth slack before realizing Aurelia didn’t understand the slang meaning forscrewed. “No, I mean…yes, but not in this case. It’s a slang way of saying that I’m in deep trouble.”
“Oh.” I was starting to hate the casual shrugs Aurelia kept repeating. “Possibly.”
Flopping back into the couch cushions, I stared at the ceiling. “If it were just me, I think I could handle that, but…Huxley’s threatened Franklin too.”
“You wish to protect your mate. That is an understandable reaction.” Aurelia sounded confidently wise. Going silently contemplative again, Aurelia eventually said, “This possibleshadow borne desires you for some reason. Considering their perceived level of power, that is an interesting concept.”
“Agreed.”
“You have only one useful quality.”
“Gee, thanks, Aurelia.”
“I have never met a necromancer with your abilities before. The others you have found are no threat to me.”
I was grateful for that. I had no idea what Aurelia would do if she perceived Navarre or Leander as threats. She’d yet to threaten my life. Why? I had no idea beyond that Aurelia found me more interesting than threatening. I’d promised her I wouldn’t shove her soul back into her body unless she wanted me to, but understandably, Aurelia wasn’t the most trusting creature.
“Do you believe he wishes to resurrect a soul?” Aurelia asked.
