Forgotten Visions (The Divinities Book 1)
Page 21
Kalissa raised her eyebrows. “Do you blame me?”
“No. I would have done the same. Then you used all your magical strength to dispose of Liam. It wiped you out,” Lydia finished as Ayden walked back into the room with Khloe and Melaina behind him. Ayden handed Lydia a small container with a thick salve, picked up the bowl of cream, and set it on the end table. “Thanks,” Lydia said then went to work coating Kalissa’s hands with the salve.
Ayden came around the bed to sit next to Kalissa. Kalissa laid her head on his shoulder.
“I’m going to leave your fingers and thumbs out since the worst is on your palms and the backs of your hands. That way, you can have a little use of your hands.” She gave Kalissa a sly smile and gave Ayden a pointed look.
Kalissa could feel her cheeks start to blush.
Khloe spoke up with a question for Ayden. “Have you asked her?”
Ayden chuckled. “She beat me to it.”
“That sounds like my sister. Always in charge.” Khloe picked up the ring box and dodged Kalissa’s foot as it swung out at her. Lydia finished wrapping her hands and moved to sit at the foot of the bed.
“He said the vows first, though.” Kalissa pressed her lips to Ayden’s and then laid her head on his chest.
“So, when’s the binding ritual?” Khloe said with the eagerness of a five-year-old.
“Not sure. I want to wait until my hands are healed enough to wear the ring.” Kalissa looked at Lydia.
“Another week, at least. I don’t want to rush the growth of new skin cells.”
Khloe clapped her hands together. “Great! Let’s make it for two weeks from today. I’ll take care of the catering. Oh. And I can guarantee no rain.”
Ayden went to say something, but Kalissa stopped him. “Don’t bother. She’s unstoppable now.” Ayden wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “What about Demetrius?”
Melaina broke her silence from the chair by the window. “He’s been quiet. We took care of the Etchens. He didn’t have a backup plan. Apparently, Liam was his spy. That’s how he was able to stay a step ahead of us. Now, I think he is regrouping and thinking of another strategy. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of him.”
“We have to build up our resources.”
“Zach has done an awesome job with the network. We call it the Enchanted Engagement. I thought of the name and put it to a vote. It is truly a work of art. Zach and I are admins. I set everyone up with a login. Your temporary passwords should be in your email accounts.” Khloe beamed as she bragged about Zach’s design.
Lydia stood up and said goodnight. Melaina followed suit. Khloe, on the other hand, was a little more reluctant to leave her sister’s room. Kalissa cleared her throat. Khloe looked at her and smiled. “Okay. I can take a hint.” Khloe grabbed Kalissa in a tight embrace. “I love you,” she whispered in Kalissa’s ear.
Kalissa kissed her sister on her cheek. “Love you, too.” Khloe released her and left the room.
“She was worried about you.”
Kalissa shivered with chills that came from Ayden’s husky voice in her ear. “I know.”
“So was I.” He rolled her to her back and kissed his way down her cheek to her jawline and then down her neck to her breast. “I’ve missed every inch of you.”
“Have you?” she asked. He nodded as he kissed his way down her stomach. “Show me every day for the rest of our lives.”
He came back up her body to look in her violet eyes. “Multiple times a day, if needed.”
Kalissa cupped his face with her bandaged hands and kissed him deeply, only breaking to say, “I’ll love you forever.”
Ayden smiled. “And I you.”
Epilogue
The day had finally come. In just a few hours, Ayden and Kalissa would complete the ritual that would bind them to each other until one or both of them died. Kalissa looked at herself in the full-length mirror for one last check before walking down the aisle. Her elegant, form-fitting, lavender satin dress barely touched the floor and had a slit running up her right leg to mid-thigh. The spaghetti strap top was embroidered with roses in a slightly darker shade of purple than the dress. Her newly cut hair fell two inches below her shoulders and was left to flow loosely around them. There was no makeup, no shoes, no jewelry, and no nail polish on fingers or toes. Everything was left natural. It was the only rule they had for their rituals.
“You are breathtaking as always.” Khloe’s face came into view in the mirror. She also sported the natural look, and looked completely identical to Kalissa except for her eyes. “Are you ready?” she whispered, her teal eyes glossy.
Kalissa nodded nervously, picking a couple of tissues out of the box to hold in her clammy hands.
A little while later, Noah came in. “If you will let me, I would like to give you away.”
Tears threatened to spill over Kalissa’s lids, wishing her father could be there. “That would be nice.” She gave him a puzzled look before asking, “Aren’t you performing the ritual?”
He smiled at her. “Someone else has stepped in to do the honors.”
By his tone, and the look in his eyes, she knew better than ask who. Noah was the most secretive man she knew. There was no getting any information out of him. She took a deep breath. “I’m ready.” She looped her arm in his and let him lead her to the backyard.
The area had been converted into a wedding scene fit for a fantasy. The guest’s seats were arranged in a half circle in front of the altar. This wedding was different because it was the union between two Divinities. The other Divinities took their places along the edge of the circle at the four points of direction: North, East, South, and West.
Glass globes strung along the pathway from the house to the circle held fireflies and glowed a soft, pale lavender with the aid of pixie dust. A bonfire in the middle of the circle blazed with radiant orange and blue behind the altar. Ayden stood next to an unfamiliar woman with power emanating from her. Kalissa possessed a strong urge to bow to her. Was it really her? She tightened her grip on Noah’s arm. “Is that…?”
He nodded. “It is. Hecate. She insisted on performing the ritual. She is of higher power. Who am I to argue?” he said with a grin.
Kalissa was more nervous now than before. She had never met the goddess before. She had only heard about her from her mother. She fixed her eyes on Ayden as she walked across the yard toward the circle. He gave her a smile that made her want to run to him. When they reached the inside of the circle, Noah placed Kalissa’s hands in Ayden’s and kissed her on the forehead. It was something her father would have done if he had been there to give her away. Noah walked around to stand on Hecate’s right.
Hecate turned to Noah. “Where is your other grandson?” Her tone was soothing but firm.
Before Noah could answer, Zach came across the yard, buttoning his white dress shirt. “So sorry, Goddess. There was a shooting in Jacksonville that spilled over to Maxville. The humans just don’t have the sense to take a vacation from killing one another.” He stopped in front of her and went down on one knee.
Kalissa swore she saw a half smile form on the goddess’s lips before she caught herself and forced a straight and firm face. “You may stand and take your place.”
Zach stood, sent Kalissa a grin, and took his place on the opposite side of Hecate from Noah.
“We are here on this beautiful night to unite two magickin together. But these are not your ordinary witches. Ayden Daniels and Kalissa Bradenton are Divinities. They have pledged their love for one another, and wish to be bound together, body, mind, and spirit.” Hecate held her hand out toward Noah. He placed a medium-sized dagger in her palm. She held her other hand out to Zach, who handed her a small ceramic bowl from the altar table behind her. Hecate offered the knife to Kalissa and instructed her to prick her finger on the tip of the blade and let her blood drop into the bowl. Kalissa did what she was told and gave the boline to Ayden, who repeated the act before giving the bowl and
dagger to Noah. Noah disappeared behind Hecate.
Hecate took Ayden’s and Kalissa’s linked hands in hers. “I bind this couple together as magical partners to protect, love, and cherish one another until death parts them.”
Kalissa gasped as she felt energy come from Ayden into her, return to Ayden, and then back to her again. Their magic mixed together and wrapped around them both. She felt a tingle on her arm where her marks lay. She looked down, and Ayden’s rose was as vivid as hers. The vine grew to coil up and around her arm. Ayden took her left hand and slipped the exquisite purple diamond onto her ring finger. Then he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. They were fully bonded. Her awareness of him was incredible.
She leaned into him, loving the wholeness she felt. He really did complete her in every way.
Lydia carried the bowl back to the center of the circle, diverting Kalissa’s attention from Ayden and transferring it to Zach. Taking it, Zach added his blood to the mix and handed it to Hecate.
Hecate pricked her own finger, adding a few drops of her blood. “With my blood and the blood of the Divinities, I bind this group together to protect humanity from the evils of Khan and his followers.” She lit the contents of the bowl on fire. The fire flared brightly and then was gone in a puff of smoke. The smoke swirled in the air and around each Divinity, binding them as one.
“The bond is strong. You can merge together as one and become an unbeatable force. Your new mark is your link to me,” Hecate said and went to speak to Noah.
Kalissa looked at her arm. Etched on the inside of her wrist was a replica of the Sinew—a multi-colored sphere encased in Hecate’s Wheel. She smiled and hugged Ayden tightly. For the first time in her life, she had a mission, and she was going to be sure to do her best to succeed. As she looked around at the rest of the Divinities who now lived with her and Khloe, she knew she wouldn’t have to fight this battle alone.
The End
Continue The Divinities series with book 2, Death’s Storm
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About the Author
In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it!
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Other Books by Lia Davis
Paranormals
Ashwood Falls Series
Winter Eve
A Tiger’s Claim
A Mating Dance
Surrendering to the Alpha
A Rebel’s Heart
Divided Loyalties
Touch of Desire
A Leopard’s Path
Jaguar’s Judgment
Birchwood Pack
An Alpha’s Fate
Bears of Blackrock
Bear Essentials
Bear Magick
A Beary Sweet Holiday
Sons of War Series
War’s Passion
Ashes of War
Artemis’s Hunt
Chaotic War
Sons of War Box Set: Volume One
Shifting Magick Trilogy
Moon Curse
Moon Kissed
Moon Mated
Shifting Magick Trilogy box set
The Divinities
Forgotten Visions
Death’s Storm
Blood and Stone (Vampire Lords)
It’s A Vampire Christmas
Contemporaries
Pleasures of the Heart Series
Business Pleasures
Single Titles
His Guarded Heart