Read Online To Woo A Warrior (Southern Sanctuary) by Jane Cousins - Free Book Online

poltergeists and
things that go bump in the night for the camera. The show is about verifying
the paranormal.” He gave her a quick sardonic grin. “And the ghostly set is the
hardest to capture on film so we leave it up to the audience to interpret the
shadows, flickers and blips. It all comes down to editing. If you like I can
add you to the rotation for all missions not just the token ones we do for the
camera.”
    “Absolutely. And can I use the work
out area for my training?”
    “That’s what it’s there for. So this
family business of yours, I’m thinking with a surname like Valhalla it must
have something to do with Odin.”
    Hadleigh shook her head in the
negative. “I work for my Mother’s side of the family.”
    Vaughn quirked an eyebrow up, his
gold eyes remaining fixated on her.
    Hadleigh shot him an exasperated
brief smile. “Honestly you’re not going to be happy until you know everything
about me are you?”
    “That’s the plan.” Vaughn confirmed.
    “I work for the Southern Sanctuary
as a Guardian slash family enforcer.”
    “I’ve heard of the Sanctuary but
don’t really know much about it.”
    “When the European magical
persecutions began several centuries ago my mother’s ancestors made their way
to the new colonies. First stop was the Americas. Not perhaps the best choice
of destinations considering the type of people who were settling there at the
time. Long story short, two days after the first witch trials commenced my
ancestors and several other like-minded individuals departed the area post
haste. My Great Great Great Grandfather eventually settled the family in Australia, on the coast just over
the Queensland border. The Sanctuary now encompasses three neighbouring towns,
which also includes a rather flamboyant artistic community, great cover for
when we need to explain the more bizarre occurrences to the norms. With that
much magic in one place we attract a lot of attention from the magical set.
That’s where the family guardians come in.”
    “Do you get a lot of action?” Vaughn
queried, trying to wrap his head around the idea of three whole towns inhabited
by magically inclined people.
    “Sometimes too much. The problem
with that many of us in one locale is that we act kind
of like a magnet for magic users. Plus a lot of my relatives are elderly and
border line eccentric, they like to experiment with old lores and spells. It can be challenging at times.”
    “But you love it.” Vaughn could tell
by the way her grey eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
    “I do, it gives me a chance to
utilise my magic on a daily basis.”
    “And just what is your magic?”
    Hadleigh studied Vaughn for a moment
before coming to a decision. He was a Maat warrior, hopefully he would appreciate
what she could do rather than think she was some kind of freak. Hopping down
from the stool, she took a couple of steps back from the counter. She waved her
right arm out in a big figure eight. At the beginning of each arc a weapon
appeared in her right hand. First a wicked sharp dagger to be replaced a split
second later by a curved scimitar, then a broad sword, then a bowie knife, then
finally a Swiss army knife.
    Vaughn was looking at her with those
intense golden eyes.  “I am so jealous right at this moment.” And turned
on, but he didn’t announce that little fact out loud.
    Hadleigh grinned, appreciating his
response. “I’m a blade caller. What about you? How did you come to serve the
Goddess Maat?”
    “She made me an offer I couldn’t
refuse. I could either cross the river Styx to join my ancestors or I could
return to the earthly plane to act as one of her warriors of justice and
balance.”
    “You died?”
    Vaughn shrugged. “The Goddess takes
away the memories of our previous life … and death when we make the agreement.”
    “But aren’t you at all curious?
About who you were?  What your family was like?”
    Golden eyes glowed with amusement.
“Not really. If I was, I believe I