Anna (Book 2, The Redemption Series)

by S. J. West

  “Thank you, Linn,” I say, grateful that at least one of them is appreciative of my efforts.

  The guys then start to tell me what a great job I did, and I graciously accept their accolades, even though they are a bit belated.

  When dessert rolls around, I wonder what Malcolm has prepared for us to eat.

  Millie and Giles bring in plates with little blue boxes wrapped with white ribbon.

  I stare at mine when it’s placed in front of me.

  Could this be it? The box was certainly big enough to hold a ring inside and then some.

  “Ok, I tried to remember what everyone’s favorite was,” Malcolm tells us. “And for sweet Anna, I had to make an educated guess. Please open your boxes now.”

  We all begin to open our boxes, and I can feel Malcolm watching me closely. I slowly pull on the white ribbon, letting it fall on either side of the box before I lift the lid.

  It’s not a ring. There are three pieces of chocolate candy in the shape of hearts lying within the box.

  I hear Desmond laugh across the table from me as he lifts the treat out of his box.

  “An Irish potato candy,” he says. “I haven’t seen one of these in ages!”

  I watch Daniel and Linn both pull out what look like dense little cakes with strange symbols on their tops from their boxes.

  “A moon cake!” Linn says with joy, quickly taking a bite out of hers and looking like a kid who has just been given her most favorite treat in the world.

  “I bet I can guess what’s in mine,” Brutus says, lifting the lid of his box. A slow smile spreads his lips as he peers into it. “Just as I thought.”

  “What did you get, Uncle Brutus?” Lucas asks.

  Brutus pulls out a piece of candy. “It’s honey sesame seed candy. Would you like a taste?”

  Lucas doesn’t have to be asked twice. He promptly gets out of his seat on the other side of Malcolm and goes to Brutus to sample his treat.

  Jered opens his box and smiles.

  “How in the world did you find Jelly Babies?” Jered asks Malcolm.

  “I have ways of getting things,” Malcolm says mysteriously.

  Malcolm looks over at me smiling. “I wasn’t completely sure which flavors you would like best so I put in three different ones, strawberry, caramel and vanilla.”

  I try to smile convincingly, but I can’t help but feel a bit let down that I didn’t find a ring inside the box.

  Malcolm must notice my disappointment because he asks, “Are none of those flavors your favorite?”

  “Strawberry is my favorite,” I tell him, trying to pull together a convincing smile. “Thank you.”

  Malcolm picks up what must be the strawberry filled candy from my box and brings it to my lips. I accept the sweet confection and eat it while he cups one side of my face with his hand.

  “I love you,” he mouths, but doesn’t say out loud in front of our company.

  I nod, letting him know I understood what he said.

  After everyone eats their special treat, Malcolm says to me, “Why don’t you take Linn to the sitting room? We’ll help Millie and Giles clean up the table.”

  “Well, I don’t mind helping.”

  “No,” Malcolm says to me. “You cooked the meal. You shouldn’t have to clean up after it too.”

  “I don’t mind,” I protest.

  “Oh, let the boys handle things for once,” Linn says to me. “It’s been ages since I was able to talk to another woman without little ones being around. Let’s not pass this opportunity up, Anna.”

  Linn simply wasn’t someone you could say no to.

  We leave the dining room, and I notice that even Lucas stays behind to help.

  “So,” Linn says as we walk to the sitting room across the foyer from the formal dining room, “how has your time here been?”

  “It’s been the happiest time in my life,” I admit.

  Linn smiles at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Malcolm so happy either. It’s nice to see him like this.” Linn is quiet for a moment before asking, “What’s it like to be with your soul mate?”

  Knowing that Daniel and Linn aren’t soul mates, I have to ask, “Why do you want to know?”

  Linn shrugs. “I’ve always wondered if Daniel gave up on finding his too soon.”

  “But Daniel loves you, Linn,” I tell her. “Anyone who spends time with the two of you can see that.”

  Linn nods. “Yes, I know he loves me. I love him too. But, seeing you with Malcolm makes me wonder if he should have waited. I fear he might come to regret his decision to marry me and settle for what we have.”

  “You should never think that,” I tell her. “If you ask me, he’s lucky to have met someone who loves him so much. I haven’t seen an ounce of regret in Daniel’s eyes when he looks at you, only love.”

  We enter the sitting room and sit on the plush, evergreen sofa in front of the fireplace. A roaring fire is blazing giving the room a soft, orange glow.

  “I’m not sure why the lights aren’t on in here,” I say, making to get up to find the light switch, but Linn places a hand gently on my arm to stop me.

  “Why don’t we just sit here and enjoy the fire?” she suggests. “It makes things so nice and cozy.”

  I remain seated.

  “All right,” I say. “I’m sure the guys will be in here soon anyway. They’ll probably turn the lights on when they come in.”

  We sit in silence for a moment, but it doesn’t last past a few seconds before I hear someone singing right outside the room.

  I look towards the entrance of the sitting room and see Desmond walk in while he sings about having sunshine on a cloudy day. He comes to a stop in front of me and Linn with the glow of the fire at his back.

  A deep voice joins Desmond’s as Brutus walks in next singing about it being cold outside and comes to stand by Desmond’s side.

  Daniel walks in next singing about the month of May and comes to stand with the two already in front of me.

  Jered saunters in singing the next line and comes to stand with the other three. As they hit the chorus of the song, it acts as a cue for Lucas to join the group as he jumps into the room and points his little index fingers straight at me singing ‘my girl’ with gusto before twirling around and dancing over to stand by the gathering of Watchers in front of me.

  The whole scene makes me giggle with delight, and I have a hard time suppressing my mirth at their impromptu song and, believe it or not, dance as they start swaying back and forth in unison to sing the next few lines of the song and the second chorus.

  A new voice joins the singing group as Malcolm strolls in singing that he doesn’t need money, fortune, or fame. He stands a couple of feet away from the others as they all continue to sing and dance their coordinated routine, and I finally understand why they were all dressed in the same suit.

  Near the end of the song, Malcolm walks out of the room, still singing, and walks back in with a red ribbon in one of his hands which trails out the room’s entrance. He comes to kneel in front of me and takes my left hand into his. He ties the end of the red ribbon around my ring finger into a bow just as he sings the last two words of the song while looking into my eyes.

  He leans up and kisses me gently on the lips before saying, “Find me, my love.”

  Malcolm rises to his feet and walks out of the room.

  “Go, go, go!” Lucas says excitedly, waving me out the door to go after his father.

  I’m smiling so wide my cheeks begin to hurt, but I don’t care because I know what all this means.

  I rise from the couch and follow the red ribbon trail.

  As I walk out of the sitting room, I notice a small white note card tied to the ribbon. I pick it up and read it.

  To My Love

  I look further down the ribbon and notice there are a few note cards tied to it in regular intervals. As I follow the ribbon, I read them in sequence.

  My life has simply been a string of moments
<
br />   Moments leading me up to this time in my life

  A life filled with pain and heartache

  Only now does my heart understand the true meaning of loving someone

  And being loved

  My deepest desire is to make you the happiest woman in this world

  And I hope you give me the opportunity to do just that

  I’m standing beside the door which leads to the outer courtyard now. The red ribbon leads out past the door, but someone has hung a thick wool cloak on the door handle. I drape the cloak across my shoulders hastily and pull up the hood over my head. Sticking out from the doorjamb is another note.

  Beyond this door stands a man who wishes to give you all of him. Find me, my love. I want to ask you the most important question of my life…

  I place my hand on the door handle and hesitate. I don’t hesitate because I don’t want to hear Malcolm’s question to me, but because my heart is beating so rapidly inside my chest I feel like I might pass out. I close my eyes and take a few steadying breaths before I turn the handle and open not only a door to the outside world, but the way into my future.

  It’s snowing outside. The ground is covered in a light scattering of white so I know it hasn’t been coming down for very long. The red ribbon in my hand leads out to the middle of the courtyard where I see Malcolm standing, waiting for me.

  Beside him on a wooden pedestal is the birdhouse he, Lucas and I spent the last seven days building together. The end of the red ribbon leads to the small front porch of the house. I follow the ribbon up to it and find a ring tied with the other end of it to one of the front posts. I drop the ribbon and note cards in my hands to the ground and gently untie the other end of it to release the ring into the palm of my hand.

  It’s a beautiful three diamond ring where the diamonds are arranged vertically instead of horizontally along the band. Smaller diamonds surround the three larger ones and extend down the band on both sides. As I’m looking at the ring, I’m faintly aware of Malcolm lowering himself beside me onto one knee. He takes my free hand into his as I meet his gaze with my own.

  “Anna,” he says, “there has never been anyone like you in my life before. For the very first time in my entire existence, I want to share all that I am with someone else. The three diamonds in the ring you hold represent my past, my present and our future. I ask that you accept everything I ever was, everything that I am, and everything I hope to be for you and our children. If you can accept all of that, please say that you will marry me and not only become my wife but my partner in this life and the next.”

  As I look at Malcolm, I can’t believe the uncertainty I see in his eyes as he waits for my answer.

  “Of course I’ll marry you, Malcolm,” I tell him like my answer should have simply been a foregone conclusion. “What took you so long?”

  Malcolm smiles and stands to his feet. He takes the ring from my other hand and slips it onto my finger.

  He brings me into his arms, and I hear him let out a long sigh of relief.

  I hug him tighter wanting to make sure he understands how much I love him, how much he truly means to me. It’s then I realize I’ll have the rest of our lives to do just that.

  Chapter 21

  “I have something else to ask you,” Malcolm says, pulling away from me as he places an arm around my waist and faces us towards the birdhouse we built as a family in his workshop.

  “There was a reason I wanted all three of us to work on this birdhouse together,” he tells me. “It’s a house I intend to build for us one day, and I want you to decide where it should go.”

  “That’s easy,” I say, instantly knowing the exact spot I want it built. “I want you to build it where the old beach house is.”

  “Really?” Malcolm asks in surprise. “I would have thought that place held too many bad memories for you.”

  “Not really,” I tell him, remembering back through what happened there. “It holds a certain significance for me because it’s where I met Will, God, and Lucifer for the first time. I also got to learn more about you while I was in your dream world. It might not have been the best way to learn what I did, but it still made me feel more connected to you. It was the first time I truly understood why Lilly means so much to you.”

  “If that’s where you want me to build it,” Malcolm says, bringing me into his arms, “then that’s where it shall be built.”

  I raise my hands and smooth out the collar of Malcolm’s tuxedo while I ask, “Malcolm, now that we’re officially engaged, how long do you intend to make me wait for a wedding?”

  “We can have it anytime you want.”

  “Then let’s go have it right now,” I suggest eagerly, grabbing one of his hands and practically yanking him off his feet as I make my way back towards the house. “It’s the perfect time! Everyone is already here.”

  Malcolm laughs at my eagerness but doesn’t make any protest. He runs beside me as we make it back into the house.

  We find everyone in the sitting room, but we also find a guest neither of us could have expected to see.

  Olivia Ravensdale, Empress of Nacreous, stands in the middle of the room with everyone around her listening to whatever it is she’s saying.

  “I just don’t know what to do,” we hear her tell the others as we enter the room. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “Olivia?” I ask, remembering she insisted that I call her by her first name at the wedding reception in Cirrus. “What in the world are you doing here? Is something wrong?”

  From the look on the faces of everyone else in the room, I can only assume something is terribly wrong.

  “Anna,” Olivia says, relief in her voice to see me. She glances at Malcolm by my side. “Overlord Devereaux, I’m so sorry for barging into your home like this, but I needed to see Anna to seek her guidance on a matter.”

  “You’re welcome in any of my homes at any time, Empress Olivia,” Malcolm says graciously.

  “How can I help you?” I ask her as we come to stand in front of her.

  “When we were at your wedding to Augustus, everyone in Cirrus was commenting on how different your husband was now compared to how he used to be. I need to know…what was different? Why did he change from the sweet, loving, respectful Auggie we all knew to the creature who was standing by your side at the reception?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  Olivia’s eyes drop to the floor for a moment before she meets my gaze again.

  “Something is wrong with my husband, Horatio. He is most definitely not himself.”

  Olivia’s statement suddenly causes tension to fill the room. I can see the strained looks on the other Watchers’ faces. When I look at Malcolm, I see a tightness in the set of his jaw now that wasn’t there a few minutes ago. I know exactly what it means.

  “When did he start acting differently?” I ask Olivia, needing to get as much information as possible from her to confirm our suspicions.

  “Oh, let’s see,” Olivia says, her eyes becoming a little unfocused as she thinks back. “About a week ago, I guess. I noticed a difference in him one morning. Horatio normally gets up early to go for a run through the city, but that morning he stayed in bed until almost noon! When he finally did wake up, he immediately left the palace and began a week long drinking binge. And…” I can tell what Olivia has to say next is difficult for her. “He has been spending an inordinate amount of time in establishments he has never visited before for female companionship. I don’t know who that man is, but he is certainly not my husband. Considering how differently Auggie was when we last saw him, I thought you might be able to lend some light on the situation and help me find a way to change my husband back to the man he used to be.”

  I look to Malcolm because I’m not sure how much we should tell Empress Olivia about what’s actually going on. If one of the princes has indeed taken over the body of her husband, I feel an obligation to tell her that he’s dead.

  “Empress Olivia…” Malcolm begins
.

  “Oh, just call me Olivia, Malcolm. I think we can dispense with the formalities.”

  “Olivia,” Malcolm says instead, “I think you better sit down for the explanation we’re about to give. There’s a lot you need to know to fully understand what’s happened to your husband.”

  Olivia looks alarmed by what Malcolm has said, but she also looks somewhat relieved that he has the answers she’s looking for.

  Almost an hour later, we’ve all tried to ease Olivia into our world of angels and demons and the dangers we face. She held in her grief when she learned her husband was dead. I think the reality of how her life just changed simply hadn’t sunk in yet. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t have much time to get used to her new situation. If one of the princes of Hell was indeed in possession of Horatio Ravensdale’s body, then it was more than likely I would have to kill him.

  “We need to go to Nacreous as soon as possible,” Malcolm says to us all. “Once we see Horatio, we’ll be able to tell who he really is.”

  “Well,” Olivia says, “my eldest son is having his eighteenth birthday party this evening at the palace. I’ve invited all the royals from the other cloud cities to attend but thus far no one has responded.”

  “Isn’t that odd?” I ask Olivia.

  “No, not really,” she says with a melancholy smile. “Nacreous isn’t rich enough to be considered part of the inner circle. Sending the invitations was more of a formality than anything. But, you are still Empress of Cirrus so your presence wouldn’t be considered out of the ordinary to those in attendance. The party will provide the perfect excuse to have you there. It will seem a little odd that you come with your lover by your side instead of your husband, but we in Nacreous have always been rather non-judgmental when it concerns matters of the heart.”

  “My lover?” I ask, somewhat taken aback by this news. “Is that what people think Malcolm is to me?”