by Ciana Stone
"I know and I love you for that, but I don't want the people I love to be in danger."
"There's not really a choice. We have to stop the Dark now, before it overcomes the Light. Before it gets a stronger foothold here."
"I know."
"You have to believe, Nev."
"In what?"
"In the power of Good and Light. In our friends and family. In me. In us."
"I want to and I will try but right now I just want to forget all of that. I just want you."
He smiled at her. "I sense something different about your desire."
Nev looked down, a bit disconcerted that he sensed her mood. Until now, their lovemaking had been passionate, but quite tender. She loved it and loved him for being about to show her that making love could be so gentle and yet so overwhelming.
Yet there was a part of her, the part that held sway at this moment, that didn't want tender. "I want –" She looked up at him. "I need you to make love me."
He looked into her eyes and she saw something flare in his she had not seen before. He pulled her against him, working one leg between hers and pressing against her sex.
Gabriel had not even kissed her and already her body was responding. She felt damp warmth between her legs that had nothing to do with sweat, and her heart was beating double-time.
He pressed into her, his erection trapped against her belly, hot and hard. "Tell me again."
'Please. Take me."
His face tightened in what appeared to be anger and for a moment she thought he was going to hurt her. Then he lowered his face to hers and claimed her lips in a kiss of savage passion.
The reasonable part of her mind screamed for her to stop this, to go back to the way it was before. But the hunger was too strong and she returned the kiss with equal need.
When he pulled back, she looked into his eyes and saw the fire inside him. She gasped slightly as his hands moved to her breasts but didn’t break the contact of their eyes.
Gabriel moved back from her. His eyes traveled down her body and she tensed, afraid that her desire for this would cause his to wane. When his eyes met hers again, she inhaled sharply at the intensity on his face.
Tentatively she reached out and ran her hand across the tense muscles of his chest, then down his body to his erection. She leaned in, kissed his chest, and then lowered her body so that her mouth traced down the center of his abdomen. As her tongue flicked at the tip of his erection, a sharp intake of breath made her look up.
He wound one hand in her long hair and pulled her to her feet for a searing kiss. She groaned in her throat as his hand moved between her legs, stroking and probing. As if enflamed by the sound, he kissed her more roughly and pushed his fingers inside her. A bright flare of hunger had her moving against his questing fingers.
His lips left hers and he looked into her eyes. With his hand still tangled in her hair, he pulled her head back sharply. She arched back to relieve the pressure and his mouth descended on her breast. She cried out as he bit lightly on one nipple, but it was a cry of pleasure.
Forcing her to the blanket, he released her hair and spread her legs, kneeling between them. She thought he would enter her but instead he lowered his head, forcing her legs wider. “I want all of you,” he said in a rough voice.
She writhed against him as he lapped at her folds. A swelling sensation began inside her and she arched against his mouth. Just as she thought she would explode, he rose and positioned himself between her legs so that he was sitting back on his heels. She cried out as he pulled her forward, impaling her on his erection. She tried to pull him forward on top of her, but he held her in place, wrapping her legs around his waist.
She felt like a bow, drawn taut and quivering with need. Gabriel took her right hand and guided it to the damp patch of hair at the junction of her thighs. She felt among the damp curls to where the tiny knot waited and moved her fingers on it.
He watched, moving inside her in measured strokes. When her body began to quiver with impending release, he drove deep inside her, hard and fast. Nevaeh screamed in pleasure and pushed herself up so that she was straddling him. With rapid strokes she rode him, her breasts rubbing against his chest as her hands clutched his strong shoulders.
Gabriel groaned and shuddered as her inner muscles contracted rapidly with her orgasm. She had pushed his control to the brink. He could no more stop what was about to happen than he could prevent the sun from rising.
He opened his mind. Completely. In addition, mentally reached for her.
Nevaeh lost her breath. Literally. His mind didn't touch; it grasped, wrapped around, permeated, and fused with hers. Universes exploded into being and stars went nova. Her heart beat in time with his, her breath synced to his. Every cell in her body attached to him.
She could feel him as acutely as she felt herself. It was an overwhelming sense of completeness. She held on to him, wanting the moment to last forever. At last it subsided and she leaned into him, feeling the pounding of his heart against her chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a long time then drew back and looked into her eyes.
"I didn't mean –"
"I know. But I'm glad. You know I am."
"Yes, I do."
"I'm yours Gabriel."
"And I am yours. Forever, Nev."
"Not long enough big guy, not nearly long enough. Oh, look, here it is."
They both turned their attention to the horizon, watching the first rays of light spread over the water, turning it into a sparkling dance of light.
"The first day of the rest of our life."
Nevaeh smiled up at him. She just hoped it wasn't the last.
*****
Everyone was waiting when Nevaeh and Gabriel arrived at Ellie's. It was almost six in the evening. Nevaeh went inside to find Ellie. She was in the kitchen with Layla. There was no sign of the baby.
"Where's Carson?"
"Lily and Clint have him." Ellie turned from the counter with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Cam and I thought it wise for him not to be here."
Nevaeh nodded. "Ellie, I … I'm really sorry if anything I've done has—"
"Just stop right there. You haven't done anything but get caught in the same mess as the rest of us. And I guess if you want to assign blame you can blame me and Eldric for opening the portal to begin with."
"But you didn't know—"
"Exactly what I said." Layla interrupted. "Look, none of us are to blame. It's whoever has aligned themselves with the Dark side – and that still makes me feel like I'm in a fantasy novel to say – but anyway, the point is, it's not our fault. We just have to do whatever we can to make sure they don't cause any more trouble."
"Amen." Ellie gestured toward the coffee pot. "Nev?"
"No. Thanks. My stomach's in enough of a knot."
Augustus entered the kitchen with Cam. "Ah Nevaeh, you're here. Excellent. Our people are in place. Severin stands ready to join minds with you whenever you are ready."
"I guess I am. Where's Gabriel?"
"Outside with your father and grandparents."
"Oh, okay. Well, do you want me to do that now or do you want me to call Elysia?"
"Since I have no faith whatsoever in Elysia, I do not want you to call her until dusk."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want her to show up before our people are all in place."
"Oh, well that makes sense. So where is Severin?"
"In the family room."
She nodded and looked at Ellie and Layla then back at Augustus. "So, you want me…"
"Yes please."
She started for the family room but stopped when no one else followed. "Aren't you all coming?"
"No. This is something for you and Severin alone."
Nevaeh didn't know why that made her feel so anxious. Maybe because Severin seemed so unapproachable and grim. It wasn't that he was horrifying or hard to look at. Quite the opposite. He was really handsome. He just seemed cold.
"I guess it's time."
He turned to look at her. When a smile appeared on his face, she felt a huge sense of relief. Why he was absolutely gorgeous when he smiled.
"There's no need to be afraid."
"Except that you'll know all my deep dark secrets."
"As you will mine."
She hadn't considered that. "Well, I'll make you a deal. You're secrets will be safe with me if you'll offer the same."
"Done."
"Okay, so what do I do?"
He walked over to her. "I am going to touch your face. I want you to do the same. And then it's a matter of simply looking into my eyes and lowering your barriers."
"Sounds easy enough."
"Let's hope it is. Are you ready?"
"I think so."
"Then let's begin."
Yeah what could go wrong? You're just doing some kind of mind meld with a Daemon. Piece of cake.
*****
"She's coming."
Eldric's announcement had everyone getting to his or her feet. They all walked outside and waited, watching car lights move down the driveway toward them.
The car stopped, the lights went out, and a few moments later, the rear door opened. Elysia got out.
Nevaeh looked at Eldric and Ellie. Ellie had a tight grip on Cam's hand but her attention was on her brother. Tears streamed down Eldric's face. He stepped forward.
"Sister."
"Brother." Elysia walked up to him and embraced him. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
"Or meet our sister." He released her and turned to extend his hand to Ellie.
She didn't take his hand, but kept a grip on Cam's and stepped closer. "I'm Ellie."
"You look like our father."
"And you look like our mother."
Elysia looked around at everyone. "I know you all think I'm here to bring you harm but that's not true."
"Then why are you here?" Augustus stepped forward.
"To prevent war."
"There will be no war if the portal remains closed."
"But there will. Can't you already see the signs? When Ellie and Eldric opened the portal, he wasn't the only one to make the crossing. Obviously. I'm here and so are a lot of others. Others who've aligned themselves with your mother. And none of them want this peace with humans."
"So you say."
"So I can prove."
"I doubt that."
"Look, I know you don't trust me and after what happened in the Hamptons I don't blame you, but I'm telling you the truth." She looked at Eldric. "You know. Father protected you, placed you with the Light where you were protected. Me? He left me to the Dark Fae, to mother's clan. I had no choice but to swear fealty and pretend to go along with them. To do otherwise would have been suicide."
"What do you mean you were left to the Dark Fae?" Ellie moved away from Cam. "I thought both you and Eldric were left with family so you'd be safe."
Eldric put his hand on Ellie's shoulder. "We were. Elysia chose to leave, to go to mother's people."
"No!" Elysia moved closer to Ellie, but Ellie retreated. "That's not true. The Dark Fae threatened war. It was either me go to them or war among the Fae. I didn't have a choice."
Elysia looked at Augustus. "I know you don't have reason to trust me, but I can prove it. I can prove that Asha is working with the Dark and plans to annihilate humanity. I have the proof. I just have to get to it and to do that we have to open the portal."
"Why would we risk that?" Augustus looked around at everyone. "No one here wants war. No one here wants to risk the Dark gaining ground here. Why would we be foolish enough to open the portal?"
"Because if you do, you'll get proof of what Asha is doing so that you can preserve peace here." She turned her attention to Ellie and Eldric. "Please. We're family. All I want is a chance to prove to you that I'm trying to help."
Ellie looked at Eldric and then at Augustus. Augustus held up one hand. "We need time to confer. I will ask that you wait here."
Elysia nodded and everyone else followed Augustus inside. Gabriel stood watch, peering from the window at Elysia who leaned against her car, and waiting.
Augustus' attention went first to Layla. "Is she lying?"
"If she is, I can't tell it. I don't sense any deception, but she's Fae, Augustus. My ability may not work on her."
"And might I remind you that we are prepared?" Eldric looked around at everyone. "If she is lying then we stop them before they can enter. If the information our father left was correct, we have people stationed at every portal. If we can capture just one conspirator to prove that Asha is undermining the peace, then we can have her removed from the council. And peace has always been our goal, hasn't it?"
"Peace without having to suffer war." Gabriel's voice drew everyone's attention. "No offense intended to you Layla, Ellie, and Eldric, but I don't advise putting much trust in what Elysia says. If her intent upon coming here was to work for peace, then why align herself with Asha and be participant in a bloodbath. Why drug and abduct Nevaeh and use subterfuge to arrange a détente with Augustus? Why open the portal if the goal is to avoid the possibility of more of the Dark entering this realm?"
Nevaeh felt pride swell inside her. Gabriel made out as if he was a novice to strategy and someone not given to deep thought but his words were of a man who saw much and was possessed of a clear head.
"I agree." She looked around at everyone. "I'll go along with whatever you decide, but I think Gabriel makes sense. And speaking just for myself, I have no reason at all to trust her."
Everyone's eyes went to Eldric. "I concur. Trust is not warranted. However, our people are in place and I have confidence in our ability to control the situation. I do think it important that she reveal her true intent, therefore I propose that we proceed."
Augustus nodded. "I agree. We proceed. We need proof and if this is the way to obtain it, we must risk it."
"Then give the word." Gabriel turned from the window.
"Consider it given."
Everyone returned outside, with Augustus in the lead. "If you are speaking the truth then tonight will end in peace. If you lie, the night will end in blood. Beginning with yours."
Elysia nodded and he gestured for her to join him. "Then come."
Nevaeh fell into the rear, reaching for Gabriel's hand as he stepped in beside her. "At the first sign of danger, stop time, Nev. Don't delay just do it."
She nodded and followed in silence. She knew Severin and the others were ready. She could feel Severin in her mind and knew he was aware of everything that had transpired. Somehow, that gave her a measure of comfort. Sadly, not enough. She still wondered if they were all marching to their demise.
Chapter Fourteen
Is this how soldiers feel when they are deployed to the battlefield? A sense of purpose that's iced with fear and dread? Fear that seems to seep out of your pores? How do you face it with courage and resolve?
All I want to do is turn around and run. Were it not for Gabriel beside me and Severin in my mind, I might do just that. I don't have a clue what to expect and I'm scared to find out. But I can't back down. It's my fight, too. My dad and grandparents are standing ready to fight. I can't chicken out.
But I sure am tempted.
Nevaeh stopped dead in her tracks when the house just appeared out of thin air. Where before there was scraggly trees, palmetto bushes, and vines that had grown out of control, now there was a lush lawn, landscaped with magnificent flowering trees and flowers of every imaginable variety arranged in artful beds.
Ellie and Eldric led them to the middle of the lawn and stopped. They joined hands and Eldric gestured for Elysia to join them. She took his hand and all three closed their eyes and started to chant.
Nevaeh didn't understand the words, but it was beautiful the way their three voices harmonized. The chant went on for several minutes
. Just as the thought entered Nevaeh's mind that nothing was going to happen a brilliant flare of light made everyone watching either shield their eyes or turn away.
Ellie, Eldric, and Elysia fell silent. There was, for lack of better words, a ring of light before them, about eight feet in diameter. Inside the ring light swirled like water that was illuminated.
"Now what?" She looked at Gabriel.
Just as he opened his mouth to reply Ellie screamed.
Nevaeh jumped. Something like dark oily smoke was emerging from the portal. Eldric snatched his hand away from Elysia and turned, his arms spread, to shield Ellie from her.
Elysia looked at the dark energy and then smiled at Eldric. "Fool."
The dark energy suddenly surged, straight at Eldric. By the time Ellie had screamed again, creatures from nightmare poured from the opening.
Nevaeh had never seen anything like them. Humanoid in build, their skin was dark, like leather, stretched tight over sinewy bodies. Their ears were like bats and eyes that resembled reptiles. When they opened their mouths and roared the sound was like a giant cat, but the teeth were like sharks.
They were horrifying.
Suddenly there were people around her. Augustus' army of Preterhumans. Daemons and Wizards hurled fire and bolts of energy, Fae sent lighting spiking at their enemies while Vampires raced among the enemy, tearing heads from bodies.
Two of the monstrosities rushed at Nevaeh. Gabriel shielded her. His wings unfurled as he roared at the monsters. They plowed forward. Gabriel met them head on, his fist caving in the head of the first then grabbing the second by the neck and snapping it like a twig.
Before the second body fell two more were on him. Nevaeh screamed and beat at it. It hissed and turned on her. The stench of its breath and the evil in its eyes chilled her to the bone.
They were way beyond the first sign of trouble. She had to do something. As the creature advanced on her, she stepped back, raised her hands and shouted.
"Stop!"
The sudden silence was deafening. Nevaeh looked around. There must have been two dozen of the creatures still in attack positions, with that many more lying broken on the ground.
