by Ciara Lake
Avery patted her stomach. “The twins are fine.” She took Keenan’s hand and held it on her stomach. “Feel them move?” A huge kick answered the touch. “See, they’re active.”
“They have told me they’ll be here soon. They’re excited.” Keenan wrapped his arms around his mother.
“They have told you?” Aiden appeared behind them. He walked toward them and leaned over to kiss Avery.
“Yes, Daddy, they’ve been talking to me for over a week.” Keenan looked up at his father. “They’re very excited to see our faces. They want to play too.”
“When do they talk to you, my son?”
“When Mother’s sleeping.” Keenan grinned.
“Oh, I see. They will be here soon.” Aiden patted Keenan on his head. “Now, your uncle Zayel is here for your lessons.”
“More lessons?” Keenan groaned. “I’m tired of lessons.”
“Yes.” Aiden put his hands on his hips. “It’ll be fun. You need to come now. We’re going to visit Greece. Uncle Qasim is waiting for us there. He wants to see how much you have grown this month and go over some history lessons. He was a general in the ancient Greek army. His mission was to protect a great Greek warrior from an evil wizard. Uncle Qasim knows a lot about the Greeks.”
“Oh, sounds fun. He’ll be surprised to see I’ve grown a lot since he last saw me.”
“Yes, I know.” Aiden walked over to Avery and kissed her cheek. “My lovely Avery, we will return soon. Call for me if you need me.”
“Bye, Momma, we will all play later. I guess I need to have lessons.” Keenan hugged her.
“Lessons are good. I’ll be here baking. Have fun and learn a lot. After the babies are born, I’ll go along with you both.”
“Okay.” Keenan kissed her, then he and his father disappeared.
Several hours passed. Avery was putting her final touches on icing her cakes. She was singing along to the radio. Every now and again the babies would kick in time to the music’s beat. “Do you like the music?” Avery patted her tummy.
“Lookie here, it’s the infamous Avery. The whore to the mighty angel Zaidenious.” A tall, blond man appeared in front of her dressed in an expensive black suit. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Osage’s brother, Orestes.” He bowed at his waist. “I believe you were familiar with Osage?” He grinned.
Avery backed up into the counter, dropping the utensil she was using to icing the cake.
“You don’t look like Osage.”
“No, silly girl.” He shook his head. “I have lived another life. Also, I have a different mother, a better one. I haven’t suffered for centuries at the hands of your lover either. I have stayed hidden until this moment. Plus, I have a better sense of style.” He chuckled, rubbing the lapel of his suit.
“Why don’t you remain hidden?” Avery picked up the knife next to the coffee maker.
“The knife will do little.” He waved his hand. It flew from her, embedding into the wall. “I have waited for this moment.” He walked toward her. “You’re the cause of my brother’s demise.” He touched the curl next to her face. “You’re lovely. I see the angel’s attraction. If I had time and you weren’t carrying the angel’s spawn, I’d fuck you myself.”
“Osage caused his own demise.” Avery opened her mouth to yell Aiden’s name, but nothing came out. She opened her mouth again. Still nothing would come out. She backed away from the evil man standing in front of her.
“I don’t think so. No calling for help.” He grinned. “I will not let you call your angel or speak at all. I am tired of your stupid comments.” He put his finger to his lips, indicating silence. “There’s nothing better than a silent woman.” Orestes waved his finger in front of her. “If not for you, Osage would still be upon this earth. I wish to destroy you as well as the spawn you carry.” A sword materialized in his hand. “I will relish what your angel feels when he returns to find you dead with your pieces on the floor. It shall thrill me beyond words.” He threw his head back, laughing hysterically.
“If your brother still walked upon this earth, it would be a curse upon it, marring its beauty. Aiden, our father, will come for us.”
“Shut up, whore.” He slapped Avery. “I’ll shut you up. You shall remain quiet.” Small, bright red horns appeared on Orestes’s head. “What a waste of flesh you are.” His nostrils flared and his features contorted into a hideous mask.
“Our mother doesn’t speak now. It is we within her who speaks. We are two. We are powerful, more than you. We have called for our brother and our father. You best leave here now or face the consequences. When we are grown, and it will be soon, we and our brother shall hunt you down. We will give you your end.”
“How can you hurt me, infants? You’ll not be born. Ever.” Orestes’s face turned bright red with rage. “You are but as I am. And not yet out of your mother’s womb.” He chuckled. “You fool yourself in thinking you can defeat me. I am great. Your voice is too weak to be heard by your father.”
“We are to be born of a good woman, a strong human. Our father is much greater than yours. We are not like you in any way. We are far superior.”
Orestes was flung into the wall. A loud cracking sound rang out as the huge wizard broke through the plaster wall. His body now broken, he bled out.
“Never touch our mother again.”
Quickly, Orestes pulled himself from the plaster wall. His bones and injuries mended instantly. His eyes glowed red and wild. He was still holding the sword as he approached Avery.
“Bitch, your days are ended.” He lifted his sword.
In an instant, his sword appeared in Avery’s hand. Again, Orestes was flung into the wall with great power. Avery moaned as if pained. Then, with a surge of energy, she stood tall again.
“Leave this house while you still can or my father and brother will end you now, taking the pleasure from us. We are to be called Taman and Talen. It’s best you remember us as we will remember you.”
The sword flew out of Avery’s hand, stabbing Orestes in his stomach. Orestes grabbed hold of the sword, vanishing in a puff of black smoke. The smell of brimstone filled the kitchen.
Aiden appeared with Keenan at his side. “What’s happened here?”
“Orestes—Osage’s brother—was here to seek revenge for Osage. I guess we aren’t free from bad wizards or demons just yet.”
“I see the war still wages on.” Aiden shook his head.
“Your sons protected me. It was miraculous what they did,” Avery said.
“I am glad they protected you.” Aiden kissed her cheek then rubbed her stomach. “Thank you, my sons. You have done well.”
About Ciara Lake
Reading and writing is a wonderful diversion from an often-difficult world. I love to create my own stories and have control over how things will end. It’s exciting to create brand new worlds and characters. My imagination can come alive.
In sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal stories, I can invent wonderful places and people. Anything is possible in these genres, it’s limitless. I’m able to create an escape into a special world filled with unique and fantastic things and there is always a happy ending.
A high school teacher inspired me to write. However, instead of initially pursuing my writing career I became a lawyer. I work in divorce court, so erotic romance is a great escape. There can be true love and happy-endings, at least on my pages.
My two children and I have two good-humored dogs that share our home and ease our stress. I have traveled and lived all over the world, and these experiences have given me great creative ideas. I look forward to creating many more adventures in romance.
Ciara’s Website:
www.ciaralakeromancebooks.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
About the Angels Among Us Series
Book 1: An Angel for Avery
Now Available
Book 2: Heaven on Earth
Coming Soon
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Ciara Lake, An Angel for Avery
