Gavin stands behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. “I’m here. I won’t leave your side. Take energy from me if you need extra.”
I pull as much of the moisture-rich air into my lungs as I can and I plant my feet beneath me into the muddy earth. I feel the fire inside of my veins and focus on the sensation of it traveling to my hands. I have all that I need to do what I need to.
I stare at the spot below the raised root of the giant redwood tree as the power builds within me. Where Gavin’s hands hold my bare arms, I pull his heat into me as well. I feel hot and full of life.
I do what I’ve done a dozen times in the last three months and prepare to release everything from within me to survive. Just as I release the final calming breath of air, a voice screams out behind me from the dark forest.
“No!!”
I spin around out of Gavin’s touch, ready to blow, just as a small sharp stick flies toward me in a whistle and impales the spot just to the left of my heart.
I try to gasp from the shock, but the sound is only a gurgle in my throat. I stumble backward and look into the trees for my attacker. Jed’s handsome face that was once dead, watches me with an angry grimace.
He charges toward me and my blurry vision goes to nothing, just as Jed’s black eyes cause my heart to stop beating.
Chapter 11
Gavin
“Aella!” I can feel her name leave my lips, but I don’t hear the sound in my ringing ears as my Intended falls to the earth at my feet.
Her eyes close and the blood on her shirt pools, but before I can reach out to her, a body slams into my side. I hit the ground hard, too far from my dying wife and I stare back at the last person I ever thought would harm me.
Jed glares at me with his demon-filled black eyes and I want to scream at the hate I feel for the monster taking control of my cousin’s body. “Get out of him!”
He only smiles in a way I’ve never seen Jed smile and the voice that leaves his body sounds off, evil. “Little boy. I told you that I would enact my revenge. I had hoped the Ganis girl would get to see you die, but she will just have to miss the show.”
“Barron,” I say the name and his smile only grows.
My anger boils to the surface and I run for the demon in front of me. I can still feel Aella’s heart attached to mine, but I need to get to her before that feeling is gone.
Barron braces himself for my attack and I throw a punch at his face, connecting with a crack. I try to ignore the thought that I am hurting my younger cousin. I grunt from exertion as Barron recovers from the hit and spins back to me with an elbow to my already bruised cheek.
I don’t care about the pain. I just need to get to her. Please don’t leave me, Aella.
Barron grabs my arms from behind and twists them behind my back. He pulls with superior strength and I try to throw my head back into his, missing repeatedly. “Gah!” I yell as I fight through the exhaustion my body feels.
Just having Aella injured so badly hurts my heart and weakens my body. I struggle against Barron’s hold and look to my family for help. The thin glowing shield surrounding us is still standing from the Wicca’s power and they all watch me with scared eyes. Beyond the shield I can barely see the fuzzy figures of my family watching the fight.
Aella’s adoptive mother looks into my eyes with tears streaming down her face. “Gavin, he can’t leave this shield, and your family cannot get in. Magical beings can’t move through the walls. Please fight harder. You can do it. For Aella.” Her eyes plead to me. “I can’t let him out to just keep coming back.”
“We’re stuck here together, boy. Fight me all you want. This is the end.” Barron taunts me with my cousin’s voice and the anger inside of me rises through my skin.
I crouch as much as I can against Barron’s pull on my arms and push off of the muddy ground. The back of my head smacks against the demon’s and my arms are released. I spin around, ready to fight to the death.
He watches me, barely fazed by the hard hit to his head. “I am getting tired of the waiting. Are you ready to die?”
Something catches my eye behind Barron and I try to school my features as Aella’s best friend steps through the magical barrier with an arrow knocked on her bow. She aims her arrow at the back of what was once Jedrek Cole and her blonde ponytail waves behind her head in the cold breeze.
“No, Barron. I’m not ready to die. Are you?” I ask him the question simply, with hope rising in my chest.
His mouth begins to open with an evil retort as Kassy releases the string from her fingers and the whistling arrow finds its target clean through the demon’s neck. The image is shocking, but I still revel in the idea of Barron finally being gone.
My cousin’s body falls again, for the final time, to the cold earth. His black eyes fade back to Jed’s natural brown hue as his body is pulled below the forest floor, never to be seen again.
I look back to Kassy where she stands shaking in the cold, staring at where Jed’s body was only moments ago. Her wide eyes refocus and find me. “Help her, please!” she yells to me over the roaring of the fast pouring rain.
I obey and run back to Aella’s side. I place my hands beside the stick that was thrown into her and push all of the energy that I have out of me. I can feel the weakness inside of me. I know it’s not enough to help her.
“Come on!” I scream to the gods wherever they are after all of this time. “Help me!”
The sky just continues to thunder above me as the rain falls. I feel helpless and dead already without the woman I love to keep me alive.
I reach my head back to the dark sky and as I am about to yell to the absent gods once more, a stream of lightning shoots through the trees and strikes Aella in the chest.
Her body shakes from the hit and I groan in pain as electricity fills my body. Aella’s eyes fly open, revealing a glowing gold and in an instant, the four elements flow out of her toward the opening to hell.
I squint against the glow of fire that touches me without burning my skin. The whirlwind of air spinning around the fire charges it forward. A steady stream of water blends into the air and the mud beneath us rises in clumps, joining the twisting flow of power.
As quick as it started, the wild tornado dissipates and I am left sitting in the rain beside my beautiful enigma as she closes her eyes once more.
Chapter 12
Aella
Voices whisper around me as I stare at the red light peeking through my closed eyelids. I can’t bring myself to open my eyes. My whole body feels heavy against my bed, or at least I think I’m in my bed. I can’t remember even falling asleep.
“When, Maggie? It has to be soon, right?” Gavin’s voice is quiet as he talks, and an aching of some sort fills his words.
The bed sinks beside me and Aunt Mag’s melodic voice enters my tired mind. “I’ve checked her as well as I can, hon. Danielle has been in here every few hours as well, even with what she’s going through. El is completely healed, she just needs rest.”
Everything is quiet for a minute. I try to communicate to them and soothe their worries, but my body won’t cooperate. I don’t know what is causing the sadness in their voices, but I hope I’m not the cause of it. I can’t speak, so I try to reach out to Gavin with my mind.
I’m here, Gavin. I’m okay. I love you.
A small gasp resonates from my right and a warm hand strokes my cheek. I can feel the familiar tingle of my Intended’s touch. “Aella. I can feel you here with me. Open your eyes please, love.”
Tender kisses are placed on each of my heavy eyelids and my slow breath picks up in reaction to the wonderful feeling. “Mmmm.” I push the sound through my closed lips.
“That’s my beautiful wife.” I can hear the tone of Gavin’s voice change from sorrow to joy.
Oh yeah. I forgot that I’m a wife.
Sudden memories of the moments before I awoke here fly back to me. Gavin being tortured in hell, going in there to save him, trying to close the op
ening. Oh no!
My eyes fly open and I try to sit up in bed but fail miserably. My head pounds and my chest hurts, causing me to fall back onto the plush pillow.
“Jed! He was there!” I fight back tears that threaten me as I yell for my new cousin who attacked me with black demon eyes.
“Shhhh. It’s okay. Calm down.” Gavin pulls me onto his lap and I scan his face. He isn’t freaking out like me. He has small bags under his eyes, but he looks relaxed. His gold eyes are dimmer than usual and I can feel bits of sorrow through our bond.
“Gavin.” I breathe out his name, trying to calm myself. I look around the room and see that I’m back in Gavin’s house in our bed, only the two of us. “Where did Aunt Mags go? I thought I heard her.”
Gavin shifts me onto his lap so my legs straddle his and he holds me close. I feel so weak that I’m certain without him, I’d be lying limp in our bed.
“She left a minute ago, before you woke up.” He looks deep into my eyes.
His hand strokes from my tailbone to the nape of my neck, and back over the loose fitting t-shirt that was placed on me while I slept. I look down and see that it’s the Southern Oregon Hawks shirt I stole from Gavin the first night we spent together. A small smile spreads across my face until I remember the image of Jed coming after me.
“Gavin, what happened to Jed? I remember him saving me and he… didn’t survive.” Gavin nods slowly and more of his sadness leaks into me where his bare arms touch mine. “But I also remember trying to close the opening to hell, and then something hit me and I saw Jed coming after me, only it wasn’t him.” I try to see past that memory, but nothing else comes.
Gavin slips his hands under the back of my shirt and rubs soothing circles on my bare back. I shiver at the feel of it. I can tell he missed my touch, and I feel like I’ve been without his for ages.
“It was Barron. Just before you were going to use your powers, he entered Jed’s body and stabbed you with a tree branch.” His eyes close momentarily. “You were so close to death, and he tried to kill me too, but he is dead now. Gone forever.”
Barron is gone...
I wrap my shaking arms around Gavin’s neck, feeling a deep, pressing weight lift off of my chest for the first time in months. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could have helped more. How did you finally kill him?”
Gavin shakes his head at me and a small chuckle leaves his lips. “Actually, I wasn’t doing too hot. It was Kassy who actually saved the day with her bow.”
My eyes fly open and I’m sure I look like a fish with my mouth dropped open. “Oh my gosh, Gavin! Is she okay?”
“She is great, I think. Mostly just worried about you. She and Liam have been in here probably a hundred times in the last two days.”
I scrunch my eyebrows together and guilt rushes through me. “Oh no. You guys have been worried about me for two days? I can’t believe I slept that long.”
Gavin sighs and lays his forehead against mine. I breathe in the scent of him, feeling content in the spicy pine scent. He keeps his eyes on mine, only centimeters from me. “Love, you have been asleep for five long and miserable days.”
My breath stops and I close my eyes with a groan. “Well, crap.”
Gavin chuckles a rich sound and it makes every happy nerve in my body flare up. “Yeah. Crap is right. I bonded with the woman of my dreams and haven’t even been able to kiss her for nearly a week.” He pulls his forehead off of mine and tilts his head at me with big puppy-dog eyes. “Will you please end my misery, Aella Cole?”
It’s the first time anyone has called me that name, and I instantly love it more than I ever thought possible. I nod to Gavin, not wanting to say another word as I press my lonely lips to his. At first the kiss is sweet and full of a gentle longing. Quickly though, I want nothing more than to show my Intended how much I miss him and that our future together is finally beginning.
I slide my eager fingers into his hair and pull him down to the bed with me, reveling in the primal growl from deep inside of him and exploring his soft lips with mine. Our bond was sealed a week ago in this very place, but this time is different. This time I just show Gavin that he is mine forever, with nothing in our way.
Chapter 13
As it turns out, Barron never stopped me from closing the opening to hell. Gavin informed me that I was struck by lightning and it basically charged me enough to release the power I needed. He insists that it was a gift from the gods, but Kassy and I both feel like it had to just be the stick in my chest that the lightning was going for.
I can’t really see how the gods would disappear for so long and then come back for a single moment, of course, this world isn’t what I thought it was only a few months ago. I guess closing one entrance to hell doesn’t close them all, or so Aunt Mags says. We plan to take trips to every opening we can find and close each one separately. I just hope that the next ones don’t go down the same way as the last.
Danielle has been an angel to me, which is suiting considering her son’s immense sacrifice. I will always be grateful for Jedrek Cole and his family is my family now. I can’t imagine a better group of people to spend my life with.
“Are you coming?” Kassy calls to me from outside of Gavin’s car. I guess I can’t stay in here forever. Kassy’s hair is dyed back to her almost natural chocolate brown. She says if fighting demons is the kind of fun blondes have, then she is perfectly happy with her natural color.
I step out of the car and wrap my friend in a warm hug. Snow fell all night and the fresh piles reach past my ankles. Kassy holds me in an embrace for a good minute. I feel the same as her on a day like today. Hugs are needed all around.
“I love you, Kass. Don’t ever leave me, okay?” I talk quietly with my chin resting on my best friend’s shoulder.
Kassy steps back from me and adjusts the thick black shawl over her long black dress. “Trust me, El. I’m not going anywhere. I mean, I am pretty bad-A, you know.” She winks at me with a small smirk.
I nod. “Oh, you absolutely are.” I grab her hand and the two of us walk through the snowy cemetery together.
Gavin smiles at me as I reach his side and he pulls me close to him. “Glad you decided to get out of the car, love,” he says in a whisper.
His whisper wasn’t quiet enough to keep Liam away, though. My tall friend joins us beside the large gray headstone. His blonde hair is combed to one side and his black coat, fashioned with a high collar makes him look almost distinguished for once. “Seriously, El. I was thinking you were glued to that seat for a minute. I figured it was my turn to rescue you.”
I glare at Liam and give him my usual eye roll. “Don’t tease me, pretty boy. I literally closed hell less than a week ago. Cut me some slack.”
Liam tilts his head at me and his eyes soften. “You know what? For the next twenty-four hours, I am going to be like your really sweet big brother. No jokes and no more teasing.” He lifts me off the cold snow and wraps me in a bear hug. “I’m very proud of you, ya know?”
I land back on my feet and Gavin has to steady me before I fall over. I want to cry again for the thousandth time. Keep it together, woman!
Liam stands beside Kassy and snuggles her into his side in the winter chill. I take a deep breath and read Jed’s headstone for the first time.
Jedrek M. Cole
Beloved Son and Brother
And Above All, Our Hero
It’s the truest thing I’ve ever read. I look up into Gavin’s eyes and he kisses me sweetly on my lips. “He became my hero when he saved you. He saved my life too in that moment.”
Gram pokes her head around Gavin’s shoulder and hands me a bushel of green herbs with small white flowers. “Go ahead and plant it anywhere, honey. Each person to plant an herb says something about the deceased. You’re up after Gavin.”
My anxiety flares up at the thought of speaking about Jed in front of his whole family. I can’t help the feeling of being responsible for his death, no matter how much I tell myself I’
m not.
One by one, each person plants an herb or flower around Jed’s headstone and says their piece. Hagan looks in the eyes of each person as he talks and his words make me feel his love for his son. “My boy wanted nothing more in his life than to complete rewarding missions and save mankind. The way he spoke about being a man and using the gifts he was given to help others was incredible. Just hearing that he was a hero in his final mission is all I need, to know that he was his true self to the end.”
Gavin plants his herbs and touches Jed’s headstone as he speaks. “You saved us all, little cuz. Your final moments were the first steps to a better world for all of us. You will always be missed, and you will never be forgotten.” Gavin walks back to me and kisses my forehead as he whispers to me. “Go ahead. Don’t be afraid.”
I step in front of Gavin’s family. My family. I look around at the Cole family cemetery, covered in white fluffy snow, and I thank the heavens that I will rest here someday with these amazing people.
I clear my throat and lay my plant in one of the small holes that Uncle Jack and Cy dug before the funeral. “It was only three months ago when I met Jed. He stood outside my home and protected my best friend without hesitation and without fail, just because his cousin asked for his help.” I look to Gavin, remembering the night I thought I’d have to say goodbye to him.
“I only know a handful of things about the boy that saved my life a week ago. He was snarky and sarcastic.” Small snickers of laughter leak from the group. “I know that he was strong, and smart, and very brave. Maybe too brave, if you ask me.” I twirl my fingers together, trying to keep my cool.
“He was brave enough to literally follow his family into hell, and save the life of a girl who only knew a handful of things about him.” I try to hold the tears back that threaten to fall. “Jed’s last words ring in my ears as a reminder that he was the best kind of hero. He said, ‘No worries, El. This was a lot of fun.’”
Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 Page 42
