Unless I’d managed to bring him back… by giving up my memories of him in return.
“You don’t remember.” His eyes dimmed, and my heart dropped at knowing I’d disappointed him.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated. “Are you sure that you know me?”
“I more than know you,” he said. “I love you. And you love me. At least, you did.”
“Is there somewhere we can go to talk?” I asked, suddenly aware of the hundreds of eyes watching us in the dining room. “Alone?”
“Certainly.” He straightened, ever the gentleman. “We can go to my cabin. Can your chaperone get settled here alone?” He glanced at Noah, and my heart sank once more.
Noah had stepped away from Peter and me, unable to meet my eyes. One glance at his face showed that he was crushed.
“That won’t be necessary,” Noah said, wiping all emotion from his expression. “I’m going to return to the Vale. Annika is coming in a few days to assess the volunteers who want to go to Avalon, and I want to be there for that.”
“You want to go to Avalon?” His confession hurt me.
I thought he wanted to come here with me.
“I do.” His eyes took on a fierceness that I hadn’t seen in him since he believed he was the First Prophet of the wolves. “If it hadn’t been for me, that Hell Gate wouldn’t have opened. I need to do everything I can to banish those demons back to Hell where they belong. To do that, I have to train to be a better fighter. I have to go to Avalon.”
“I understand,” I said, since I did—his reasons were similar to why I’d wanted to come to the Haven. “But if you feel that way, why did you come here with me?”
“Because I thought you needed me,” he said. “But now that you’ve reunited with Peter, I can see that you don’t.”
“That’s not true…” I said, although my voice wavered as I spoke.
“It is.” He leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on my forehead. “You belong here—with him.”
I wanted to tell him he was wrong, but I couldn’t. “Will you at least keep in contact with me?” I asked instead. “So I know how you’re doing?”
He stepped back, his eyes cold. “I think it’s best that we go our separate ways for now,” he said.
His words hurt, but I nodded, since I understood. Noah cared deeply for me, just as I had for him. As I still did for him.
But the moment I’d seen Peter, I knew that what I felt for Noah hadn’t been love. I cared for Noah as a friend, I’d depended on him and trusted him during a difficult time, and he was undeniably attractive. But we weren’t meant to be.
While I couldn’t remember my time with Peter, my feelings for him and the way my body reacted to him were undeniable. I’d truly loved him. I still loved him. With him, my soul felt whole.
And so I followed Peter back to his cabin, ready to tell him what I knew, and ready to make new memories… together.
Noah
Leaving Karina with Peter was the hardest thing I’d ever done. But I saw the way she looked at him.
With him, she was finally home.
I loved Karina, but she would never return those feelings. And because I loved her, I wanted her to be happy. She would be happy with Peter. There was no place for me in her life anymore—at least, not the way I wanted there to be.
I truly had loved her enough to give up the idea of Avalon for the Haven. But that was no longer relevant. And so, Shivani returned me to the Vale, where as promised, Annika arrived a few days later to assess the volunteers and decide if she thought there would be a place for us in Avalon.
I stepped into the small room for my individual assessment, coming face to face with the angel who had set all of this into motion.
I’d only seen her once before—right after the Hell Gate had been closed. She radiated strength and determination, although her gaze held a softness that made me feel at ease in her presence. Or maybe I felt at ease because she dressed simply, in jeans and a tank top. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected an angel to wear, but it hadn’t been that.
The only things that hinted she was a powerful leader were the sword strapped to her back and the dagger on her side.
“The First Prophet.” She raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.”
“I’d like to come to Avalon to train.” I held her gaze, not wanting to appear weak. “If you’ll have me, of course.”
She eyed me up in what felt like the longest few seconds of my life.
“The demon Samael slipped into your mind and planted visions in your dreams,” she finally said. “You accepted his suggestions without question and gathered packs of wolves to kill innocent vampires.”
Her accusation made me hang my head in shame. “I know what I’ve done,” I said, forcing myself to meet her eyes again. “Everyone knows what I’ve done. Which is why I feel even more of a responsibility to help send every last demon back to Hell where they belong.”
“Only Nephilim can kill greater demons,” she said. “You’re aware of this—correct?”
“I am,” I said. “But with proper weapon, anyone can kill lesser demons. Supernaturals may not be able to transition into Nephilim, but we can help you fight. At least, that’s what we were told when we learned you were accepting volunteers to come train at Avalon.”
“It’s true,” she said. “However, it’s important that our warriors are strong in both body and mind. You showed weakness by allowing Samael to get into your head and by believing him without question. Also, Avalon is not a place to go to hide from heartbreak.”
“How do you know about that?” I asked.
“I’ve been in contact with Mary,” she said. “She informed me about what happened at the Haven. I understand that you’re hurt, but running away from problems has never helped solve them.”
“I’m not running away,” I said. “I wanted to go to Avalon from the start. I only went to the Haven for Karina.”
Just saying her name sent daggers through my heart.
I swallowed to get rid of the pain, but I feared that the loss of what was only just starting to form between the princess and me would never go away.
“You’ll heal in time,” Annika said, as if she knew what I was thinking.
My emotions were probably written all over my face, so I straightened my shoulders, composing myself. “My personal life won’t interfere with my training,” I said. “I can’t stay in the Vale. I’ll never be able to look at the packs without being reminded how I failed them. Avalon is the only place where I can try to make this right—it’s the only place where I’ll have purpose again.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like you’re a good fit for Avalon.” She glanced at the door, her easy dismissal feeling like a punch to my gut. “Please send the next applicant in.”
I turned and headed toward the door, but halfway there, I stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t leave this room without doing everything possible to get to Avalon.
And so, I turned around, facing the Earth angel once more.
She tilted her head, as if surprised by my move.
“I’m a good fighter.” I stood straighter, keeping my voice strong and confident. “You’re right—I should have questioned the visions sent to me by Samael. I didn’t, and because of that, hundreds were killed. I know more will die because of the demons that were released. I’ll never forgive myself for that. All I can do is devote the rest of my life to sending them back to Hell. Training at Avalon and fighting with the Nephilim is the best way I can do that. So tell me, Your Highness—”
“Annika,” she interrupted me. “We still haven’t developed a chain of command in Avalon, but it definitely won’t have anything to do with royalty. So for now, please call me Annika.”
“Annika.” I nodded, although it felt strange to address an angel so casually. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”
She pressed her lips together, and I held my breath, bracing for her to dismiss me a second
time.
“Yes,” she said, and I blinked, stunned by her answer. “If you can bring me the teeth of ten demons that you’ve killed, I’ll allow you to live and train in Avalon.”
“That’s it?” I waited for more, because surely there must be a catch.
“Do you want to bring me twenty teeth instead?” She tilted her head, a playful smile on her lips.
“No,” I said, since the fewer teeth she required, the sooner I could get to Avalon. “Ten is good.”
“I thought so.” She reached for her dagger and pulled it out of its sheath, holding it out to me. “This dagger has been dipped in heavenly water, giving it the power to kill demons. Make sure not to lose it—I won’t give you another one.”
“Thank you.” I took the dagger and gripped it tightly, prepared to guard it with my life. “Where should I go to find the demons?”
“That’s for you to figure out,” she said. “In the meantime, I’m going to be busy training the new recruits, so only contact me once you have the ten demon teeth. If you come to me before then, my offer will be revoked.”
“Understood,” I said. “Thank you for this chance.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled—she was so warm and genuine that I knew she’d make an excellent leader. “Now, go send the next volunteer in.”
I headed toward the door again, my mind racing with ideas of where to start demon hunting. I’d always wanted to see America—there were rumors about supernaturals secretly roaming free in America, unattached to any kingdom.
I could start in California and make my way east from there.
“And Noah?” Annika asked as I laid my hand on the doorknob.
I looked at her over my shoulder, waiting for her to continue.
“Good luck,” she said.
“I won’t let you down,” I promised.
Then I flung the door open and left with my head held high, ready to get started on my mission.
I hope you enjoyed The Vampire War, and that you loved The Vampire Wish series as much as I loved writing it.
While Annika and Jacen’s story is over, there’s a lot more story left to be told in this world. Get ready for the first book in Noah and Raven’s series—The Angel Trials—in early 2018. But first, I’ll be writing a prequel novella from Jacen’s point of view about how he was turned into a vampire, and the novella will be FREE to my newsletter subscribers! To receive your free copy of Jacen’s novella once it releases, CLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter.
While you wait for Jacen’s novella and The Angel Trials, I recommend reading my Elementals series if you haven’t yet. Check out the book cover, description, and sneak peak next—you may have to turn the page to see it.
This box set includes all five books in the USA Today recommended Elementals series and is over 1,400 pages of magic, adventure, mythology, and romance.
Nicole Cassidy is a witch descended from the Greek gods... but she doesn't know it until she moves to a new town and discovers a dangerous world of magic and monsters that she never knew existed.
When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole and four others -- including mysterious bad-boy Blake -- are gifted with elemental powers. But the comet has another effect -- it opens the portal to another dimension that has imprisoned the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes, it's up to Nicole and the others to follow a cryptic prophecy in time to save the town... and possibly the world.
Thousands of copies sold. Over ten MILLION pages read. 500+ five-star reviews for the series. Now, for a limited time, save 50% compared to buying the individual books by reading the entire Elementals series in this special bundle deal!
CLICK HERE to grab the box set on Amazon, or turn the page for a sneak peak.
Elementals: Chapter One
The secretary fumbled through the stacks of papers on her desk, searching for my schedule. “Here it is.” She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. “I’m Mrs. Dopkin. Feel free to come to me if you have any questions.”
“Thanks.” I looked at the schedule, which had my name on the top, and listed my classes and their locations. “This can’t be right.” I held it closer, as if that would make it change. “It has me in all honors classes.”
She frowned and clicked around her computer. “Your schedule is correct,” she said. “Your homeroom teacher specifically requested that you be in the honors courses.”
“But I wasn’t in honors at my old school.”
“It doesn’t appear to be a mistake,” she said. “And the late bell’s about to ring, so if you need a schedule adjustment, come back at the end of the day so we can discuss it. You’re in Mr. Faulkner’s homeroom, in the library. Turn right out of the office and walk down the hall. You’ll see the library on the right. Go inside and head all the way to the back. Your homeroom is in the only door there. Be sure to hurry—you don’t want to be late.”
She returned to her computer, apparently done talking to me, so I thanked her for her help and left the office.
Kinsley High felt cold compared to my school in Georgia, and not just in the literal sense. Boxy tan lockers lined every wall, and the concrete floor was a strange mix of browns that reminded me of throw-up. The worst part was that there were no windows anywhere, and therefore a serious lack of sunlight.
I preferred the warm green carpets and open halls at my old school. Actually I preferred everything about my small Georgia town, especially the sprawling house and the peach tree farm I left behind. But I tried not to complain too much to my parents.
After all, I remembered the way my dad had bounced around the living room while telling us about his promotion to anchorman on the news station. It was his dream job, and he didn’t mind that the only position available was in Massachusetts. My mom had jumped on board with the plan to move, confident that her paintings would sell better in a town closer to a major city. My younger sister Becca had liked the idea of starting fresh, along with how the shopping in Boston apparently exceeded anything in our town in Georgia.
There had to be something about the move for me to like. Unfortunately, I had yet to find it.
I didn’t realize I’d arrived at the library until the double doors were in front of me. At least I’d found it without getting lost.
I walked inside the library, pleased to find it was nothing like the rest of the school. The golden carpet and wooden walls were warm and welcoming, and the upstairs even had windows. I yearned to run toward the sunlight, but the late bell had already rung, so I headed to the back of the library. Hopefully being new would give me a free pass on being late.
Just as the secretary had said, there was only one door. But with it’s ancient peeling wood, it looked like it led to a storage room, not a classroom. And there was no glass panel, so I couldn’t peek inside. I had to assume this was it.
I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob, my hand trembling. It’s your first day, I reminded myself. No one’s going to blame you for being late on your first day.
I opened the door, halfway expecting it to be a closet full of old books or brooms. But it wasn’t a closet.
It was a classroom.
Everyone stared at me, and I looked to the front of the room, where a tall, lanky man in a tweed suit stood next to a blackboard covered with the morning announcements. His gray hair shined under the light, and his wrinkled skin and warm smile reminded me more of a grandfather than a teacher.
He cleared his throat and rolled a piece of chalk in his palm. “You must be Nicole Cassidy,” he said.
“Yeah.” I nodded and looked around at the other students. There were about thirty of them, and there seemed to be an invisible line going down the middle of the room, dividing them in half. The students near the door wore jeans and sweatshirts, but the ones closer to the wall looked like they were dressed for a fashion show instead of school.
“It’s nice to meet you Nicole.” The teacher sounded sincere, like he
was meeting a new friend instead of a student. “Welcome to our homeroom. I’m Mr. Faulkner, but please call me Darius.” He turned to the chalkboard, lifted his hand, and waved it from one side to the other. “You probably weren’t expecting everything to look so normal, but we have to be careful. As I’m sure you know, we can’t risk letting anyone else know what goes on in here.”
Then the board shimmered—like sunlight glimmering off the ocean—and the morning announcements changed into different letters right in front of my eyes.
Elementals: Chapter Two
I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. What I’d just seen couldn’t have been real.
At least the board had stopped shimmering, although instead of the morning announcements, it was full of information about the meanings of different colors. I glanced at the other students, and while a few of them smiled, they were mostly unfazed. They just watched me, waiting for me to say something. Darius also stood calmly, waiting for my reaction.
“How did you do that?” I finally asked.
“It’s easy,” Darius said. “I used magic. Well, a task like that wouldn’t have been easy for you, since you’re only in your second year of studies, but given enough practice you’ll get the hang of it.” He motioned to a seat in the second row, next to a girl with chin-length mousy brown hair. “Please sit down, and we’ll resume class.”
I stared at him, not moving. “You used … magic,” I repeated, the word getting stuck in my throat. I looked around the room again, waiting for someone to laugh. This had to be a joke. After all, an owl hadn’t dropped a letter down my fireplace to let me know I’d been accepted into a special school, and I certainly hadn’t taken an enchanted train to get to Kinsley High. “Funny. Now tell me what you really did.”
The Vampire War Page 15
