I want to say no. That anything we could have done to change where we’ve ended up in this present moment would be worth the risk. But I can’t believe that. I don’t believe that. Killian has said from the beginning that time is fragile, never to be manipulated. That us going back in time would only be to learn, never to alter. And I know it’s the truth. That for whatever terrible reason, we had to come here, Drew had to die, and the stones had to be destroyed.
It crushes my soul to admit that. I glance at Drew lying behind me, then back at the man who could have stopped it. And I find that I do. I trust him. In spite of everything, when I look into his eyes, there’s nothing I can do but trust him.
“Yes,” I breathe.
In the next heartbeat, Killian crushes his lips to mine, his arms winding around me and holding me to his chest as if the very fate of the world hinges on this kiss.
And perhaps it does.
The magic connecting us flares ever brighter, pulsing in time to our heartbeats as I give myself over entirely to the man before me. Webs of energy flow through my veins, filling every fiber of my being until I can’t determine where Killian’s magic ends and mine begins.
I surrender to the kiss, meeting every caress of his tongue with my own, sinking into the inexplicable sensation the everything about this moment is something my heart has longed.
It doesn’t make sense. With all of my guardians, I came to love them naturally as I came to know them more and more, whether we were bonded first or not. With Killian, it’s as if this kiss is unlocking a part of my heart that has always loved him. That my soul immediately recognizes his. That I know him and he knows me in a way that surpasses time.
As our kiss slowly fades, from searing discovery to sweet familiarity, I’m left with a glowing feeling of love in my heart. Looking up at Killian, I smile in wonder.
“You knew all along.”
He nods, then chuckles. “I have to say I’ve been waiting for this moment for a really long time, my love.”
I want to revel in the moment, ask him a million questions, further explore this love that has just been unlocked. But his words come back to me.
“What did you mean we can’t wait too long?”
He jumps into action, but first gives me one last kiss that promises of what’s to come. Then he straightens himself and nods with resolve.
“Rory, my love. You must wake the others. There’s much to be done before we leave.”
“Where are we going?” I say, alarmed. This is suddenly moving all too fast. Killian is a hundred steps ahead of me and I have no idea what comes next.
“The safest place for you now is in the past. After what just happened here, I fear for what they may do when they awaken. You and I are leaving, as soon as possible. But we all have to get out of here first.”
I can’t keep up. Into the past? How is that even possible now that I’ve not only destroyed all but one of the sapphires, but I’ve lost the emerald as well.
Instead, I find myself saying, “What about Drew?” My words catch on his name. “I can’t just leave him. It’s not right. He deserves better.”
I wipe a tear away from my cheek as Killian takes me by the shoulders. “Listen carefully.” His eyes are insistent now. “There’s still a way to save him. But there isn’t much time. If we’re going to have a chance, we must go.”
I need to know more. Seems to be a recurring theme here. But if what he says is true and time is of the essence, there’s no time for questioning. If there’s the slightest chance that we can save Drew, that trumps any and every other plan I may have had.
So I set to work, reaching out to each of my guardians in turn, first Xander, then Nico, followed by Ryker, pouring my magic into them, giving them some of my own energy to bring them back to consciousness. After everything tonight, I shouldn’t have any energy left. But it seems that it takes more than a battle with the Regime to get me winded these days.
In a matter of seconds, they’re stirring, pushing themselves up. And surveying the wreckage.
“What the hell did you do, little witch?”
Then I feel a wave of sorrow from Nico, and I know he must see that Drew is part of the carnage.
“Sweetheart,” Xander says, coming to my side then kneeling down by Drew’s body.
A growl comes from Ryker’s throat as he sees now too.
“Please,” I say, glancing at Killian and noticing the hole burned through the chest of his jacket, his guardian mark still glowing from our fresh bond. “All of you, I need your help.”
They all seem to notice Killian’s mark at the same time, but none of them seem surprised. If anything, there seems to be a new air of solidarity among them. My heart feels both broken and full at the same time. I’ve lost Drew, but I now have four of my guardians, all of us bonded together for better or worse.
Killian speaks first. “Rory and I must go into the past. Tonight. The rest of you, I’m leaving you in charge of Drew.”
“In charge how?” Ryker says, at the same time I say, “We can’t without the emerald.”
“I’m your guardian now, my love,” Killian says with a smile. “You and I only need the one stone.”
I gasp at the realization.
“What about the other stones?” Xander demands. “And what the hell happened here?”
I shake my head. “I’ll have to tell you later—or when I can. But the short version is that my father escaped with the emerald and I destroyed all the rest when I took out your parents and the others. There isn’t much else you need to know other than that Killian says there’s a way to save Drew, but we have to leave tonight.”
“Just tell us what you need, darling.” Nico joins me at my side.
“First…we have to get him out of here.” I look down at Drew, unable to see him lying there in a heap like this for a moment longer.
Without being asked, Nico, Xander and Ryker simultaneously move to lift Drew from the ground, treating his body with more care than I’d expect considering that they’ve never fully understood why I insisted on keeping him by my side. I lean into Killian as they carry him from the room, his arm a support around my waist as we follow behind.
“Are you certain?” I can’t help but ask the question. My heart is in shambles, but a seed of hope has been planted. I need to know if I’m only setting myself up for more heartbreak if we aren’t able to save Drew after all.
“The future is never certain. Which is why I believe this is possible.”
Maybe one day I’ll understand the riddles Killian speaks in, but for now, I’ll just have to trust that he believes we can do this.
We reach the parlor, and the men set Drew carefully on the richly upholstered sofa, arranging his limbs so he looks more like he’s sleeping. It’s a small comfort, but it helps me focus on what we do next.
Killian looks at the men one by one, then back at me. “Go out the back entrance. Cora has a car waiting.” He gives them a set of coordinates and holds out an ancient looking wrought iron key. “Once you arrive, ask for Siobhan and give her this. She’ll tell you what to do next. But—” his voice takes on an ominous tone “—you must never at any point let his body out of your sight.”
I turn to him in alarm, but what can I say? Sorry, this is sounding a little too out of my depth? I take a deep breath, reminding myself to trust.
Then in the next moment, Killian turns to me, holding out his hand. “The sapphire, my love?”
I pull it from my pocket and place it in his palm. When I start to pull my hand back, he clasps my fingers and shakes his head slightly, pulling me toward him.
“It’s time.”
That can only mean one thing now. Time to go. Time to journey into the past. And hopefully discover my future.
I start to turn to say goodbye to my guardians, but before I can, a pure blue light envelops me.
Then I see nothing.
Silver Daggers
Thank you so much for reading Emerald Vows! I hope you love
d it. Rory’s story continues in Silver Daggers, book 4 of the Marked Souls series, now available for pre-order!
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Also by Sabrina Shelley
The Marked Souls Series:
Shadowed Secrets
Crimson Kisses
Sapphire Promises
Emerald Vows
Silver Daggers
Gilded Hearts (coming soon)
About the Author
Sabrina Shelley a thirty-something mom who spends her days playing pretend and her nights writing fantasies. She always has a cup of tea on standby, and in the rare event she’s not chasing kids around or grabbing her phone to make a note on the next amazing book idea that popped into her head, she just might find time to watch an episode of Westworld or Black Mirror. You can find Sabrina on Facebook or her website: https://sabrinashelley.com
Emerald Vows: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (Marked Souls Book 3) Page 16
