Morning sunlight glinted off the white marble balustrade of the Steele Manor terrace as Archmage Alaric Steele rose from the breakfast table, folding the purple-sealed dispatch from the capital of the Unified Jorailian Empire into his coat pocket.
Before he could take two steps toward the arched doorway leading down to the subterranean teleportation vault, two pairs of warm, soft hands caught him by both arms.
To his left stood his mother, Matriarch Lyra Steele, her long, straight blonde hair cascading down her back like liquid gold and her deep blue eyes fixed on him with a mix of maternal fondness and unmistakable possessive heat. To his right stood her sister, Aunt Cassandra Galanis, tossing her wild, curly blonde hair over her shoulder as her exotic purple eyes narrowed playfully at her nephew.
