Read Online Wicked Wind (Solsti Prophecy #1) by Sharon Kay - Free Book Online Page B

they had turned a solid, milky white. Gunnar had only seen Rilan’s eyes this way a handful of times, and each time it was downright eerie. The elder had gone into a state that allowed him to see more and sense more than usual. He tapped into a deep, mystic, demonic energy that Gunnar couldn’t even begin to explain.
    Nicole jumped off the couch to stand by Gunnar as Rilan pinned her with that pale stare and slowly intoned one word. “Solsti.”
    Nicole turned confused eyes on Gunnar, as Rilan repeated louder, “Solsti.”
    Gunnar’s mind filled with a mix of confusion tinged with relief. Solsti? Had the Elder discerned that Nicole was one of the four mythical beings? “Rilan, the Solsti aren’t real.”
    A chill crawled down his spine as the Elder ignored him and continued staring at Nicole. “You, Solsti. Where are the others?”
    “What others?” Nicole whispered. “I’m the only one like me.”
    “There are three others. You are linked to them.”
    “No.”
    “Do not hide them, child. Their bond with you pulses strong in your blood.”
    “I don’t understand,” she protested.
    Gunnar heard the slightest change in her voice, her confusion suddenly tinged with determination. Questions circled his mind as he looked at her and placed a hand at her elbow.
    “You will bring them here, young one.”
    “No! I don’t know what you’re talking about!” She turned to leave, but Gunnar gripped her arm firmly. Cool resolve masked her face as she looked up at him. “I told you, there’s no one else like me. What is he talking about?”
    “His discernment is a gift, Nicole. He sees many things, especially in this state.” Gunnar didn’t want to scare her, but he needed to get rid of the niggling doubt that had crept into his mind. “Think hard about all the people you know. Do you remember anything unusual about anyone?”
    Deflecting his question, she asked, “What’s a Solsti?”
    Gunnar didn’t see how she could be a part of the ancient myth. “It’s a well-known story among immortals,” he said. “The Solsti were four females linked by blood. Each possessed an affinity to one of the four elements: air, water, fire, and earth. Each one individually was very powerful, but together the four could potentially bring about the destruction of the world. And they could also save the world.
    “Several millennia ago, when the Solsti were alive, they maintained a balance between the good and evil forces. They united to defeat Saykon, a monster who had forcibly taken control of the underworld, the earth, and several different dimensions. After the Solsti had sent him to an excruciating death–one which involved his various body parts being taken to the different areas he controlled, and then burned to ash–they lived out their lives and then simply ceased to exist.”
    Nicole’s ivory skin turned white as he relayed the legend. She swallowed hard. “I need to leave.”
    Gunnar’s heart sank with disappointment, only to be replaced with anger. She had used the same words last night in the park, tried to run, and then ended up sharing one of her deepest secrets. But not all of them . He grasped her upper arms and turned her to face him. “What are you not telling us?”
    Green, fear-filled eyes gazed up at him. So much for not scaring her. He needed to check the fury building inside him. With a monumental effort, he softened his voice. “Nicole, you’re safe here. You can tell us.”
    She let out a shaky breath and looked at him as if she was gauging how much to trust him. Good, let her guess . He wasn’t sure how much he trusted her either. She glanced back at Rilan, whose eyes had returned to their regular brown hue.
    “My stars,” the Elder breathed, gazing at her. “Many have stopped believing that the Solsti ever walked the realms.” He stood and walked over to her, taking her hand. “My child, you will always have the protection of the Lash demons. But you need to bring the others to us. You