Rapture (The Immortal Chronicles Book 4)

by Sloane Murphy

  “Xander,” I start.

  “No, Addie. Do not cry. You have her. She could have been ours. Our girl. I had to save her for you. You, no more pain.” His jumbled words spill out and I try to talk but a sob wracks my body and I can’t control it. He sacrificed himself for me. For Sophie. To give me her, as if she were our own daughter. He knew I couldn’t have him, but wanted to me to have her still.

  “Love you, forever.” He mutters, his eyes fluttering before he looks at Kaden.

  “I’ll see you in Addatria, brother.” He says before the breath leaves his body and doesn’t return.

  Chapter Sixteen

  5 years later

  Today is my coronation.

  I honestly never thought this day would come. We’ve worked so hard to restore peace and faith to our lands, and we’re finally here. It’s been bittersweet, so many ups and downs, but we’re finally here.

  Today, Kellan will abdicate his thrown, and I will be Queen.

  Me. A Queen.

  It still doesn’t sound right, but it feels right, so that’s how I know it is. Dante will be stood beside me as my King, and since I officially adopted Sophie a year ago, she will be given my current crown. I’m nervous, and excited, and I don’t really know what to do with it all.

  I know I wouldn’t be here without him. Without Xander. His sacrifice was great, and so I work every day to honour his memory.

  I look in the mirror and take in my reflection, it still shocks me seeing how much I’ve grown into the role I was born for. My long red gown, embroiled with gold and lace, long sleeves and a high neck.

  “You look every bit a Queen, mama.” Sophie calls out to me. She’s growing up so quickly, and I’m proud of the woman she’s becoming every minute of the day.

  “Thank you, beautiful. You look stunning. Are you ready?”

  “To stand with you and Dad? Always. This is why Xander saved me. I have his ring on my chain just like always. I know that life is precious and I’m excited to treasure every moment.”

  “Oh, my sweet girl, when did you get so wise?” She giggles as she hugs me.

  “I suppose we should get this show on the road, your dad will be waiting for me.”

  “He already is,” she giggles. “He sent me to get you.” I guffaw jokingly. Timing still isn’t my strong suit.

  “Well we best not keep him waiting any more then.” I smile and take her hand and lead her towards the rest of our lives. The destiny neither of us ever expected. I open the door, and Luna smiles at us both.

  “Are you ready, Your Highness?” She asks. She graduated the academy and was accepted into the guard, and after proving herself more than capable, she is now my personal guard. She follows us and we work our way towards the noise below. We round the corridor and I see Dante waiting for us, dressed in his navy blue dress suit, and I can’t help but think of how good he’d look with it on my bedroom floor.

  “You both look beautiful,” Dante exclaims when we reach him outside the main hall. He takes my hand and presses a soft kiss onto my cheek, before leaning down and doing the same to Sophie.

  “My beautiful girls, what a lucky man I am.”

  “Are you ready?” I ask him with a small smile. We’ve been through so much already, but this is a huge step.

  “I’ve got you by my side, Addie. I can take on the world as long as I have you.” He murmurs to me before kissing me hungrily. “You look radiant, and as much as I’m ready for this, I can’t wait to get you to myself,” he whispers to me and I hide my face in the crook of his neck to hide my smile.

  “Later, my love. For now, let’s get this show on the road.”

  The doors open in front of us, revealing a sea of people dressed in their finery. The mix of friendly faces and strangers stare at us as we enter the room, a united front. We make our way down the aisle through the middle of the room, leading to the throne where Kellan sits, waiting for us, three empty thrones near his, on to the right, and two to the left.

  When we reach him, we kneel, and the procession of people in the aisles sit.

  “Today is a day that many of us have been working towards for a long time, and I couldn’t be prouder of the woman my daughter has become. A Queen in her own right. Today I pass the mantle to her. She who has done so much, and sacrificed even more to create the world we have today. A world of peace. Harmony. A world that works together for the greater good. I truly believe that without her, it would have taken us much longer to achieve even half of what we have, with her guiding us. This is the reason I am choosing to abdicate. To give up my right as your King, and give you an even more worthy queen, with a man of noble honour by her side, who is more than worthy to rule by side.” Kellan’s voice rings out across the room, steady and clear. His words cause a lump in my throat, and I swallow to try to clear it. Now is not the time for tears. He is right, but we have all sacrificed so much to get to where we are.

  Kellan stands and takes the crown from his head and places it on the cushioned alter beside us before lifting the most beautifully crafted mix of metal and jewels I have ever seen.

  “With the crown, and the power of our bloodline, I crown you, Adelaide Valoire, Queen of the Mainland. In accepting this responsibility, you acknowledge your duty to love, protect and uphold the rights of the people of your lands. You take the burden that comes with the power bestowed upon you to uphold our laws, and you promise to protect the lands and the people against all odds.” Kellan places the crown on my head and puts his hand out for me to help me stand before leading me to the throne he once sat in.

  I watch as he walks towards Sophie, and whispers to her, before placing a smaller version of my crown on her head, and bringing her to the throne on my left.

  He heads back to a still kneeling Dante and repeats the same words he said to me, before placing his old crown on Dante’s head, and sits him in the throne to my right, before sitting in the last throne on the other side of Dante. The crowd stands, cheering and applauding. Shouting “Long live the Queen. All hail Queen Adelaide.”

  “Are you ready for the rest of our lives?” Dante leans over and asks me softly.

  “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my entire life.”

  Epilogue

  Fifteen years later.

  I stare out from my balcony and watch as he plays with the children we thought we’d never have. Living the life, we never expected to live. The children were a blessing nobody expected, and they’ve breathed a new sense of life back into the halls of the Palace since Sophie left on her travels. She’s currently in the Isles with Rose, learning the ways of their land, and from what I hear, she’s loving every second of it. I miss her dearly, but her heart has craved travel for most of her life, and I would never hold her back from that.

  These days, since he abdicated, Kellan spends most of his time being a doting grandfather for Sophie and the boys. Twin boys. Almost unheard of in our world. Yet another surprise. All the things that made him a poor king, and a poor father, have made him the most amazing grandfather. He has learned patience and tolerance, he lets them get away with murder, but he’s also learnt how to love again, for to indulge in life. To have fun and not feel guilty for being happy, especially considering his last act as King before abdicating was sentencing my mother. The memory of her capture still haunts me, her sentencing more so. Her piercing scream as she was sentenced to life imprisonment in solitude in the Cold Lands, where Aleksandr is now King. It seems like a lifetime ago, but yet, it feels like yesterday all the same.

  Apparently, my life is just made up of the unexpected. Always has been, and always will be I imagine.

  I watch on as the boy’s crawl over their father, hearing them squeal with joy makes my heart sing. They didn’t just breath life back into the Palace, they breathed it back into me.

  No one ever thought it possible to achieve the things Dante and I have. It feels like a long time since our bond was sealed, but I guess in the great scheme of it all, twenty years is noth
ing.

  In that time, we have managed to break the divide, and bring schooling together, so that everyone learns the truth, together. They all learn to fight for each other, alongside one another. Fae. Humans. Wolves. The Fallen and the Vampyrs help to teach, to pass on the information from the old world. It’s not been an easy journey, and I have spent far too much of my youth sat in stuffy rooms arguing for hours and hours and hours. But we got there in the end. The new generation council have been a blessing. The Vampyrs still protect us but the world has changed, and it has moved forward. The species divide is a thing of past times. Of another world. Sure, there are still those who grumble about the glory of the past world, but they also see the merit in what I fought for.

  I sacrificed so much because of their prejudices. For their unwillingness to see the world as it could be, rather than as it was. They said the Reborn has the power to change the world as they knew it. They all just thought I would destroy the world, rather than create something new. If only someone had thought differently before then maybe my life would have turned out differently.

  “Mummy.” I look down and see Thomas running towards me on the ground below. “Will you come down and play. Pleaseeeeeeee.”

  “Tommy, you might just be the most persuasive four-year-old I know,” I laugh.

  His face lights up with such joy that it is impossible to hold onto the sadness that threatened to overwhelm me as it so often does. I stretch out my wings, and float down to my boys below. Jon squeals in the arms of his father as I touch down on the ground. They both love flying with me. I’m yet to see if they have wings, or if their Fae blood will win out.

  “Hello, my love. Are you finished for the day?” Dante asks, pressing a kiss to my lips.

  He might not have been that crazy, all-consuming love most girls dream of, but he is my constant and I love him more than life itself. He knows me. All of me. And our love grows more passionate by the day. He is my rock. My home, and I love him.

  I will always owe him a debt of gratitude for the way he held me together after Xanders death. His love, faith and encouragement rebuilt the shattered mess that was my heart.

  There is a part of me that will always belong to Xander but it grows smaller year on year.

  I still hear from Kaden and Dimitri. They run the main security for our lands still, with Kaden leading the Fallen and the Vampyrs, while Dimitri liaises with the wolves. The Fae are mine.

  While much has changed, somethings never will. I am glad I still see my friends, though seeing Kaden with Livvy for the first time was definitely not something I will ever forget. I’ve learnt in time to forgive her, but I doubt we will ever be the friends we once were to each other.

  This might not have been the life I thought I’d have, but I have learnt to cherish it, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

  Acknowledgements

  There are a lot of people that were incredibly important to not just this book, but the entire series becoming a reality.

  Ani, Danni, Rose. You are the other parts of Team Awesome, the rest of my Fearsome Foursome (Yes, I stole that phrase from Logan Kade, because 1. he’s awesome, and 2. Tijan is my hero!), and these books literally wouldn’t be what they are without you.

  But my biggest thanks has to go to my friend and editor, Katie M John (who’s also an awesome author, go check her out!). My characters, my worlds, my craziness you took it all in, fell in love with my guys, loved them like I did, got to know them like I did, and kicked my ass when it was needed. This series wouldn’t be anywhere close to what it is without you and there aren’t any words to express my thanks enough.

  And lastly, but definitely not least, I want to thank my readers for sticking with me, with Addie, Xander, Dante, Kaden and the rest of them on this rollercoaster of a journey.

  If you loved the characters, make sure to come say hi in my reader group - www.facebook.com/groups/SloaneMTheFallen - where there might just be some news coming soon about this fun little world and what is happening there in the future.

  More by the Author

  Descent, The Immortal Chronicles #1

  Crash, The Immortal Chronicles #2

  Soar, The Immortal Chronicles #2

  Standalones

  When We Fall

  Coming Soon!

  The Luminai Series

  The Phoenix

  Reign & Rule

  Long Way Down

  The Luminai Series

  Coming 2018

  Three sisters born of strife,

  Bought into the world taking a life.

  One of nature, light and wind,

  One of darkness, shadow and sin.

  Lastly one born of flame,

  Cast in a life full of pain.

  Each alone can bring pain and sorrow,

  Joined as one, will destroy tomorrow.

  Keep up to date with new releases by following me on Amazon!

  Author.to/SloaneMurphy

  About the Author

  Sloane is currently 28 years old, living in the town where she grew up with her fiancé and their fur baby. Author of the bestselling series The Immortal Chronicles, who is a self-confessed book nerd, with a penchant for travel.

  She describes herself as being excessively British, she apologises for everything, and is known for not liking people (because they’re outside, and yeah…) but LOVING cupcakes

  Come & say hi – I love to hear from my readers!

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  Gravity by Anna Bloom

  Chapter One

  I saw him straight away.

  It was hard not to.

  Dressed in black, with a dark cap pulled low over his eyes, he stood out like a neon sign. His feet crossed at the ankle on top of a cracked picnic bench as he watched everyone walk by.

  Stomping across the grass, I cursed under my breath as my heavy bag bit into my shoulder. Lauren was late. I held in an eye roll as I recalled her jumbled, panicked, call from earlier. Something to do with her brothers, the television screen, and her dad going to kill them all.

  Now I was alone. On the first day of term. Attending school was a dangerous affair—well for me, anyway. In fact leaving the house was dangerous . . . But nothing would stop me attending school. Nothing, not a bag splitting from the weight of too many books, or flying solo.

  It was Eleanor Heavers that made me notice. Curse the bitch. I was halfway across the grass when the anomaly struck. Heavy Ellie, was famous for sniffing out fresh male blood from a clear school corridor away. Yet she walked passed, with her perfect hair streaming in the breeze, as she chewed the ear off Sarah Hamley.

  Eleanor didn't notice the biker boots, or the black clothes and baseball cap. Nor did she notice the mysterious allure that exuded from his direction. Neither did anyone else.

  Did I?

  Hell yes.

  I tried to ignore him but my feet weren't listening and walked me right in his direction. My stomach squeezed with a tug that pulled me from the safety of the path onto the uneven tufts of vibrant grass. Walking is a dangerous pass time—for me.

  At first, I thought he wasn't looking. But, when I tripped, the roots of an old oak tree reaching to grab me on my inexplicable detour, I landed with a resounding bang on my hands and knees.

  That's when I realised he was watching me. He smiled.

  By the time I'd scrambled off the floor and glanced to the picnic bench, he was gone.

  "Oh, look." I cringed as Eleanor's voice carried over the lawn to my unwilling ears. "Po
or Bronte's on the floor, and the term hasn't even started yet." I didn't bother to locate her. Her twittering laughter bounced off the redbrick building and assaulted my ears. I didn't need an accompanying visual cue. "I wonder how many bones she will break this year?" she said. Her musings were loud. Guaranteed to draw enquiring glances of other students as they crossed the quad on the first day of lessons.

  I fidgeted with the neckline of my shirt, which strangled my neck with a Boa Constrictor's grip. With my left hand, I smoothed my skirt, brushing away debris from my first tumble of the term. With a shake of my head, I shook it off and made my way to class. The strap of my bag dug in like a razor and I winced under the weight, even though I hadn't even made it to the library yet. The familiar "Library thrill" made its way along my spine when I considered the new reading list.

  "What are you thinking of?" Lauren skipped up beside me and linked her arm through mine. Our black blazers meshed. I didn't bother to question her tardiness.

  "Coach Rivers face."

  Lauren giggled, her brown hair lifting in the breeze into some wild halo, as she shook it out the way. "Your mum didn't change her mind then."

  "Nope." I patted my bag which safely enclosed a letter excluding me from physical education. The letter had been under more discussion than I would have liked, which I found ridiculous considering my injury rate.

  "Do you reckon she'd write one for me?" Lauren pouted her cherry stained lips. "It's not fair you no longer have to do Phys. Ed and I do."

  "I suggest you break various bones and fall down a lot, and then they will let you get away with it." When I'd broken my arm for the third time, everyone knew that I shouldn't take part in sports any more. Everyone apart from Coach Rivers. Coach Rivers had sadistic tendencies. Mainly born from the fact she looked like a male shot putter and had the personal allure of a warthog. I hated P.E it was the literal bane of my life. I caused more accidents to others than I did to myself. This was a feat considering I'd been wearing plaster casts for most of the last few months.