The Demon-Born Trilogy: (Complete Paranormal Fantasy Series)

by L. C. Hibbett

  One side of his mouth quirked upward. My pulse skipped in response to the flash of his dimples.

  “Just since last night,” he said.

  I stretched my arms over my head and sat up, careful to keep the covers hiked up over the skimpy, torn dress. I smiled. “Better than twenty days, I guess.”

  Sam held my eye, and I felt the hairs rising on my skin. “It felt like a year.”

  My stomach flipped. He inched the chair toward me, and his knees pressed against the bed. Part of me ached for him to move even closer, to hold me in his arms again. “Sam, did you sit with me the last time, after Eve shattered my binding?”

  Sam pulled back and let out a deep breath, rubbing his hand along his jaw. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes.”

  Something jagged dislodged itself from the soft tissue of my heart and circulated through my veins. “Once?”

  He glanced at me for a second before looking down at the floor. His hair fell forward, hiding his face and muffling his response. “Every day.”

  I curled my knees up against my chest as a thousand emotions battled for supremacy. My hands closed into fists, the right palm stinging as the broken skin split open again and wept blood down my wrist. “Why? Why would you sit with me when I was unconscious and then treat me like a leper when I was awake?”

  There was a knock on the door, and it swung open before either of us could respond. Cat’s face was red and puffy. Eve hung back, one foot still in the corridor. Cat padded over to the bed and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “You’re awake. How are you doing?”

  I wriggled my fingers and toes. “I'm all right, everything in perfect working order, no harm done.”

  Cat grabbed my chin. “Stop it, Grace. This isn’t a joke. If Sam hadn’t done what he did… He could feel the Spirits tearing at you.” She dug her fingers into my skin. “You never go anywhere without telling me. Never. Okay?”

  “Okay, Cat. Okay.” I reached out to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “But I would do it again if it meant getting what Dawn needed.”

  Cat’s jaw clenched under my hand, and she shot a look over her shoulder at Eve. “I know you only did it for Dawn, Gracie, and I know I wasn’t here.” Fresh tears coursed down her face. “That won’t ever happen again, whatever happens from now on, we stick together. Yes?”

  I nodded, unable to trust my own voice.

  Sam shifted in the chair, stretching out his long legs. “Catherine, Emmanuel wanted us to tell him when Grace woke up. To discuss what happened after we got separated. We have to get Cain and Peter as well.”

  Cat mopped her face on the corner of my bed sheet, revealing the thin straps of the silk dress on my bare shoulders. Sam’s face flushed and he stared at his hands. Cat leaned in and kissed my forehead.

  “Right. Duty calls. You get dressed, and we’ll rally the troops.”

  I smiled at her back as she marched out the door. Eve melted into the wood as Cat passed by. Sam stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets. He was still wearing the skintight black outfit that Lucas had chosen for him. “I better go.”

  He hesitated for a moment, throwing a glance in Eve’s direction before stepping closer. His face was stripped bare. “I know I’ve been an asshole. I messed everything up, Grace, right from when I realized what you were. I wanted to fix it, but I guess you’re not the only coward.”

  My hands itched to reach out and pull him closer, yearning to feel his body pressed against mine again, to hear my name on his lips. I leaned toward him, and the blanket slipped down to my waist. Sam froze, his pupils exploding like black stars in his eyes.

  Eve coughed pointedly, and Sam lifted his hand to his hair, pulling it away from his forehead. He exhaled and walked backward toward the door. His eyes didn’t leave my face until he had stepped into the corridor and vanished out of sight. I flopped back onto the pillows.

  Eve twisted the handle of the open door several times, watching the catch appear and disappear with each rotation. I tossed back the covers and stepped gingerly onto the cold floor. Eve closed the door. “Are you in pain? Sit down.”

  “I'm okay.” I brushed past her and reached into the wardrobe, pulling out the jeans and shirt left for me. A push-up bra dangled from the hanger. I rolled my eyes and tossed it back into the wardrobe, grinning.

  Eve straightened the bedcovers while I pulled on my clothes. Her tone was brittle. “What went wrong yesterday?”

  I turned around to face her, leaning my back against the wardrobe for support. “I messed up and said something stupid to one of the Demons. I didn’t know about the ‘Don’t insult the Demons’ rule.”

  Eve’s lips thinned. I ground my teeth, biting back a comment about how that might not have happened if she had bothered to educate me about the hidden world.

  “Once they realized what I was, they dressed me up and pushed me through some kind of a portal into a desert. That’s when the Spirits came.”

  “Did they tell you why? Where you were being sent? Who wanted you? The Guardians?”

  I shook my head. “Not the Guardians. Gabriel said I didn’t want to know who was looking for the Demon-Born, or why they wanted us.” A sudden tiredness crept over me. “I remember his face, from when we lived in Chelsea.” Eve nodded in silence. “He gave me the amulet for Dawn. I thought he was trying to help me escape, but then he pushed me through the portal.”

  Eve paled. “No. That must not have been him.”

  “Violet eyes? Arrogant asshole? Answers to the name Gabriel? Brought Catherine to our doorstep? Probably feeds small children to lions for kicks?”

  Eve looked as if I had slapped her. I shrugged my shoulders. “You didn’t know he was a snake. It’s okay. We needed to get that stuff for Dawn. There was no other way.”

  She sank down on the chair beside the wall and pressed her face into her hands. I crept across the floor and placed a tentative hand on her shoulder. “Eve, don’t. I’m sorry. I got away, it’s fine.”

  “We nearly lost you, Grace! That’s not fine.” Eve dug her fingertips into her temples. “It was a stupid idea. Foolish. Selfish.”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. When she looked up again, her face was composed. I felt the knot in my stomach relax.

  Eve straightened her shoulders and gestured toward the door. “We should make our way to Emmanuel’s office. I’m afraid people are going to be very interested in your pairing with Samuel until they can explain this unusual activity.”

  Blood rushed to my cheeks. Our pairing? I cringed inwardly. How could I explain what I didn’t understand myself? How could I tell them I wasn’t sure my life could ever be the same after I had felt his heart beating against my own.

  “What?” I asked.

  Eve raised an eyebrow. “They will want to know if the bond is unique to you and Samuel, or if he can recreate it with somebody else.” I gaped at her, and she pursed her lips. “The magic, Grace. The manner in which you were rescued.”

  “I heard them talking. Jasmine, Lucas, and Sam. I thought they were in the desert with me, but they were in my mind. One minute the Spirit Demons were reaching for me, and the next I was back here, with Sam. I didn’t even see them opening the slip.”

  Eve shook her head and pressed her hand lightly against my cheek. “That’s what we are all trying to understand, Grace. They didn’t open a slip, they couldn’t, they had no idea where you were. Sam dragged you through space with the sheer force of his will.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  I heard Jasmine before I saw her. Her boots were slapping onto the checkered tiles as she paced the main entrance hall in front of Emmanuel’s study. Lucas and Sam were sitting on one of the wooden benches that lined the walls. Frank leaned against the opposite wall with Lydia tucked neatly against his side.

  I paused awkwardly at the end of the stairs. Eve stepped past me and strode up to Emmanuel’s study, knocking once and entering without waiting for a response. Jasmine looked up in s
urprise. “Eve is Grace coming—”

  Eve slammed the door shut before Jasmine had even finished her question. I cleared my throat.

  “Grace! You’re okay!” Jasmine flung herself at me, almost smothering me in her embrace.

  I peeled her arms from around my neck, laughing. “Okay, steady on there, Jasmine. I’m all right, absolutely fine.”

  Jasmine circled me, looking for any sign of lasting damage. She lifted up the back of my shirt. I squealed. “Hey, what are you doing? Nobody took a bite out of my ass or anything, I’m all right.”

  Jasmine rewarded me with a chuckle. “It’s so good to see you, Grace. We were worried. It all went wrong so quickly.” She held on to my right hand, crushing it between her small palms. “I’m sorry, we should have warned you about more of the rules. We tried to get you out but that woman, Aza, threw us into a portal and we ended up halfway across the city. We kept trying to slip back, but the Demons had sealed the Tower tight, there wasn’t even a crack to prize open.”

  “Jasmine, stop. I’m the one who needs to apologize, it was completely my fault, we would have been out that door safely if I hadn’t opened my big mouth. If anything had happened to the three of you because of my stupid joke...”

  Lucas got up and threw his arms around us, pulling Jasmine and me into a hug. I crushed my face against his shirt. “I’m so sorry, Lucas.”

  He rested his chin on my head. “Hey, you’re talking to a guy who laughs like a hyena at funerals. Nervous stupidity is my thing. I pull it off with more style, though. Speaking of which, you appear to have forgotten to wear a particular item of clothing that I had left in the wardrobe for you?”

  I jerked away from him and aimed a punch at his bicep. He caught my fist, grinning, and twirled me under his arm, sending me spinning across the floor and onto Sam’s lap. Sam put his hands on my waist in surprise, steadying me. “Hi.”

  I watched his mouth form the word and time slipped away. His lips were only inches from mine. Energy shot through my body. Jasmine giggled, and I suddenly became aware of the room around me again, sliding off Sam’s lap and onto the bench beside him. I shifted further down on the bench, leaving a small space between us. Somewhere for all the unanswered questions to sit.

  Jasmine and Lucas had thrown themselves down beside Lydia and Frank on the opposite side of the foyer. I waved at Lydia and Frank. He looked good. Nothing like the last time I had seen him. “Hey, guys. How are you feeling, Frank?”

  “I’m grand, thanks, Grace,” Frank said, shrugging his broad shoulders. “Only thing that still hurts is my ego.” Lydia threaded her fingers through his and rested her head on his chest. Frank looked at me over her hair. “How are you feeling, now? You looked fairly shaken when Sam dragged you into sick bay last night.”

  Lydia pinched his thigh. “Dragged her in?” She rolled her eyes. “Please. He carried her in like a priceless piece of crystal.” Jasmine and Frank laughed at Lydia’s impression.

  “Shut up, Lydia.” Sam’s body was stiff, his face reddening. I tried to control my face, biting my lip to conceal the surge of butterflies building in my stomach.

  Lydia flicked a hand in the air. “Whatever, I’m just relieved you’ve stopped skulking in corners like a super creep. We’ve enough to worry about with this whole Elijah and Megan disaster.”

  My head snapped up. “What Megan and Eli disaster?”

  Lydia sat up and leaned forward with her elbows resting on her knees. Sam’s shoulders relaxed, and Frank and Lucas exchanged an amused glance.

  “You won’t believe this. It’s revolting, seriously, you need to prepare yourself. Elijah and Megan are having an affair.” Lydia’s face was deadly serious.

  Lucas snorted, and Lydia shot him the side eyes. Frank tugged at the end of her waist length raven hair. “Come on, babe, we don’t know if they hooked up. They could have been doing anything, and affair is a bit of a stretch considering they’re both single. Hardly taboo.”

  “A romantic affair, Frank. That’s what you call it. And it’s completely taboo to sleep with the enemy.”

  Jasmine hopped up of the bench, raising both hands. “Whoa, Lydia, less of the sleeping with each other talk, please. They’re absolutely not hooking up. Elijah must have a good reason for where they were yesterday and for why he won’t tell Emmanuel. When he is ready, he’ll let us know.”

  Frank raised his eyebrows. “If Peter ever lets them off cleaning duty. He was pissed last night when they got back. Never seen him that angry. And that’s saying something.” He glanced at Jasmine. “No offense.”

  Jasmine shrugged. “None taken. He was majorly disappointed that Eli had broken the directive to stay on the grounds. He even talked about getting Emmanuel to force the answers out of Elijah.”

  Sam’s hands balled into a fist. “Emmanuel would never do that.”

  The door to Emmanuel’s study swung open, and he strode out. “What would I never do, Samuel? I think you might be surprised at how adventurous your elders can be. I would try almost anything once.”

  He winked at Eve as she followed him out of the study, stepping to the side to make room for Peter, Cain, Deirdre and Jabol. Lydia made a puking face behind the curtain of her hair. Eve shook her head at Emmanuel. “Let’s not scar the children for life, Emmanuel, I don’t believe anyone is interested in what you would try once, or repeatedly for that matter.”

  Emmanuel raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a slow smile. She looked away flustered. Sam dug his fingers into my knee, and I shot him a horrified look. He stifled a laugh, and slid closer to me on the bench, sending a wave of tremors through my body.

  Emmanuel turned his attention back to us. Jasmine crossed her arms. “Do you want us to come in with Grace? We should all stay together.”

  She lifted her chin, staring at Peter. Her uncle didn’t appear to notice. He was watching myself and Sam as if we were animals in the zoo. I moved away from Sam, blushing. Emmanuel put a hand on Jasmine’s shoulder. “No need, Jasmine. Eve has given us the most significant information, for now. Sam and Grace will begin intensive training with Deirdre tomorrow. Hopefully, that will shed some light on this unusual manifestation of power. However, I think that the most beneficial course of action today would be for all of us to return to normality, as much as possible. It has been a turbulent few days. We all need to recuperate.”

  Jasmine visibly relaxed under his touch. Lydia clapped her hands together and wiggled her eyebrows at the Master. “So, what you’re saying is that it’s time for the beach? The students should make the most of the rare sunshine?”

  Deirdre laughed and rapped on the heavy front door. “You might need to make an appointment with an audiologist, Lydia. What you should have heard was that it’s time for magic lessons with the world’s most beautiful and talented tutor.”

  Even Lydia had to smile.

  “But we can take the session on the beach if that’s any consolation?” Deirdre said, looking at Jabol for confirmation. He nodded. Lydia gave an approving whoop and raced up the stairs to change into her swimsuit. Frank followed her, grinning. Deirdre and Jabol headed up the stairs to gather the rest of the students. Peter, Emmanuel and Eve huddled together by the front door, talking quietly. Peter glanced over his shoulder every few seconds, watching us carefully.

  “Are we going down to Silver Strand? We can’t practice there. The place will be really busy, Jabol can’t go around shifting into a seal or something in front of a packed beach.” Sam smirked across at Lucas and Jasmine, shaking his head at my concern.

  “Seriously, guys. I know that the humans can’t see the magical stuff, but they can still see us. You can’t go prancing around like idiots on a white flag beach in June and expect it’s not going to draw attention?”

  Jasmine laughed. “Don’t worry, Grace. Deirdre and Jabol will have everything sorted.” She shouldered Lucas. “Come on, Luc, we can go get my stuff first and then you can go and make yourself beach ready. Exfoliate your ass or whatever.”

>   Lucas blew her a kiss from his middle finger. Jasmine winked at Sam and me as she followed him up the stairs. “Meet you back down here in half an hour?”

  I gave her a thumbs up. Sam stood up and pulled me to my feet by the hand.

  “Sam, I know Jasmine said they will sort everything, but we could risk exposing some unsuspecting Half-Born. Like in Lizzie’s story. That isn’t fair.” The words tumbled out of my mouth, powered by the nervous breath freezing in my lungs every time Sam flicked his thumb over the inside of my wrist.

  Sam stared down at me. His voice was a husky whisper, barely audible above the sound of my pounding heart. “This. This is why you scare me, Grace.”

  “What?”

  Sam took a step forward. I held my breath, every inch of me aware that if he came any nearer his body would be pressed against mine. “I’ve never met anyone else like you, Grace.” Sam bent his neck, so his eyes were level with mine. His mouth an inch from my skin. “Don’t let them break you, Grace. Don’t let them change the way you see things.”

  The last words were muffled as his lips brushed against mine, sending my mind and body swirling. My head fell backward into his steady hand as he moved his mouth against mine, softly at first and then harder, pulling me into him as if he could press our two bodies into one. The front door slammed shut, the boom reverberating around the walls of the foyer. Something inside my brain snapped, breaking the hold my hormones had over my body, and I pressed my hands against Sam’s chest, separating our bodies with a shove.

  Sam’s eyes were more black than green as he stared down at me. His face had never looked more beautiful, fierce and vulnerable all at once. I bit my lip. “Sam, we should talk. You have barely said a word to me for over six months. Maybe we should try being friends again, first?”

  Sam’s eyes flickered, and I could almost see a door slamming shut in their depths. His voice was tight. “Sure. That’s fair.”