As head of the Border Patrol’s Paranormal Operations Unit, Clay Chiles has found a place where he can function and a surrogate family to replace the one he never truly had. He keeps hidden a lot of secrets, and both fears and longs for the day he may be able to take that one long step out of solitude and darkness into love and light.<br><br>Before he can do that, however, he has to face some surprising facts about himself and deal with some horrific enemies. Although not a weak man, he’ll never have the strength alone to confront all those demons. But who can help him there?<br><br>Arondel Wanderer is a son of the ancient Elven royal clan, but far enough from the throne to be expendable. He obeys his queen’s orders to visit Earth and find what is going wrong there. One task he faces is to contact and recruit a human keystone in the desperate effort to stop an invasion of ancient evil that could corrupt the elves’ original home beyond redemption. Aron, a loner and solitary emissary from Elvenheim, never expected to find his soul-mate on this mission, but surprises, both good and bad, have always been part of his long and adventurous life. He’ll take anything good he is given, and once he sights the partner he’s always wanted, the most extreme danger is not enough to deter him.

Runes of Revelation

“Anyway, I’m still learning what powers this gives me. It’s going to take me a while to settle into my new identity, but in the long run, I think it will enhance rather than detract from our unit and its functions. Meanwhile, please be patient with me.”


The soft cheer rose into the sky, silent from many and muted from others, but no less sincere. For a moment, Clay felt himself enfolded in a warmth and approval as substantial and magical as Aron’s special blanket. He had a family now, one that totally approved, accepted, and upheld him. Nothing had ever felt better.


Soon after that the group dispersed. This left Aron and Clay alone by the dying fire. Without speaking of it, they both understood this would be the last night they would share, perhaps only for a short time, yet the future could not be known.


Chapter 21