Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6

by Abigail Grant

  “Aella? Are you ready?” Aunt Mags asks the question again.

  This time I release the nervous breath from deep within me and nod. “I’m ready.” I smile at my adoptive mother and see that her green eyes are wet with tears. “None of that, mom! I’m actually wearing makeup for once and I can’t mess it up.”

  She chuckles at me and we both turn toward the door. I grab the handle and push the glass door open to reveal a sight that makes my heart stop. My groom.

  Gavin spins to me as I step out into the chilly air and his eyes roam my entire body, instantly darkening at the sight of me. He finds my eyes again and shakes his head. “Beautiful,” he says in a quiet reverence.

  I can’t help my own newly golden eyes as they take in all of the magnificence that is Gavin Cole on his Bonding day. He is dressed completely in white. From his white suit coat, unbuttoned at the front to show his white silk tie to his nice dress shirt that is tucked into his white slacks. It all fits him perfectly, even down to the smooth white loafers on his feet.

  He looks like an angel.

  “You’re an angel,” Gavin says to me, mirroring my thoughts of him exactly. He steps closer to me and one of his hands slips around my waist, along the soft fabric of my dress.

  I smile up at him and shake my head, causing my long, wavy hair to slide across my bare back. “I was thinking the same about you, Mr. Cole.”

  He pulls me tight against him and I shiver from the contact.

  Gavin tilts his head and searches my face. “Are you cold? It’s supposed to snow tonight.”

  I grin back at him. “Actually, I’m quite the opposite of cold.” A blush creeps up my neck.

  His eyebrows raise and his golden irises fall to my lips. Before he moves closer I have the sudden realization that Aunt Mags was just with me and is likely watching our exchange.

  I step back from Gavin suddenly and look around us, where we are completely alone.

  “She left a minute ago to join the others out back.” Gavin’s words calm my growing embarrassment, and I laugh.

  “Oh, thank goodness.” I sigh and turn back to Gavin, unable to stop myself any longer. I leap toward him and throw my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his with all of the fervor I feel within me.

  His arms snake around my waist again and hold me close to him. I can feel the heat from his skin through my dress and I never want to leave his grip. His soft lips move over mine and I groan at the feel of them.

  Gavin gently pushes me away from him and lays his forehead against mine. His breathing is heavy, and it’s not often he is so out of breath. I revel in the idea that I can cause such a stir in him.

  He stands up straight and places the palm of his hand against my cheek. “Love, I think it’s time for us to go out there.” He nods toward the woods, which are out of sight from where we stand in the small alcove before the rock path that wraps around the gym beside us. “As much as I want to pull you back into my house with me and lock the rest of the world out…” Yes, please. “We should probably get Bonded first, in front of our loved ones.”

  And complete the bond tonight. Something I learned by talking to Alexa is that a bond isn’t complete until the couple sleeps together. So, consummating the marriage is a pretty big part of the whole process. More pressure, check.

  I nod and steady my breath. “Let’s get out there then. I’m ready.” I smile up at him, showing my excitement for this moment.

  He takes my hand in his and pulls me with him along the rocky trail that wraps around his large gym. As soon as we round the corner, I stop dead in my tracks at the sight before us.

  Holy crap.

  Just where the trees open up into the deep forest, a beautiful stream of white lights hangs down from the branches like a curtain. The sun is setting now and the lights shine brighter than the sky.

  Gavin and I pull back the curtain of lights and the small meadow between the large evergreens is blanketed in more lights that seem to hang from the sky in strips until they stop just above our heads. Below the strings of sparkling lights are metal benches painted white with white roses wrapped around them like vines of purity, and the people we love most are sitting on them together.

  Gavin’s hand grips mine as all of the loving eyes, some gold and some not, turn to watch us. I take a deep breath and together we make our way down the center of our loved ones, along the forest floor.

  I never expected such a perfect venue for my wedding day. Everything I ever wanted is here. The simplistic beauty is surprisingly ideal considering the two extravagant women who put it together. They know me better than I know myself it seems.

  I smile at each person smiling back at Gavin and I. Kassy and Liam watch me with the biggest grins as we walk slowly past them. Alexa and Neo hold each other close as they sit beside Camilla and Gram who shed happy tears.

  On the other side of the aisle sits my smiling Aunt Mags and her sister Morgan. Both of them teeter on the edge of bawling, but my sweet one-and-only cousin Luna winks at me and I can’t help but shake my head at her. Teenagers.

  More eyes catch my attention and I gasp at the presence of my long lost Seer family. I didn’t know they would be here. My father’s parents smile with pride at the granddaughter they never knew existed. I have to hold back my own tears at seeing them again so soon after our first meeting. I have family here too.

  “Pretty El!” a small voice shouts out in the calm night, and everyone laughs at Ethan’s interruption.

  I spin to my right and see the cute boy being held back by his dad, Jack. Sophia and Jack try to hush Ethan but I hold my hand out to him. “It’s okay. Hi Ethan, I’m so glad you could be here.”

  Jack releases the sweet sandy-haired boy and he wraps his little arms around Gavin and I. Gavin chuckles and bends down to hug his little cousin. “I love you, bud. Thanks for the hugs.”

  “I love you too, Gavy. I’m happy that you’re marrying El,” he says in the sweetest voice. He reaches up to kiss my cheek and quickly runs back to his parents who both shake their heads.

  Gavin turns to me with a small lift of his lips. “Me too,” he says to me.

  The group “awwws” as we continue back toward our destination.

  I wave to Danielle where she sits with her three boys, including Cy and his new wife Amalia. Their wedding was my only experience with a Seer bonding, until today.

  Without their example, I would be a thousand times more lost today. Next to them is Jed, the always sarcastic one, but his genuine, crooked smile makes my heart feel even more full with the amazing amount of love in these woods tonight.

  Standing before Gavin and I at the front of the aisle is the eternally stoic Hagan, though he has come a long way in my mind. Only a few months ago, I wouldn’t want him officiating my bonding to Gavin, but now I can see his devotion to this family and even to me, the misfit.

  It is especially so with the loving smile stretching the slightly wrinkled skin on his cheeks and creasing the laugh lines around his eyes. Pure happiness from Hagan...weird.

  “Welcome all who sit in this rugged alcove as one big family. In my eyes, there is no better place to be than at a Bonding ceremony.” He looks around the romantically lit setting and his golden eyes fall on his eldest son, Cy. “Such a short time has passed since I had the pleasure of experiencing this day with my own son.” He turns back to Gavin. “And now, I’m incredibly honored to do the same for the young man who I have loved just as my own boys, Gavin.”

  His words sound genuine and I look up at my Intended to see his bright eyes, strong but wet. Gavin smiles at his uncle and turns to me, grabbing both of my hands in his as we stand in the center of a circle of rocks and white flower petals. His father would have loved this moment and I can feel Gavin’s longing for his dad though his hands.

  Hagan clears his throat, on the verge of crying like a big scary baby for the second time in a week. “Aella and Gavin have surprised this family in many ways.” He tilts his head to me. “This young wo
man has lived a life hidden, and many in her situation would fear or continue to hide from the world… but not her.”

  I pull in a deep breath of the cold night air, trying to keep myself collected.

  Hagan continues. “She has shown us true bravery and true love to our Gavin.” He turns to my Intended with a sigh. “And this young man, here. Oh, man has he aged me much faster than necessary.”

  I laugh with the rest of the crowd. Gavin and I sure have caused some drama in this family, and I’m just glad they don’t hate me for it.

  “But what’s a little more gray and a few extra wrinkles? Every minute being his uncle has been living in the best way.” Awwwww!

  My thoughts are mirrored by the sniffles and sighs from the group watching us.

  “Anyways, let’s cut to the chase.” He looks from Gavin to me and places his hands on our shoulders. “Aella, we’ve got a unique group here tonight, because of you. From humans, to Seers and Wicca. Are you ready to show them how it’s done?”

  I nod up at the patriarch’s handsome and square face. “Yes. More than ready,” I assure him.

  He grins and raises his eyebrows. “Alright then, just repeat after me.”

  He feeds me the words that will connect me to Gavin forever, and I can feel our connection grow stronger with each one I speak. “I acknowledge you, my Intended, for all that you are as the other half of me. The power that I have within, will be the power that we both share.” The tingling grows to a boil. “The soul that holds this body together, will be the soul that mingles with your own for all of time and through to eternity.”

  I can feel Gavin’s excitement pick up, entirely through the spot where our hands touch. My eyes flick to his and the gold inside of his irises appears to be swaying like a growing flame.

  “I acknowledge you, my Intended, for all that you are as the other half of me…” Gavin repeats the same words that I just had and the heat from his touch is almost overpowering.

  I suddenly feel the usual burning beneath my skin that rises when I’m face to face with danger. My nerves and excitement from the bond is making my powers all wonky and I worry that I won’t be able to control it if it grows any stronger.

  Hagan, still touching our shoulders flinches and pulls his hand away from me just as Gavin finishes his vow. “Shoot!” Hagan exclaims and the palm of his hand is bright red.

  I gasp and release Gavin before I accidentally burn the whole forest down. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s happening!” I look to Gavin for help and his inflamed eyes widen.

  He reaches for me again and is able to grab my hands without any pain. “Aella, I’m pretty certain you just discovered your fire ability right in the middle of our Bonding.” His concerned face softens and he begins to laugh.

  All voices surrounding us join in on Gavin’s laughter and my body starts to cool as I release my own embarrassed chortle. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I groan and turn to my happy almost-husband. “Do we have to start over or something?”

  Hagan’s voice quiets the groups lingering giggles. “No, no. There’s no need for that. We can continue with the ceremony.”

  Gavin tightens his grip on my hands and pulls me to kneel in front of him as he had the night he proposed to me on the beach. I lean my forehead against his and breathe in the intoxicating scent of him that blends perfectly with the forest around us.

  Just as I saw him do at the last Bonding, Hagan sprinkles a fine, colorful dust made of herbs and flowers over our heads. I don’t expect the earthy scent that comes with the mixture, but it’s as if Gavin and I are the only two people, bonded in a flowery meadow.

  “As an Elder Seer, bonded to my Intended for thirty years now, I bless you with this eternal bond, that it may only grow, for all of time and thereafter.” Hagan speaks his blessing to us, but all I see is Gavin.

  His eyes bore into mine and I don’t even stand before I’m already kissing him. I can faintly hear the cheers and claps of our loved ones behind us as my husband takes me in his arms and his warm lips roam over mine.

  The only thing that stops me from completing our bond right here and now is the icy drop that slides down my cheek.

  “Ooh! Snow!” Ethan yells from the crowd.

  I release Gavin’s lips and turn my head up to the sky to see the glistening snowflakes that fall all around us. Gavin pulls me into his warm arms again as the perfect white snow clings to us where we kneel in our white clothes inside of our white eternal circle.

  I mean, I knew fate had plans for me, but come on. Could it be any less subtle?

  Chapter 4

  If nerves could talk, mine would be screaming. I’m dancing for the fifth time with Gavin, my husband! And I feel like I literally can’t be this close to him without starting a fire.

  It has only been a couple of hours since our Bonding Ceremony. The snow pushed us all indoors to Gavin’s dining room, or now known as the dance floor. The dinner and dancing that followed has been a blast. I couldn’t imagine a better day than this one.

  Each time Gavin holds me this close to him, my blood starts to heat up. I know others have noticed too, because Liam and Kassy have both made faces at me. Kassy even whispered “cool it” at one point and the blush on my cheeks was ten times hotter than normal.

  Gavin’s hand slides down my spine to rest just above my tailbone and I can see a small puff of steam rise from my dress where cleavage would be if I had any.

  “Love, you’re about to melt the dance floor,” Gavin teases me and I growl inside of myself, frustrated.

  “I’m trying to be calm, but my body is not cooperating. It’s like I’m burning from the inside out.” I breathe in slowly and let it out again, to no avail.

  Gavin’s cold fingers stroke my hot cheek and the tingling he leaves there only makes the heat worse. “Why am I not burning you like I did to Hagan?” I ask him, realizing he should be in pain.

  Gavin smiles and his dimple appears on his cheek. “Because, I’m your husband now. We are Bonded, and Bonded Intendeds cannot hurt one another. We are one, Aella.”

  His words roll through me and I’m surprised at the sudden calm I feel. We are one.

  I never have to feel alone again with him completing me. I smile up at him and sigh. “Wow, and just like that I feel calmer.”

  Gavin chuckles and pulls me closer to him. “You’ll feel even better tomorrow when the bond is complete.” His crooked smile is wickedly handsome and he watches me with the same dark eyes that show his internal desire.

  I instantly feel hot again and I huff out an irritated groan. “Holy crap, I’m already sick of the fire thing!” I exclaim under my breath.

  Gavin steps away from me before I start breathing fire like a flipping dragon. “I’ll give you some space to cool down. Go say goodnight to your mom. I’m sending everyone home.”

  Gavin raises his voice and announces to our guests that the party is over for tonight and we’d see them all in the morning. His voice is way too chill and I just know I couldn’t look them all in the face so easily knowing what tonight is about.

  Yeah, I’m still a teenager after all.

  I give hug after hug as our loved ones leave the house that I will forever share with my new husband.

  Aunt Mags doesn’t say anything to embarrass me, which is completely shocking. She just kisses me on the cheek and says, “You’re a beautiful woman now, my girl. I’m so happy for you.”

  I want to cry my eyes out again, but alas, I’m all cried out for the day.

  Kassy is the last one out the door and she hugs me tighter than she ever has. “I love you so much, El. I’ve never seen such a beautiful ceremony before, or a more perfect couple.” She shrugs. “Except for me and Liam, of course.”

  I giggle at her and shove her arm playfully. “I love you too, sis. I’m so glad you guys came back for today. Who knows when I’ll see you next.”

  Kassy waves a hand at me. “As soon as you kick the demon’s you-know-what, we’ll be here with you
again.”

  I don’t want Kassy and Liam to go back to London but I know it’s for the best.

  “Anyways,” she adds. “We aren’t leaving until noon tomorrow so maybe we’ll see you in the morning… if uh, you’re not too busy. ” She winks at me and my mouth drops opened like the back of a dump truck.

  “Kass!” I yell and she just turns to leave with a witch-like cackle , closing the door behind her.

  It’s official, I’m alone on my wedding night. With Gavin Cole.

  Breathe.

  Before I turn around to find Gavin, two incredibly cool arms wrap around my burning skin and I sink into his hold on me. Gavin kisses my neck sweetly and whispers in my ear. “Come with me.”

  I turn to him and he takes my hand. He pulls me with him to the long hallway that leads to both of our bedrooms.

  Breathe.

  Telling myself to breathe does nothing for the fire inside of me. With each step, another fire starts somewhere inside of me.

  Gavin tows me past my usual bedroom to his own at the end of the hall. He opens the door and gestures for me to go in. I’m in awe of the place before me. Instead of his usual dark blue comforter and bare walls, the room is decorated in a maroon and dark gray, with actual decorative pillows on the bed and vases of flowers on the two new nightstands. Beautiful pictures of the Jacksonville landscape are framed on the walls.

  I turn to Gavin with my eyebrows raised to my hairline. “Who did all this?” I can’t believe he’d have the eye for this decoration and I think I already know the answer to my own question. Alexa.

  “Alexa,” he says without hesitation, and shrugs. “I wanted you and I to have a place for just us, and I knew my old blue bedding and single pillow weren’t going to do the trick.” He looks down at me shyly all of a sudden. “Do you like it?”

  I give him my happiest grin and wrap my arms around his neck. “Gavin, I love it. Every bit of it, but there is one thing missing from the bed…”