I let go.
I didn’t give up. I stopped fighting like Charles said. I tried to remember that night I’d fought Max and Raven. I had embraced all of the power I thought I was capable of. But what if there was more? What if I could embrace it all; the Light, the Dark, the Half in addition to what I already was.
I closed my eyes and concentrated. At first there was nothing but slowly I felt the warmth reminiscent of when I Heal. It spread from limb to limb as if I’d just taken a bath in Icy Hot. It chased away the nausea and eventually my head quit pounding until I was left with a body that felt jolted with energy and life. I felt renewed.
My eyes snapped open and this time I could clearly see Charles and Chase struggling with Stephen. Stephen knocked Chase away easily, and he slammed into one of the stone walls, sending dust and debris raining down on him. I had enough of watching this man hurt the people I loved.
Charles had stopped to proudly watch me approach. Stephen took advantage of the distraction and punched a hole clean through Charles’ chest. His eyes went wide with surprise, then he found my eyes and smiled before Stephen ripped his heart out. I cried out and had to cover my mouth to keep from continuously screaming. The shock still took a second to recover from but I’d have time to grieve later. I had to act fast. Pulling all the strength I’d just gathered, I dove at him. I put everything I had into landing punches and dodging his. He fought me off with ease but had no time for his own hits as he was constantly on the defense. If I could keep this up I’d eventually wear him down, right?
Someone approached from behind and that one fraction of a second was all he needed to reach out and grab me by the throat. Lifting me off the ground, he literally threw me at our approaching guest. Lucky for me, Spencer broke my fall. He helped me to my feet and handed me a dagger. Chase was stirring, and as much as I wanted to go to him I had to end this. Years worth of emotion escaped at once. For Gran, for my parents, Ben, for Rylan and Charles, and all of the others he’d hurt along the way I released the dagger almost as quickly as it had been placed in my hand. Stephen easily deflected and feral sound tore from me as I launched myself forward again. This time Spencer was at my side and the two of us were keeping Stephen’s hands full. However, we weren’t paying enough attention to the lower half and Stephen swept my feet from under me. I landed flat on my back and cracked my skull hard on the concrete floor.
With me temporarily out and battling the ringing in my ears, Stephen shifted his focus to Spencer and the two grappled for an advantage over the other. I took the opportunity to look for the dagger. It was only about a yard away. I used my Mind ability and it flew into my hand. However, with Spencer so close to Stephen I’d have to time my shot just right.
The opportunity presented itself a moment later when Stephen landed a blow to Spencer’s face. I could hear the crack of his nose breaking and Spencer instinctively doubled over. It would’ve left him vulnerable to Stephen if I hadn’t taken the opportunity to throw the dagger straight into my grandfather’s chest.
Stephen didn’t even notice at first. He took a step forward and then looked down at the hilt sticking out from his chest. He gurgled and blood dribbled from his mouth and down his chin. He moved his mouth but no words came out. I didn’t want to hear his final words anyway.
I didn’t even wait to watch him fall to the ground next to Charles. I heard it as I turned my back on him and went to Chase. I saw the bodies of Justin and the other men lying close to the door on my way out. Chase and Charles must’ve taken them down while I was in the circle still fighting my powers. Spencer had too much pride to let me Heal him, insisting I save my energy in case someone else needed me. Chase didn’t get a chance to argue; I was at his side and letting my Healing powers do their work before he could even try to protest.
I had been told once the ritual had been interrupted when I was a baby. My powers had never been full. I was a little afraid of what I was capable of … no, not afraid, more nervous but I was no longer afraid of my powers. Only a few of Stephen’s followers made it through the night. The ones that had made it were remorseful … well, at least they seemed that way. The Council had voted to allow them rehabilitation until they could prove they were no longer under his crazy influence. I suspected even deceased they could make him a martyr though most seemed eager to forget his name.
All of my friends had been facing their own battles that night and I was so grateful to see every one of them alive. My heart hurt for Rylan and I begged all involved to not speak a word of it to his mother. She deserved to not only have to mourn him just once, but also to remember him as he wanted her to. Though I’d lost my soul-mate once before, this time was worse. I’d known him, I’d cared for him, and he’d saved my life. Rylan had made mistakes but he’d redeemed himself in my eyes as well as my heart.
Chase stayed by my side just as he had the first time, and somehow the whole process had made us stronger Maybe it was because my heart wasn’t being pulled in two different directions anymore, but I suspected it had been happening all along. We were forming a bond. I was beginning to feel Chase even more than Nolan.
I wasn’t sure what was possible anymore. The Council wasn’t either. They were still digging through old scrolls in the room and learning new things that the Elders had wanted to keep from us; not because they were intolerant, crotchety old men, but because they were protective, crotchety old men who were set in their ways.
We had a formal service for Charles and I stayed close to Eva. Having been through it I knew she’d survive but it sure hurt. The Council voted to make Spencer Thomas the new Elder. Of course, he joked that he wasn’t old enough to be an Elder but gratefully accepted the position. Aunt Carolyn was joyous that someone young and fresh-minded would bring new life to the stuffy old Council. They finally seemed to accept people like Nolan. Spencer agreed with Aunt Carolyn and negotiated with her to take his former place on the Council. She hadn’t agreed yet but hadn’t entirely turned it down either. She wasn’t eager to leave Michigan but confided in me she loved the idea of being close to me.
Chase, Maggie, Nolan, and I only stayed through Charles’ services and headed back to Manchester. We were all more than ready to return to our lives. Jackson, of course, stayed with Kali in Providence.
Iris was elated to have me home in one piece and I spent my first night home just catching up with her. Chase stayed with us, and I knew he was going to have a hard time letting me out of his sight. Maggie and Nolan were out on their first date.
We hadn’t watched much of the movie we had rented, instead using the time to catch Iris up on the long version of everything that had taken place. Eventually, she excused herself to bed, and Chase and I said good night before heading into my bedroom.
“I have something for you,” he said, reaching into his pocket. My Gran’s locket dangled on the chain in his hand. “You’d left it—”
“In the lock,” I finished, smiling big.
“I finally got it open.”
I couldn’t contain my excitement. “You did?” I took it from him hastily and sat down on the bed upon seeing the faces in the locket. It was me as a very young toddler on one side and my parents on the other. Folding my hand around the gold heart tightly, I smiled at Chase.
“Thank you.”
He only nodded in response and crawled in next to me. We lay in my bed staring at the ceiling, my head on his chest listening to his heart thump.
“How do we go back to normal?” I asked.
“I don’t know. There’s school and work.” He kissed my fingertips. “I know one thing though.”
“What’s that?” I asked
“It can wait ’til tomorrow.” His lips were on mine and I lost myself in his kiss, his smell. He was my love, my soul-mate.
Acknowledgments
My loudest thank you goes out to all of my fans, friends, and supporters for having the patience to wait for Morgan’s story! I imagine it was as frustrating for you as it was for me to put this story
on hold. You are the best at motivating me while still understanding. I hope this story was worth the wait!
Thank you to my family and friends for always lending a hand to assist me while I worked so hard to focus on this final chapter in Morgan’s story.
A big shout out to all of my past, present, and future cheerleaders for serving as my inspiration and quite literally my biggest cheerleaders. To all of the students I see daily, thank you for inspiring me far more than I could ever inspire you. I hope every single one of you chooses to chase your dreams as far as possible.
I also cannot give enough thanks to my children and Rusty, who continue to share me while I pursue my dreams. I know it’s not always easy.
Aubrey P., Michelle R., Celsey H., Angela B., and Melissa (There For You Editing) you deserve so much for the work you have helped me to create by either pouring over my story as betas or as an editor (sometimes both). I appreciate you more than words could ever say.
Author Biography
Born in Michigan, Jenny Phillips has never strayed far from the beaches of Lake Michigan. Armed with a big imagination, Jenny would sit in the woods surrounding her home for hours just daydreaming. After losing her mother to ALS, she vowed she would make the most of her life and never let her imagination go to waste. When not reading, coaching, or obsessively buying books, she spends her time with her two beautiful daughters, rambunctious toddler, and husband.
You can find Jenny at:
www.Facebook.com/JennyPhillipsBooks
jennyphillipsbooks.weebly.com
[email protected]
Exposed (The Broken Soul Series Book 3) Page 18
