by Zoey Ellis
“All is not lost yet, Cam.” Zak’s voice was gentler.
“It is,” Cam said roughly, lifting his head. “I don’t deserve a mate I cannot protect. I certainly don’t deserve a mate I inflict harm on. How can we move forward if she’s scared of me?”
“That’s her decision, isn’t it? She’s willing to see you, that’s the first step. Next she needs to separate those negative feelings from you. You need to convince her when you go in there.”
“She saw me, Zak. She can’t separate those feelings from me if it was me she saw.”
“It was a part of you she saw,” Zak corrected. “A part that we can deal with. But I think this is your last chance with her. She needs to feel that you won’t turn into that again.”
“How do I promise that? I don’t even know myself.”
“I have an idea,” Zak said. “I just don’t want the two of you to go without seeing each other and build up feelings that don’t belong between you. So it’s a good thing she’s agreed.” He shot Cam a sideways glance. “Do you still feel any of that anger?”
“No. It’s gone.”
“Completely? How do you know?”
Cam swallowed, a little uncomfortable talking about it. “Usually I can feel it under the surface. It’s not there now. It hasn’t been there since I cut her. I don’t know if it’s completely gone.”
Zak dipped his head. “Asteroth said he would consider this a demon attack. He’s not going to mention anything to the Dominion League about the true nature of the incident.”
Cam breathed out, slowly. “He would do that?”
“That’s what he said.” Zak glanced at Cam. “He has a soft spot for you, Cam.”
Cam didn’t know what to make of that.
They sat there in silence for a while and Cam thought about exactly what to say to Thea when he saw her. He had been trying to think of what to say all week, but nothing seemed good enough.
“I know you blame the Creator for Kara, Cam,” Zak said softly, “but you know, she went through great lengths to get you Thea.”
Cam tensed. “What’s your point? That Thea is a replacement for Kara?”
“No. Kara was never supposed to be your mate in the first place. Had you mated her, you never would have met Thea or been able to recognize her as your natural mate.”
“So you’re saying Kara had to die?” Cam’s voice was harsher than he intended.
“No,” Zak said, shaking his head. “But I know you were going to mate Kara out of loyalty, not love or any kind of sexual affection. What I’m saying is, Thea has always been the one for you, and look at all the things that had to happen with her mother for her to even exist and for you two to meet. How can you continue to blame the Creator for Kara when she’s given you, and no one else, such a special mate?”
Cam mulled over Zak’s words trying to find fault, but he couldn’t. He had known all along that Thea was for him. He’d even thanked the Creator when they’d gotten back together after their first fight. He hadn’t cared then about his anger over Kara, he’d just been grateful for Thea. And he was still grateful.
Zak rose. “I have to go and find Dani to see her about a… a text message. Wait for one of the healers to tell you she’s awake before you go in.”
Cam nodded and thanked Zak. He would never know how to repay him for all he’d done. He was truly a great friend—one he couldn’t do without.
Cam sat against the wall, as he had done for the past week and waited for his time to come to speak to Thea. Dani went in and out, healers went in and out, and the day stretched on.
“Camael.”
Cam looked up. An Angel of the Order stood before him. “Yes?”
“You have been summoned by the Thrones.” The Angel held out a piece of paper.
Cam’s heart jumped to his mouth. The mating. He’d forgotten all about it. He got to his feet. “They’ve decided on the mating?” he asked, his chest tightening.
The Angel squinted his eyes and shrugged. Cam nodded, feeling idiotic. Of course he wouldn’t know what the summons was about.
Cam broke the seal and read the summons. The Thrones wanted to see him immediately. He wasn’t on an assignment so there was no reason for them to give him advanced notice, but still, a jagged annoyance shot through him. He glanced at Thea’s door. He was desperate to see her. The healers hadn’t yet said she was awake but part of him wanted to talk to her before he went to the meeting, make sure she was still okay with it.
And yet, the request about them mating had already been made. The Thrones had an answer for them, whether Thea had changed her mind or not. And truthfully, this worked in his favor. Yes, it was selfish, but so what? Zak was right. The Creator had made them natural mates, and if the Thrones agreed to their mating, which they had no reason not to now, then all that was left was to convince Thea he wasn’t the monster she had seen. Any doubts she had, he would make sure they disappeared. Zak had a plan, and Cam trusted him.
He left the healing temple, shifted and flew to the Thrones’ Sanctum.
As he entered the entrance corridor, the familiar angel that always met him there led him back to the same green door. He nodded his thanks and braced himself, trying to calm the nerves jumping around in his veins. Thea was proven to be a Nephilim, albeit a powerful one. There was no reason for them to refuse their mating now.
He entered the room.
Everything looked the same as it was before, except three different Throne angels sat behind the table. Again, they were all blonde and all looked similar, but Cam didn’t care enough this time to try and differentiate between them. He just wanted his answer.
As he stepped into the room, he started as he saw three other angels sat on one side of the room. He paused. This was unusual. He wasn’t aware of anyone having an audience when they went to see the Thrones.
“Don’t worry about them,” one of the Thrones said. “Please come in.”
Cam continued walking toward them, but noticed there was no chair for him. So he stood, his hands clasped before him.
“Camael,” said the middle Throne. “You have been summoned here as you are now under investigation for the sin of Wrath. If you are found guilty, your wings will be taken and you will Fall. Is that understood?”
Shock slammed hard into Cam. No. No, no, no, no, no. They weren’t the Dominion League. They couldn’t do this. Not now. “What?” was all he could say, his voice dull and flat.
“You attacked the Nephilim, Elithea, under the influence of a vengeful rage,” the same Throne said. “It became clear, after looking at the site of the attack, that your behavior and conduct has been deeply inappropriate and unbefitting of a Power angel.”
“I did not attack Thea,” Cam spat, every muscle in his body tensing. “It was an accident. I would never hurt her.”
“Not in your right mind,” said the Throne on the right. “However, you were not in your right mind, were you?”
“I do not report to you about my duties,” Cam growled.
“The Dominion League are right there,” the Throne on the left gestured to the angels watching. “You may say whatever you need to say about your assignment.”
Cam spun around to look at the three angels again. He did indeed recognize them. Gzrel, Laylah, and a female angel with red hair. Their faces were blank; it looked like they had schooled expressions—keen not to give any indication of their feelings about what was happening.
How did they all know?
“You were not in your right mind, were you?” the Throne repeated.
“The Legion task force are all dead, aren't they?” Cam said, rounding on them. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? The Angel Realm is safe once more.”
“At the expense of the Nephilim, Elithea.”
Cam clenched his hands. “Her name is Thea. She prefers to be called Thea, not ‘the Nephilim Elithea.’ You weren’t even that keen on her the last time I came here. Now you’re worried about her?”
“We are con
cerned about all the angels that exist,” said the Throne on the left. “That does not exclude Nephilim. The fact that you nearly destroyed one of the Creator’s most unique beings is a concern—”
“I did not intend it!” Cam shouted. “I love her.”
“You will watch your tone while you’re addressing us, Camael,” the Throne in the middle said, his voice cold and sharp.
There was a silence while Cam glared at them. “She is my natural mate,” he began.
“She is not,” said the Throne on the right. “Nothing would have caused you to attack your natural mate the way you did her.”
Cam grit his teeth. “It was only because—”
“Silence!” the Throne in the middle called out. “With the Dominion League as our witness, you will be confined until the investigation is complete. If you do not comply, we will take your wings immediately. Do you understand?”
“I want to see Thea,” Cam said immediately.
The Throne in the middle narrowed his eyes. “There is no possible way of that happening, Camael.”
“Fuck you! You cannot keep me from her,” Camael roared. He turned to the door but a number of Power angels poured into the room, blocking the way to the door.
He steadied himself, preparing to fight his way through.
“Camael,” boomed one of the Thrones. He sounded as though he had stood up. “You have a choice. You walk into your cell, or you are dragged straight to get your wings ripped from your back.”
Cam considered fighting, but as more Powers entered the room, his heart sank. There was no way he’d get anywhere near Thea. He cursed himself that he didn’t see her when he had the chance. The best he could do was comply and hope the investigation gave him more time. Still, a hot disappointment bounced around within him.
He stood still, waiting to be taken. The Thrones must have given a signal behind his back because the Powers surrounded him and took him deeper into the Sanctum to a large glass room. Cam stepped inside and, as they closed the door, a stiff energy surrounded his body and pulled him up into the center of the room, holding him in midair, his arms outstretched and his legs apart. He had heard of this. It was a Power-proof cell. The energy around him wouldn’t allow him to shift or in any way make use of the gifts the Creator had given him. He couldn’t see outside the room, all the walls reflected back on him. All he could see was the broken angel that had gotten carried away and nearly killed the woman he loved.
He let out an angry roar that almost choked him. He was missing his meeting with Thea. She was the only one that could lift the guilt that was consuming him and now he may never see her. What would she think when he didn’t come? Would her negative feelings about him spiral out of control? The last memory she would have of him was him hurting her, of his violence with the demons. The memory of her wincing away from him cut into Cam like the knife he had cut her with. It almost made him physically ache just to think about it.
But that was all that was left now. His memories. He lifted his head to the glass ceiling, only to see his face looking back at him. He closed his eyes and thought of Thea. He may never hold her again, never kiss or make love to her. Even if he made it out of this, it could take centuries for her to trust him again, even if they mated, and the idea of that hurt worse than anything.
He growled in the back of his throat at what he was losing, lost in thoughts of Thea. He went through each memory with her, picking at them until they were fresh and raw in his head. Touching her, kissing her, feeling her clench around him, her taste, the smile in her eyes, her laugh, her sexy glare…
As time went on, those memories would be the only comfort he would have in that cell, the only thing he had left to live for now that he had almost certainly lost her. Cam hoped with fierce desperation that he would get to hold onto those memories, no matter what his sentence ended up being. But there was only one way he knew for sure he could do that. He sighed and closed his eyes. Reaching out, he connected to the Stream.
End of Book Two
Thank you for reading Ruined by Power! If you enjoyed the story, please take a minute to leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon. Your review will help new readers decide if the book is for them. Reviews are crucial in helping to spread the word and I’d be grateful for your time if you could spare a moment :)
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Cam and Thea’s story continues and concludes in the third book of the series, Awakened By Power, which releases in August 2017. Sign up to my mailing list for a reminder email.
Read on for the sneak peek of Awakened By Power!
Awakened By Power
Not all betrayal can be forgiven…
Thea is destroyed. Cam’s sudden disappearance cuts her deeply and causes her question if she ever really knew him. Shocked by news from the Dominion League, she is sucked into a trap that could threaten Cam, her family, and all she has come to love.
Cam has resigned himself to the consequences of his actions. Although he is devastated, he vows to ensure Thea is kept safe, even if she’s not with him. When he is given one final chance show Thea the depths of his love for her, to save her and truly earn her trust, he embraces it with a fierce determination. He will not fail.
Awakened by Power is the third book in the Empire of Angels series, a paranormal alpha angel romance series. If you’re a fan of alpha heroes, powerful heroines, gritty paranormal worlds and destined mates, start with the first book, Claimed By Power.
About the end: This book is the final book in Cam and Thea’s story and it has a HEA.
Passionate, sexual scenes and strong language included. Not suitable for readers under 18.
Chapter One
THEA
Cool fingers slid up the side of Thea’s head, threading through her hair. They rested on her head, releasing the refreshing healing energy into her scalp, and she sighed as the intense pounding in her head began to dwindle.
“I’m not sure why your headache is still so persistent,” said Simiel, her healer. He was a stern-looking Archangel with sad eyes, who had been assigned to her once it was established she needed long term care.
She opened her eyes to see the puzzled expression on his face. Although he had been extremely strict about her care and treatment, sometimes berating her when she didn’t follow his instructions, she had grown fond of his company. “Is it anything to worry about?”
Thea woke up with a headache almost every morning. She’d been bedridden since the attack by Cam had left her half-dead. She was feeling better and a little stronger every day, but her body was still weak.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “Any problems sleeping?”
Thea swallowed. “No.” She held the healer’s eyes hoping he wouldn’t know she was lying. Her nights had been difficult. She’d been stuck in this treatment room alone with little to do and nothing to keep her occupied. Her mind wouldn’t relax enough for her to go to sleep and it did, her dreams were disturbed.
With the healing energy from his hands penetrating her skull, the headache faded into nothing
“Very strange,” said the healer, pulling his hands away from her head. “That should be enough for now. I’ll check on you again later.”
Thea smiled at him gratefully. “Thanks, doc.”
He nodded, a slight smile on his face. He seemed to like the term ‘doc’.
After he left, she threw her covers off and pushed herself up slowly onto her elbows. Once there, she inched her way up, pausing to breathe every so often, until she was upright. She waited until her breathing slowed, then moved her legs to the side of the bed, allowing them to slide over the edge. She breathed a sigh and then cursed in frustration. It had been almost four months since the attack and still her limbs were weak and felt like jelly most of the time. They ached if she pushed them too hard. She hadn’t realized it would take her so long to heal.
From where she sat, she could see a partial view of the Angel Realm through the
window, though she couldn’t hear anything. Angels soared through the air, their robes flapping in the wind, while others strolled the streets below among the pastel-colored buildings. Same as always. It seemed on the surface like nothing had changed, but it had.
Her beautiful warrior angel, her mate who she had trusted and given up her world for, had cut her with a blade soaked in demon blood. Then he had disappeared.
The day she had told Zak that she would see Cam, he never showed. Zak hadn’t returned to visit, either, which was odd. When she’d asked Simiel, he said he didn’t concern himself with anything Powers or Dominions did and therefore wasn’t able to help her. Dani didn’t know anything either.
The plain, white walls around her were the only ones she had seen for months, and she could feel herself slowly going crazy. There was no color, no sensory experience she could latch onto in the room. If it wasn’t for Dani’s regular visits and Simiel’s treatments, she would feel like she had been left there to rot.
A rhythmic knock at the door pulled her attention away from the window, and she turned to see Dani flounce into the room.
“Hey, you’re up!”
Thea managed a smile. “Yeah, and it took ages.”
Dani dropped into the chair next her bed. Her copper hair remained the same, silky and short. Her relaxed demeanor was comforting, but her violet blue eyes swept over Thea with concern, even as she smiled back. “But it’s progress.”
Thea grunted and turned back to the window. “How’s Amber?”
Dani’s hesitation forced Thea to glance at her. “She said Maddy’s fourth birthday is coming up in six months and she wants you to be there.”
Thea clenched her fist, ignoring the pain that shot through her arm. Maddy was growing up without her, and she had promised Amber that wouldn’t happen. She hadn’t even been able to view the pictures Amber texted her thanks to the lack of cell service in the Angel Realm.
