She exhaled with relief, and crawled on all four over to him, feeling her way forward with her hands. After just a few steps, her hands came in contact with his leg. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. His touch and presence made her feel safe again.
“I can barely see,” she said and blinked, trying to clear her sight.
“Me neither.”
“What the heck just happened?” Inez heard Vorian ask with an irritated voice not far away from her.
“They used the urn. They are gone,” Adenar said. Inez heard him move around, and for a short second she caught a glimpse of him.
“You can see?” she asked.
“Yes,” Adenar answered. “Their magic doesn't work on me.”
She heard him move again, but this time toward her and Aledyan. She jumped from surprise when she spotted him suddenly in front of her.
“Just relax,” Adenar said and placed his hand against her eyes.
Inez held her breath, not really knowing why. It was obvious he only wanted to help, but she assumed it was the pressure from the last few days that made her tense. She experienced that cold chill again, but this time against her eyes. It felt like one of the gentle breezes when autumn started to turn into winter, telling you it wasn't long before the snow would fall.
The chill lasted just a few seconds. It disappeared when Adenar removed his hand. She stared into his dark eyes, and he gave her a short smile.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered and gave him a mesmerized look. She could barely believe the power this angel contained. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome,” he grinned, apparently pleased with her reaction before he turned to Aledyan. “Come here, warrior. I think you want to be able to see your sweetheart.”
“You have no idea,” Aledyan said before Adenar placed his hand against Aledyan's eyes.
“Hey, don't forget about me,” Vorian pointed out.
He stood nearby with an empty gaze, staring at nothing, as if he was blind. Inez couldn't help but wonder if he got hit the worst. She had at least been able to see a little, and her sight would have eventually returned even without Adenar's help. Vorian, on the other hand, seemed to need the angel's help badly.
“You nag too much,” Adenar said.
“Nag? Since when do I nag? I just want my eyes fixed.”
“You forgot to say please,” Adenar said without removing his hand from Aledyan's eyes. A wicked smile played on his face, almost as if he enjoyed Vorian's discomfort. Inez wondered what their story was.
"Oh come on!” Vorian protested.
Adenar started to laugh, but there was a seriousness on his face that told Inez that he really expected Vorian to say please.
“I will let it pass this time,” Adenar said once he finished laughing. “We have to get out of the cave soon.”
It was then that Inez's mind caught up with her, and she looked around to try to understand what had happened. It had all gone so fast, and the bright light had surprised her big time. The warlocks were really gone, and she had no idea how. Hadn't Adenar had them under control?
Aledyan looked around as well. He didn't seem pleased. The revenge he had waited for had slipped through his fingers. Now he wouldn't get it, but the important thing was that they were alive. Inez hoped that he saw that too.
“What did you see?” Aledyan asked Adenar while he moved on over to Vorian.
“The urn was filled with magic.” Adenar placed his hand against Vorian's eyes. “Simon was the only one facing the urn. That made it easier for him to use the magic, calling it to him. My guess is that he has teleporting abilities, and was, therefore, able to get them all away from here.”
“In other words, this is not over,” Vorian said.
“Far from it,” Aledyan said. “Yorin is keeping several of our friends in captivity somewhere, and now he also has Cerin.”
“We must find them, and fast.”
“Yes, but first we must get out of here.”
A half minute later Vorian's eyes were taken care of, and they all headed for the cave's exit. Aledyan held Inez hand in his. She noticed that he didn't look back once.
When the exit came closer, she remembered something Aledyan had told her. He had said that she wouldn't be able to see him once they were both outside the cave. That made her heart race. Was this the end for them? She slowed down and stopped just before exiting the cave. Aledyan looked at her and saw her worry.
“Don't be afraid. I'm not going anywhere.”
“How can I know that for sure? Maybe you will just disappear right in front of my eyes once I step out. I don't want that.”
He smiled, seemed happy over her words.
“You are a part of my world now, you are aware of me, and we are a part of each other. Our bond makes sure of that. Remember that I told you that.”
She swallowed and nodded.
The sun was shining. It was a bright and beautiful summer day. It had been just a few days since she had made the decision to go hiking. That decision had changed her life forever. If she had known the things she knew now a few days ago, would she had done it? Inez nodded to herself and realized that the answer was “yes”.
For him.
Inez looked into his encouraging eyes.
Then she exited the cave.
Epilogue
“You two boys better behave when Hannah comes over,” Inez instructed Vorian and Aledyan. They stood in the hallway of her apartment, and listened to her with big smiles on their faces. Aledyan thought that she was the cutest thing ever when she ordered them around, but he gladly obeyed his precious one. He would do anything for her. Even make sure that Vorian followed her rules.
Inez had planned this meeting with her friend for weeks, even before she had managed to stumble upon the cave, and she refused to change that plan just because angels had come into her life. Hannah was her childhood friend, and Inez hadn't seen her for many years. She looked forward to seeing her again.
“I want you two to be quiet ... and don't make a fool out of me,” she pointed her finger toward Vorian. Her eyes warned him.
Vorian gave her an innocent look and blinked several times with his eyes. That made her serious face crack and a smile that she tried to hide, played upon her lips.
“I'm serious, Vorian!”
“I know you are, my dear. That's why I promise to be a good boy.” He grinned.
Aledyan smiled. It had only been two days since they left the cave, and yet it felt like it had been several years. During those two days Inez had quickly gotten to know Vorian. He was, most of the time, out looking for clues about Cerin's whereabouts, but the rest of the time, he was around, being annoying. Aledyan couldn't understand why. Vorian had never before spent so much time with him, not even before his imprisonment. Vorian was closer to Cerin than to him. Aledyan wondered what went on in Vorian's head.
“You give me your word?”
Vorian raised his hand. “I promise, on my honor.” He lowered his hand again.
Inez studied him for a while. “You really mean it, don't you?”
Vorian nodded. His eyes were serious.
“My dear, I have a strong feeling that I must be here, right now, in this very moment.”
Inez gave him a surprised look. “Why?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea.”
Aledyan gave Vorian a surprised look as well. He had never expected to hear something like that from the angel, so it had to be important.
Vorian clasped his hands together. “So what do you want us to do when your friend is here?”
“Well, Hannah has always claimed that she can feel and see things ...”
“Aha! You want us to play mind tricks on her to see if she notices us,” Vorian laughed.
“No!” Inez tried to be serious, but couldn't help but to laugh too. “Just stay quiet, and let me spend some time with my friend. If she will notice you then she will notice you, and we will take things from
there. But if she doesn't, then I want a few hours alone with her before she has to go.”
“Very well.”
“Good,” Inez said and went to the kitchen.
Aledyan followed her while Vorian sat down on the couch. Aledyan stopped behind her and placed his hands on her hips. He never grew tired of watching her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he always longed for her touch. Even though it had only been two days since they left the cave, he had started to see how their lives together would be.
He would sleep by her side every night, just like he had done these last two nights, and hold her tight. During the day he would always be by her side, protect her and make sure she was safe. She was his priority now. He wanted to go with Vorian, and search for Cerin, but Aledyan knew things were far from over. Yorin and the other warlocks were still out there, and who knew what they were up to. Cerin wasn't the only angel missing, but by now all the other angels were informed of what was going on, thanks to Adenar. Thanks to him Aledyan and Inez were also left alone to recover, well almost. Only Vorian refused to listen, but that was nothing new.
“Hands off,” Inez said and pushed his hands away from her hips.
Aledyan made a complaining sound. “I don't want to.”
“Well, you better. Hannah will be here any minute.”
“That's enough time for a quickie,” he grinned.
“Yeah, Vorian would just love to see that.”
Aledyan laughed. “Oh, don't worry. He'll be gone before we start. I'll make sure of it.”
“No, he said he needs to be here for some reason, so you have to just suck it up, love because you're not getting any; not now at least. You will have to wait until tonight.”
“But that's hours away!”
Inez turned around and looked at him. He made a disappointed face, but she knew he was playing.
“Behave,” she laughed before she turned around again to continue preparing the tray that was laden with goodies for her and Hannah.
The door bell rang and Inez headed for the door, but didn't get far. Aledyan grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her deeply, making promises with his mouth of what was to come once night fell.
“I never grow tired of this,” she said with desire shining in her eyes.
“Me neither, now go and have fun with your friend. Vorian and I will be in the living room.”
He gave her a fast kiss and she went for the door. Aledyan heard it open. Someone entered, and he heard a young woman's voice shortly after. She sounded happy, just like Inez. They greeted each other, laughed, and their happy voices put a smile on Aledyan's face.
He entered the hallway and saw that Vorian stood there as well. He had expected a grin on the angel's face, but no. His expression was grim, and he stared at the blonde beauty who had entered the apartment.
Aledyan watched her too, and remembered what Inez had said. He knew some people had the sight and ability to sense things, but most who claimed that never managed to notice him anyway. He didn't expect anything this time either, but then Hannah started to look around, and a stiff smile appeared on her face.
“What is it?” Inez asked.
Hannah hesitated. “I know you don't believe in these things, but ...” She interrupted herself.
“But what? You can tell me. Many things have changed for me these past few days, believe me.”
Hannah studied Inez for a while. “Alright,” she finally said. “Are you aware of that you have company in here?”
“I have?” Inez pretended to be surprised.
“Well, yes. Two men.” Hannah looked around and almost tasted the air. “Angels. Two very handsome angels. What are they doing here?”
Well, well. Aledyan surely hadn't expected that and Vorian neither, it seemed. The angel's jaw had dropped.
“I will tell you, if you promise not to freak out,” Inez answered.
“Nothing you can say will freak me out,” Hannah assured.
Aledyan approached Vorian while the girls went inside the kitchen and continued with their conversation.
“What's the matter? You look troubled,” Aledyan said.
Vorian remained silent for a while. “When you saw Inez for the first time, did you know she was your chosen one?”
“Yes and no. I felt there was something about her, but I was too weak to notice. It took me a while, but once I did notice, there was no doubt in my mind. Why do you ask?”
Vorian didn't answer. Instead, he headed inside the kitchen, and stopped close to Hannah. Aledyan followed him, and noticed that Hannah tensed. Inez had to pretend that she didn't see him, but for a split second her eyes told Aledyan that she wondered what Vorian was doing. Hannah didn't seem to be able to see him, but she definitely felt his presence.
Vorian looked up at Aledyan, and Aledyan had never seen so much longing in Vorian's eyes before.
“I asked because I have found her,” Vorian said and looked at Hannah again. “My chosen one.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thank you for reading my book! I hope you liked it. I would love to hear your opinion about the book so feel free to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
I was born in Poland, but live in Sweden with my son. I run the publishing house Sense Förlag, and I write paranormal romance, science fiction and fantasy for adult readers. It's all about hot angels, cyborgs and more. I have published two books in Swedish. “Angel in chains” is my first book in English, and many more are to come!
For more information please visit:
Website: nellieclind.webs.com
Blog: nellie-c-lind.blogspot.se
Twitter: twitter.com/Nellieclind
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nellieclind
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/nellieclind
Trailer for "Angel in chains": www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v63cbZpEMU
THANK YOU
To my dear friend Jennifer Brock, thank you very much for all your help with editing the book. I couldn't have done it without you!
Also a big thank you to my friend Gailene Wells for helping out with the book. You gave me several good ideas!
And Josh, thank you for your opinion about the book. I really appreciate it!
Angel in chains (Forever yours) Page 12
