by Anna Santos
Cedric was in front of us with an anxious face despite the smile. He was gripping onto the doorknob really hard.
"Let's replay this. You put your hands over the sacred orb. You repeat your vows, claiming the intention of being together for all eternity. Something will happen. The Orb will test you. If everything goes according to plan, the curse will be lifted, and you can join us to celebrate your union. If not..." Cedric paused and looked at Jacob.
"If not you will welcome Camille and treat her as if she was your sister. You will give her my fortune and will make sure no one hurts her until the day she dies," Jacob reminded him of his promise, and my heart fluttered once again at how generous Jacob was.
I didn't want to lose him. Tears prickled at my eyes, and I had to fight the urge to cry. I would keep my poker face on and pretend that I wasn't a bundle of nerves.
Cedric stepped forward and put his hand on Jacob's shoulder. "You have my word."
"I'm ready. Let's get this over with. I want to dance with my wife tonight."
We chuckled, trying to lessen the seriousness of the next step.
Cedric opened the door, and we stepped into the enormous room with vaulted ceilings.
The orb was on the opposite side of the room and not in the middle as I would have thought. Once we were around the pedestal, the door closed with a dry sound, and we were left alone.
I looked up to see Jacob's expression. He was smiling. On the other hand, I had forgotten how to breathe.
"Relax, everything will be okay."
I took a deep breath and nodded. It helped to clear the fog inside my head.
"Tell me again what we need to do," I requested.
He asked for my hand.
I placed my bouquet on the floor and put my left hand in his. I was shaking.
"And if..." I stopped what I was going to say. Squeezing his hand, I simply said, "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"I hope that this orb believes us, then," I chimed in with a smile.
"I hope so, too, honey."
"I'll be brave."
"I know. You always are."
The tenderness in his voice sent jolts of happiness down my body and made tears fall from my eyes without me allowing them to. I wiped them away.
"I, Jacob, claim you, Camille as my soul-mate for all eternity. I promise to be kind to you, to take care of you, to love you no matter what the obstacles are that we have to face. I'll follow you through all the reincarnations and dimensions of existence. I'll be a better soul to be worthy of our bond. You are my light and my hope, Camille."
My heart pounded like crazy, listening to his vows. Our eyes never strayed from each other’s.
I gulped, knowing that it was my turn. After this, there was no coming back. Either we bonded for eternity, or Jacob turned into stone. I noticed his clenched jaw.
"I, Camille, accept you Jacob as my one and only soul-mate for all eternity. I promise to protect you from the loneliness you had suffered in the past. I promise to love you and only you with all my heart. I reject any former ties to any other soul that isn’t yours. I promise to be by your side no matter the hardships or conflicts. We will get through it together. You are my happiness, and I want to be yours forever."
My voice almost failed at the end because of the emotions, but I said everything that was inside my heart. We had pledged our love and fidelity. Now, we had to wait.
Nothing happened.
"Are we done? Are we bonded?" I questioned.
"I don't know. Something should happen,'' Jacob said and once he closed his mouth, he stumbled, trembling he grabbed his chest as his face contorted into several expressions of different levels of pain.
"Jacob!" I screamed. "Jacob."
I rushed to his side. He kept grabbing his chest as sweat poured down his forehead. He leaned forward in pain.
"What's happening?" I was terrified. Then, I screamed hysterically. "No! No! It's not fair. No!"
Jacob was turning into stone.
It started with his hands, spreading to his arm. His legs stopped moving, and he bent forward with a panicked look in his eyes.
"I love you. I love you. I swear it's true. I don't want you to disappear. It isn't fair!" I kept screaming and crying. I tugged at his jacket and put my hands over his face. But, my words weren't preventing the stone from taking over his body.
"Look at me," I begged, my vision blurring from the tears. "I'm sorry." I kissed his lips. My arms snaked around his neck as my mouth kept pressing against his, until the softness of his lips were gone, and all I could feel was the cold stone against my lips.
Jacob was gone.
My heart was hurting worse than anything else that I had ever felt before. Life didn't matter anymore. I held on to him tighter. He had turned into stone, and I didn't want to continue without him.
"Turn me into stone. It's not fair!" I shouted at the shining orb behind my back. "Turn me into stone, also." Tears kept falling. My body shook with my painful cry.
I didn't care about what anyone else could do, but I wasn't going to leave that place without Jacob. "He's mine! Give me back my husband," I screamed to the orb, kneeled on the floor and hugging the statue of my Jacob.
I had my eyes closed. I didn't see the bright light or the cold stone disappearing. I only felt the softness of warm hands around my shoulders and the tenderness of lips brushing at my ear.
When I opened my watery eyes, I was on Jacob's lap, and he was staring down at me with lively eyes.
Was I dreaming? Did I lose my mind and was imagining things?
"Is it really you?"
His fingers wiped away my tears. "Why are you crying?"
"You were gone. You became a statue."
He placed small kisses against my forehead and my eyelids. My body drew closer to his as my hands clutched the lapels of his coat.
"I remember the pain, but then...I just opened my eyes and you were in my arms, crying helplessly as if you were in great pain."
"I didn't want to lose you."
"You didn't. I've survived and you, look at you, honey."
I blinked and stared at his loving face, noticing feathers around us. I felt the weight of the wings on my back. They had appeared and were around us, creating a protective cocoon.
I loved my white wings. I loved being an angel. I loved Jacob. Before he could say anything else, I kissed him, once, twice, until all the fear of losing him was replaced by happiness of being married to him for all eternity.
I mumbled against his mouth, "I want to make love to you right now."
His fingers dug into my back, and he deepened our kisses. But then, he said against my mouth, "We can't. Everybody is waiting for us outside. They won't leave until we come out, plus...they are worried about us. We should show them that we are okay."
I nodded, aware that he was right. Despite the blazing desire taking over my rationality, we needed to tell the others that Jacob was alive and well.
"We’ll celebrate our union and, when everybody is distracted, we'll run away to our bedroom and make love until we can't move anymore."
"Okay," I agreed with pink cheeks and a happy smile as I played with his bowtie.
He kissed me again, and we shared another moment of pure lust and bliss. The idea of never seeing him again had been tormenting enough.
"I thought I was going to die when you turned to stone. I never want to feel that again," I whispered, holding his face in my hands.
"Nothing will take me away from you now. But, you ruined your make-up with your tears."
"What matters is that you came back to me."
"Yes," he smirked. "You aced this trial. I was really lucky to find you, was I not?"
"We are both lucky."
Jacob kissed me as he carried me, bridal style, so we could announce to the others that the party was on and we have become fully mated angels.
PREVIEW FOR GUARDIAN ANGEL
CHAPTER ONE—BLIND DATE
Kyra w
as anxious. She had accepted a blind date with someone she’d met on the internet. It wasn’t going to be her first online date. However, all her previous dates had been insufferable. People were much more interesting when she didn’t know them face to face. Most of the guys she met were extremely boring or weren’t what they’d claimed to be. She wasn’t the type of girl who defined a guy by his looks, but if men only praised her pretty face and hot body, she would instantly lose interest and categorize them also. Most of the guys she encountered had the tendency to babble or stutter while staring at her, repeatedly saying they would have never imagined she was so stunning. All the hours of interesting conversations went down the drain when that happened. Her intelligence and witty personality wouldn’t matter anymore. She would only become a pretty girl who made boys sweat and throb, or just another chick to be seduced.
She had been disappointed so many times. Why did she even bother looking for her Prince Charming on the internet? She did not know. This time, she was supposed to meet Max19. It was his online name. Unlike the other guys, Max had never been eager about meeting. They had been speaking for almost two years online. They were best friends, even though Max was always extremely mysterious about his private life. They spoke for hours, and he understood her better than anyone.
Max was fascinating. So, it was no surprise she was a bundle of nerves. She didn’t want to ruin their friendship and lose the only remaining fascinating friend she had on the internet. Yet, she was too intrigued to say no. She had a crush on him, she couldn’t deny that, but she had no idea if Max was his real name or what he looked like. They had never exchanged pictures. He knew about her was that her online name was Blue Angel and one of her hobbies was drawing ancient buildings and antique statues, especially angels.
They normally talked about their interests and not about their lives. At least, not Max. He kept his life very secretive, but he was a good listener and a good friend. She had shown him her artwork—drawings of old buildings in imaginary cities with Gothic architecture and her favorite beautiful angels. He was also her confidant. She had told him about her hopes and dreams. The stakes were high, and she wished they got along. But not if Max was yet another obsessed guy who only looked for a quick lay and not a real friendship and maybe something more. There were too many creeps in the world already. She wanted someone who understood her and didn’t treat her like an object; someone who saw more than a pretty face.
Kyra looked around the restaurant, getting restless. She had arrived fifteen minutes early, so she could scout the place out and see him first. He would recognize her due to the angel tattoo on her shoulder. But she had covered it with her long, glossy, raven hair. She wanted to make sure Max wasn’t another computer geek who was too afraid to be out of his room long enough to meet a real girl. Actually, she wanted him to be normal. Was that too much to ask?
Ever since the world’s decimation and the reestablishment of a new order, technology held a monumental role in the lives of humans. People no longer had to leave their homes to work or buy food and clothing. North America had survived, yet Europe wasn’t as lucky. Entire countries had been annihilated by bombs, diseases, and hunger. There still remained utopias like her small city, where machines provided security and supplied their needs. Now it was their job to stay home and live their lives in order to insure humanity’s survival. It was a safe world, but she would have given anything if she could have lived in the world before World War 4. It was the most amazing and alluring era she had studied at school. She was a huge collector of the classics: songs, movies, old magazines, books, and comics.
She snapped out of her thoughts when the waiter came to her table to see if another drink was needed. She asked for more water while analyzing the other diners. The top floor of the restaurant had an amazing view over the city. You could see the small robots that flew above the neighborhoods, providing security to everybody, and big billboards on the top of the tall buildings. They advertised the latest perfume, nonviolent films, or showed an animal species being rescued in some distant part of the world.
In the meantime, her date was nowhere to be found. Then, she spotted a lanky guy with curly hair and a pimpled face, walking her way.
She breathed deeply as a fluttery feeling went around in her stomach. It was futile since he passed by and sat behind her table, joining his parents.
Kyra felt silly, playing with her glass while she stared at the couple who entered the restaurant—a tall blonde woman and a dark man who the waiter escorted to their table. They talked softly to one another, clearly in love. She found it endearing but unfamiliar. What was it like to love someone that way? She had a crush on Max, but it wasn’t the same thing as loving someone with her heart, body, and soul. Being so passionately committed to another person was something she longed for and, at the same time, it terrified her. She had boyfriends before, yet she never truly loved them. They had no idea who she really was. She never felt that ‘love-them-for-the-rest-of-her-life’ sensation. As a hopeless romantic, she wanted to be madly in love like in the old movies. Still, she had never come across the perfect guy who fit her standards. It was always a miss with the so-called ‘boyfriends’. They were arrogant, shallow, uninteresting, or they just wanted to get laid. It didn’t take her long to tire of guys her age. Not liking older men, it seemed her choices were limited.
She sighed, staring at her watch. It was a priceless antique. Watches of this caliber were hard to find. It had been her father’s, and she treasured it.
It was five minutes past eight. She would allow five more minutes then leave. He had probably changed his mind at the last minute. It wasn’t the first time and most likely wouldn’t be the last. She had picked out the perfect dress and done a flawless job on her makeup for nothing. What a waste!
She wished she could meet Max, regardless if he was as interesting in person. He was funny and was one of the few people who shared her passion for angels, the same tastes in movies, and old music that was long forgotten. On the other hand, it was probably for the best they don’t make their relationship real. She liked having a cyber-crush and imagining him the way she wanted. It made her days more exciting and bearable.
She sighed again and raised her arm to signal the waiter to bring the bill, so she could slip out with her dignity intact. It would have been pathetic to dine alone. Why tamper with her perfectly imagined man with a real date?
She looked at her phone. No missed call with a voicemail to explain his being delayed, and not even a text message. More than likely, he had chickened out and would be online the next day, asking her for forgiveness. Perhaps it was better that way and left their friendship intact.
“Leaving so soon?” a male voice surprised her.
CHAPTER TWO—THE HOT GUY IN THE LEATHER JACKET
The question had startled Kyra out of her thoughts, and her hand flew to her chest in an attempt to calm her racing heart. She was ready to leave, but apparently Max had found his way to the restaurant. She braced herself as she looked back and saw a man’s torso. She couldn’t help staring as she noticed how his immaculate white t-shirt hugged every muscle. Then, she lifted her gaze, coming in contact with the most unique and electrified green eyes.
She blinked as she tried to pull her attention from his eyes and stare at the rest of him. He was dressed with a leather jacket, a t-shirt, and a pair of well fitted old jeans like in the movies she loved. His face was angelical. No words would be accurate to describe it. He was simply drop dead gorgeous.
She held her breath, feeling butterflies in her stomach as she stared at his amazing smile. For a moment, she was too confused to speak. Could this be him? Where did he come from? She hadn’t seen him enter the restaurant.
“You’re Blue Angel, aren’t you?” he asked.
After being speechless and bewildered, she finally replied, “Yes.”
“Let me see it.”
Kyra felt the soft brush of his fingers when he pulled her hair back and searched for her tattoo.
Her eyes narrowed in pleasure. Attraction ignited her cheeks with shades of crimson as her heart fluttered.
Her voice came out hoarse, “Are you Max?”
“Yes, my angel,” he answered softly and grabbed the chair next to her, taking a seat. Their eyes met when he spoke again, and her brain registered that his voice was husky. “I’m sorry for being late. The traffic was dreadful,” he explained as his eyes scanned the restaurant. “This is a nice place. Do you come here often?”
“Sometimes.” She shivered when his hand dropped over hers.
“Are you feeling okay?” Max asked, rubbing the back of her left hand.
She simply nodded, aware that her lips were slightly opened because of how perplexed she was. She was being a silly girl who acted as though she had never seen a hot guy before. It was actually a bit ironic. It appeared the expression on her face matched that of some guys who met her.
“I’m sorry… I’m just…confused.”
“About what?” Max asked with a lopsided grin that made his eyes sparkle.
A quiver ran down Kyra’s spine. “You aren’t what I was expecting.”
“What were you expecting?”
“You don’t strike me as the…introverted guy…hiding in your home, afraid of girls.”
Max chuckled, clearly amused by her words.
“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked and handed them the menus.
Max nodded and grabbed a menu while Kyra did the same.
“What do you recommend?” Max asked without glancing at the menu.
“I’ll have the beef steak with mushrooms,” Kyra ordered.
Sam gave the menu back to the waiter. “Sounds good. I’ll have the same and a bottle of water, please.”
