by Kim Loraine
"You're quite talented at stating the obvious. You know, for a king, I would've thought you'd be more astute."
A demon leaps toward him, a scream of rage filling the air as it closes the distance. Arthur widens his stance and meets the demon with the edge of his blade. It's quick and brutal as the power of Excalibur turns the demon to nothing more than a charred husk.
"I should've kept that sword," I mutter.
"It's meant for me. It was calling me."
Before we can make a break for it through the hole in the line of demons in front of us, I hear a snap of twigs behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I fight a wave of panic at the sight of ten more red-eyed demons closing in on us.
"They've got us surrounded," I say, putting my back to him so we can both defend against this attack.
"Now!" their leader screams, and they follow her orders. Snarls and shouts echo on the hilltop, the peaceful rolling hills an ironically calm backdrop to the evil infiltrating the night.
I try to muster as much grace as possible in hopes my wings can carry us away, but nothing comes. I'll be down at least a full day after what happened in purgatory.
"We take down as many as possible. Agreed?" I ask.
Arthur nods. "Agreed."
The demons have formed a circle around us, slowly tightening until there's no way out. We'll fight, Arthur will die, and I will be tortured until I go insane. My mind will be trapped in memories of Helena's deaths. But at least I'll have fought until the very last.
The air shifts and hums with electricity, clouds building and billowing overhead—gathering in an ominous swirl sparked with lighting.
"What is that?" Arthur asks.
On the horizon, I see her. A woman, her long dark hair blowing in the wind, arms raised, hands reaching for the sky. She's here to exact revenge, to end this now. But she's gone. I saw it. There should be no possible way for her to exist here now.
Fat raindrops fall hard and fast, rapidly soaking through my clothes and causing the earth to become damp and soggy. Thunder rumbles directly over us, the sheer volume causing my entire being to vibrate. And then the lightning strikes. Over and over all around us until the demons are nothing but stinking sulfur piles. My limbs tingle, the electricity radiating up through the soles of my shoes and Arthur lets out a pained noise. His chainmail glows blue with the remnants of the lighting as it runs over him.
Then, as quick as it started, the storm is gone. We stand together, both still here, both relatively unharmed.
"So sorry about the residual shock. I'm not quite used to controlling the elements." Helena's voice is like a balm to my wounded soul.
"Helena? Is it really you?"
She runs for me, hair flying behind her, tears on her cheeks. "Are you all right? No damage done?"
"A minute more and neither of us would still be standing. How the bloody hell did you get here?"
I don't let her answer, I can't. Instead, I pull her in for a fierce kiss. She's mine. She's in my arms. There's nothing more important than that at the moment. But to my extreme disappointment, she pulls away. "Michael."
"What?"
"Michael gave me a choice. I chose you."
"But…how did you get your power back? It's inside the moonstone."
Her brow furrows. "I'm not certain of the details, but I think Michael may have instilled in me some angelic grace."
"No. He's not that generous." But when I press my palm over her heart, I feel it. Grace flows through her veins. She's part angel now.
"We have to return to my sisters and help find the moonstone. I'm the only one of the three of us who has magic now and I'm certain whoever Calista sent the stone to is up to no good."
Nodding, I thread my fingers with hers and bring the back of my hand to my lips. "We will. But I don't have enough power to take us all to them and we can't leave Arthur behind."
"Arthur?" She frowns and glances behind me at the man.
I follow her gaze, looking over my shoulder. "Excalibur called to him. We have to protect him."
He's leaning heavily on the sword he has planted in the ground. The man needs rest, a hot meal, and some time to come to terms with his new reality. A lot has changed since he was last in this world.
"We can make the trip if we work together, Fallen. Put your hand on his shoulder."
I don't argue, but I doubt she's strong enough. "Where are they?"
A grin turns up her delectable mouth. "Ireland, where else?"
"Close your eyes, picture the cottage."
She does, and I follow suit, murmuring in Enochian, begging for enough grace to spark our journey. I feel hers running from her palm into me and as the world around us changes, the sensation of movement takes me. When I open my eyes, we're there. The same cottage where she summoned me not long ago. Melted chocolate and creamed butter, salty sea, freshly tilled earth, all these scents hit me at once. The witches are here.
"We did it. We fucking did it!" She jumps up and down, elation shining in her eyes.
I release my hold on Arthur and smile. "We did."
Arthur sways on his feet and falls to the ground writhing in pain. Helena’s eyes widen. “What’s wrong with him?”
Kneeling, I assess the man and my stomach turns to stone at the sight of distinct claw marks running across the inside of his forearm. Blood soaks his sleeve. “Demon venom. He needs to be cared for. We need to get him inside.”
23
Helena
The cottage should be a home for me. My sisters are inside. With my new angelic senses, I can feel them. Their energy calls to me. But my stomach twists at the thought of facing them after everything. I shake my head, clearing my fears. Arthur needs Izzy’s healing gift. Still, I hesitate.
"What's wrong, love?" Tamiel strokes his warm palm down my back.
"They're in there."
"They are."
"What if they hate me? I put them at risk, stole their magic, and then they had to bury me."
He looks deep into my eyes, his beautiful platinum irises holding me captive. "Just like me, they could never hate you. You're their family. My family. We'll never let you go."
With a nod, I stride forward as Tamiel throws Arthur over his shoulder. We’ll deal with any consequences of my choices after we see him safe. I pause for a moment, staring hard at the old wood door, the blue paint chipped in places, weather-worn and perfect.
The wards on the house are still in place, but they’re weak. My sisters don’t have power, they can’t keep the protection fresh. Holding my hand up to the door, I breach the spell and turn the knob.
“Who the bloody hell is breaking into our house?” Izzy says, annoyance more than fear in her tone.
As soon as I cross the threshold, I see her, feet resting in Grant’s lap, wide green eyes and a shocked expression on her face. She drops the teacup she’d been holding and the porcelain shatters on the old wood floor. “Don’t just sit there gawking at me,” I say. “We don’t have time for this. I need your help.”
Tamiel enters with Arthur and immediately makes his way upstairs. “He’ll be in my room. Izzy, he’s been poisoned by demon venom. We might already be too late, but this is Arthur Pendragon. If he can be saved, we have to do it.”
“Fucking hell,” she mutters as she gets to her feet.
Grant helps her up and takes a long look at me. “Thought you were dead?”
“I was.”
“You look better than I expected.”
“And you still smell like wet dog.”
He chuckles and helps my sister into the kitchen. Her baby bump making her move slowly. How long has it been?
After a few minutes, Izzy comes back into the front room with a bowl filled with a strong smelling herbal remedy. “We’ll apply this poultice in hopes it can draw out the poison. Where was he scratched?”
“His arm,” I say, looking around for Gwen. We need to keep him hidden until I get a chance to talk to her about Arthur. “Where’s Gwen?”
“Arthur is going to be a problem then. He won’t contribute to her being centered.”
“Then we best get him on his way.”
I nod and can’t help my smile when Tamiel comes back. “He’s ready. The man is delirious. Moaning about Guinevere. Poor sod.”
“Right, beast, help me up the stairs?”
Grant smiles and scoops her into his arms before carrying her up the stairs without complaint. I have to fight an eye roll. “Keep him quiet. The less Gwen knows, the better.”
“Gwen. Why does Gwen need to be kept in the dark?” Tamiel asks.
“You’re so pretty.” I pat his cheek. “But if you haven’t figured out their connection I might have to trade you in for a smarter model.”
“She’s Guinevere?”
I sigh. “You really didn’t know? For fuck’s sake, Fallen. Of course we all have our stories. What did you think hers was?”
“I think I was rather enamored with someone else and honestly hadn’t been paying much attention to the other two.”
A blush burns on my cheeks. “I suppose that’s a good answer.”
He leans close, the heat in his gaze sending arousal coursing through me. “Is there somewhere we can go nearby? I need to feel you and know you’re real.”
“What if it…isn’t the same?”
“It’s going to be fucking brilliant, love. Just like we always are. Two pieces meant to fit together.”
A shuddering breath rolls through me before I can stop it. "But I'm different now."
"You're who you were meant to be. Don't you understand? Gabriel told me you are destined for many things. This is part of your destiny. No one, not human or supernatural, has been granted angelic grace. There is no one like you in existence."
That's a surprise. The angels aren't known for their willingness to try new things. "What does this mean for us?"
A fierce possessiveness glows in his eyes. "It means we belong together. You're mine. I meant the vows I spoke. I took you as my wife and I won't do anything to ruin that. You won't die, you'll do good works, and one day, Helena, one day we'll have our own children."
My belly flips. A family. Do I want his children now that I've had the opportunity handed to me? The thought makes things low in my body tighten. Yes, I bloody well do.
"I suppose we'd better start practicing making them."
A growl rumbles from deep in his chest. "Oh, you can't know how that makes me feel."
I lean in and brush a kiss over his lips. The passion rekindles, sparking and quickly turning to a flame. His hands cup my ass as he pulls me against him and if I don't step away now, we'll be fucking in the living room without care for who can see us.
Pushing back, I take a steadying breath and smile. "Not now. We've got a rather dazed and confused king to see to, and I need to figure out how to break the news of the new me to my sisters."
He glances toward the stairs as the sound of Arthur moaning for Guinevere filters to our ears. The real world is so different from purgatory, I can't help but worry he's going to struggle with the transition. "What are we going to do with him? I don't think he's a danger to anyone, but he's a fish out of fucking water here."
"We may have to keep him with us. Guide him until he acclimates."
An eye roll I knew was coming has me laughing. Tamiel may love me, but he's not one to hand hold grown adults. "Maybe Gwen can take care of him. She's the nurturing sort. He wants her anyway."
My chest tightens. "We'll see."
The sound of footsteps above us gets louder as someone moves around, eventually heading for the staircase. Izzy slowly makes her way down to us, one hand on her belly, the other on the handrail. "He’ll live. It’s going to be a long recovery."
Her eyes lock on mine and we stand facing each other for a moment. Then she throws herself on me, wrapping me in an awkward, bone-crushing embrace. "Come on, Izzy, stop making a fool of yourself." Then I glance down at the protruding belly keeping us apart. "Good Lord, you're enormous. I only just left."
Her eyes soften with sadness only grief can bring. "No. You were gone nearly half a year."
"What? It felt like a few days."
"Where were you?"
I take a deep breath. "Purgatory. It's not a place I recommend vacationing, by the way."
"We don't plan on a visit," Grant says, his voice carrying down the stairs as he joins us.
“Helena?” Gwen’s voice hits me like a bucket of ice water. I turn on my heel and see her standing in the entry of the tiny cottage, assessing me. Her dark hair is braided, hanging over one shoulder and there's a frown on her lovely face. But most of all, her eyes are the brightest blue I've ever seen.
"He really did break the curse. Your eyes are blue."
She nods. "He did."
"Have you seen your own eyes?" Izzy interjects.
"I've been a little too busy."
Gwen takes my hand and tugs me toward the coat hooks on the wall. There's a mirror, just big enough to check your makeup before heading out. I stare at the face I've known for thousands of years, so many lifetimes, but this time, my irises aren't the burnished copper I've grown used to. Now, they're a warm brown with flecks of green.
I cut a glance at my fallen angel. "You didn't say anything about my eyes."
"I didn't notice. I love you no matter the color of your eyes. I was overcome with the joy of having you in my arms again."
A moan filters down from the bedroom where Arthur is recovering. Grant and Izzy lock eyes and the two of them head back upstairs. Hopefully they can keep Arthur quiet.
"What is that?" Gwen frowns, her head cocking in confusion.
"Nothing,” I lie.
Her eyes widen. "Helena?"
"It’s someone who needed help…" I begin but trail off as he calls her name.
"Guinevere,” floats to our ears. Bugger.
"Who the hell is calling my name?" she asks, bolting up the stairs.
Tamiel and I follow, hot on her heels. I can’t let her get to him. If she sees Arthur, the man she betrayed, the king who’d sent her to her death, she’ll lose it and do something she regrets. Using my power, I place myself between her and the door.
“Helena, move.” She’s fire and fury, blazing with a mixture of anger and fear. “I…I…” Tears shine in her eyes. My poor sister has held herself in check for hundreds of years, but Arthur will break all of her restraint. “Is it him?”
I nod. “It’s Arthur. Tamiel brought him back from purgatory.”
“How do you know?”
“Excalibur,” Tamiel says, putting a gentle palm on her shaking shoulder. “It recognized him.”
She shakes her head standing in utter shock as Arthur calls her name again.
“He sounds terrible.”
“He’s been poisoned. Izzy’s tried to heal him but it isn’t working as well as it should.”
Her wide eyes lock on mine. “Get him out of here. I can’t see him. Not after…everything.”
“What happened? I mean…aside from the whole Lancelot thing.”
Her lip quivers and she sucks in a harsh breath. “He killed me.”
Tamiel
I can’t believe this man killed Gwen in their first life together. That's not who he is. It can’t be. He’d fought demons alongside me, but then again, he lied about Helena being able to leave, about being alive. Fuck. I’ve been played. How had I missed the signs? His countenance holds no regal bearing, nothing aside from the courtesy of a knight. But Excalibur called to him. It glowed for him. That has to have some kind of significance. It's a sign of righteousness, of predestined goodness.
"Are you serious, Gwen?" I ask. Helena shoots me a sharp glare. “Do you want me to…dispatch him?”
She shakes her head. “I
can’t be responsible for Arthur’s downfall again. He was a good man. A good king. I committed treason, but now I see it must’ve been Calista working some sort of love spell. She meddled with Helena and Izzy. It makes sense that she’d do the same with me.”
Helena takes Gwen’s hand and nods. “We’ll take care of him. You won’t ever have to see him again. I promise.”
Gwen turns and heads down the stairs, tension radiating from her and as soon as she’s out of sight, I’m opening the door.
Arthur’s color is better than before, but he still looks haggard. Ravaged by poison, sweat beads on his brow as he sleeps fitfully. I place a hand on his shoulder and shake him until his eyes open. Confusion colors his expression and he winces and takes a sharp breath as he tries to sit up. “What is it?”
“You killed her. How could you kill someone as tenderhearted as her?” Anger boils close to the surface as I picture Gwen’s punishment for something that wasn’t her fault.
“What are you saying? I don’t understand.”
“I should toss you to the wolves and let them have you.” Helena’s fists are balled, and her jaw is tight. "But the wolves would be too good for you."
Grant smiles. "I've got a few at my disposal who might give you a run for your money though. They enjoy a good hunt."
"No one's sending Arthur to the wolves," Helena says. "He helped me in purgatory. He's one of the two reasons I'm standing here now. I owe him that much."
I don't like that she's giving him any credit. She doesn't know that he lied. That he knew she wouldn't make it through. But I do.
"I'm not sending him to the wolves, but I will be taking him somewhere else until we're sure he's not a threat. Besides, he’ll be incapacitated while he heals. He’s lucky Izzy has such a gift for healing. If we hadn’t been able to get him to her, there wouldn’t be any hope." Helena frowns at my statement.
"How is it you get to make the call? I just came back from the dead. Literally resurrected. Do you know how many people can say that?"
I suppress a sigh. "Do not get biblical with me right now, love. I assure you, I'll win."
