We both turn towards the TV as a banner flashing Breaking News scrolls across the bottom. An anchorwoman comes on, her expression grave as she reports the startling phenomena sweeping across the nation. Missing persons cases have skyrocketed in the last 36 hours and police departments in every city in the US have been swamped with nothing more than dead ends. And to make matters worse, there has been strange activity in the animal kingdom. Birds, fish and small forest creatures have all disappeared. There have been several escape attempts at zoos by ornery animals. Even household pets have run away. They’ve called in every expert with a PhD, MD and a bunch of other useless acronyms, yet no one can explain it.
“It’s happening,” Niko whispers, wide eyes glued to the television.
“People are calling it The Rapture. They believe the end is near. It’s mass hysteria out there, and it’s only going to get worse.” Lars looks at me, his expression almost reverent. “This is what Solara died for—this moment. When you would take your place in the Divine order and make things right again. It is time.”
“The prophecy?” The words feel like a curse on my tongue.
Lars nods before turning for the door. “I’ll leave you two to get ready. Time is of the essence.” Then he lets himself out, leaving us to drown in our own unease.
“Niko…” I don’t even know what I mean to say. An apology doesn’t feel like enough, although I know it’s warranted. And now that we’re about to embark on the darkness of the unknown, I need to make this right. I need him to know that last night may have been wrong, but it wasn’t a mistake. He wasn’t a mistake. “Niko, I—,”
He holds up a hand and shakes his head, halting any more words. “Don’t apologize. It’s nothing.”
It’s nothing. We’re nothing.
He makes his way to the adjoining door, but stop just as he twists the knob. I hold my breath, waiting for him to yell, scream, curse—anything. Anything to put us back on even footing.
“Gabs?” His voice is gravel on glass—dangerously close to breaking. “If you would’ve said ok—if you would have said it was me you wanted, not some temporary replacement for my brother, I would have done anything you wanted last night. Anything.”
He disappears into the next room, and I sink to the floor, feeling like I’ve lost my best friend. Because I did.
THE PLANE RIDE back to Louisiana is long, and only made more uncomfortable by the simmering tension between Niko and me. Luckily, Lars is a welcomed buffer, and willing to answer all of my probing questions about the Light, his sister and even what he’s heard of my mother.
“She was a legend,” he reflects. “A champion for our kind. Which is why her dealings with the Dark One reeked of betrayal. It’s still considered treason to utter her name at Light court.”
“Because she fell in love? She didn’t hurt anybody!” I shake my head, not understanding how a race that prides themselves of compassion and healing could be so cruel.
“I know that. And so did Solara. When she spotted you with the Dark prince that evening, her plan was to just simply watch you from afar and not intervene. But you were always with him…falling deeper under his spell. She couldn’t tell if his intentions were good or not so she kept a safe distance, praying that he would not harm you. And when he was betrothed to wed the Órexis female, she came to me, begging for my help in protecting you. Like a fool, I turned her away, refusing to get involved. And because of that, she lost her life.”
He looks to me, topaz eyes full of sorrow and regret. “Forgive me, Gabriella. I was a coward. Had I not been so stubborn and weak, I could have saved you both.”
I reach out to squeeze his hand and offer a reassuring smile. “It’s not your fault. None of that was anyone’s fault but Xavier’s.”
Lars takes the tender moment to lean in before looking back at Niko who sits several feet away, absentmindedly staring out the window. “I don’t mean to pry, but are you sure this is what you want? To go back to the other brother? Because if not, we don’t have to do this. I can think of about a million other things I’d rather do than hunt down a Dark prince and try to conjure whatever humanity he has left.”
My gaze sweeps over to Niko, so beautiful and lonesome. I remember the feel of his skin against mine, his hips moving between my thighs. His lips and tongue exploring me with such delicate precision. He had felt so good, so attentive and thorough. I wanted him so badly that it almost hurt.
But he wasn’t Dorian. And no one could fill that gaping hole he had left behind.
“This is what I want.”
Because Dorian is all I’ll ever want, from now until the very end. It was always him—it will always be him. I was just stupid and desperate enough to try to make my heart feel otherwise.
When we finally arrive at the mansion’s gates, I feel a sense of overwhelming relief. I’ve missed Morgan, and even Alex. He’s been loyal throughout all of this, and I feel shitty for questioning his presence before. No more. I won’t waste any more time with the people I love, Niko included. And as soon as we get Dorian back to safety, I’m going to put in the work to make things right with him again. I know it won’t be easy, but we have to get past this. We’ve been through too much to just let our friendship die over a night of drunken mistakes.
But even as I think it, I know that it was more than just alcohol that influenced our hands and lips. And if I’m really being honest with myself, I wasn’t that drunk. Not drunk enough to forget the smooth feel of his skin against mine and the sweet taste of his tongue. No amount of booze could erase the image of him hovered over my body, dark hair falling into his eyes as he gazed down at me with reverence.
Caught in a daydream, I don’t even realize we’re in front of the house until Morgan is practically ripping the limo door off its hinges. “Gabs! Oh my God, I’ve missed you so much!” There’re tears in her eyes, and she pulls my arm until my shoes hit gravel. Then she’s hugging me furiously, as if she’s just grateful I’m alive.
“What is it, Morg? Is everything ok? Where’s Alexander?” I grasp her shoulders and pull her body from mine to search her face for any signs of distress. But there’s only love in those big brown eyes.
“I’m just so glad you’re home.” Her voice is hoarse, as if she’s struggling to keep the knot in her throat from surfacing. She smiles through the discomfort. “And Alex is great. He’s been teaching me a bit about what I am and what my abilities are. Kinda makes me feel like a bad ass.”
“What you are?” Hold up. Abilities?
“A Guardian.” Lars steps from around the other side of the limo. He bows to Morgan before taking her hand and kissing the back of it. His golden eyes are full of awe and admiration. “You’ve done well. You have my deepest gratitude.”
“A Guardian?”
“Yes,” Lars nods. “Your friend is one of the Chosen. Her blood was enhanced at birth to give her special abilities that will prove helpful in the very near future. Tell me, Guardian, do you see the faces of the dead? Hear their whispers in the night breeze?”
Morgan’s eyes widen twice their size and she nods, unable to speak.
“Yes. Those are the voices of the ancestors. Quite debilitating at first, as I have heard. But as your sight adjusts, you should be able to focus it. Listen to them. They will tell you what you should do in times of trouble.”
Morgan turns her head to me, a thousand questions etched in her confused expression. I grin and wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Morgan, this is Lars. He’s a Light Enchanter, and the key to unlocking Dorian’s curse. Come on, let’s go inside and I’ll download you.”
Around the coffee table in the great room, Lars, Niko, Alex, Morgan and I share information we’ve learned in the last few days and devise the rescue mission. Morgan is on one side of me, our arms touching, since Lars informed us that as a Guardian, physical contact with her would deflect Stavros’s power, which is why she was able to hold Alex before. In her lap, lies the Polemos blade, a gift from Alexander. He had been teach
ing her how to fight in my absence, and the blade provides her with even more protection. One look at it, and most enemies will recoil, if not retreat with their tails between their legs. She really is turning into a bad ass, and I’m proud of her. None of this is easy to digest, even for me. And here she is—a fragile human—and she’s willing to fight. Willing to sacrifice her life to protect what she doesn’t even fully understand.
My father sits on my other side, his body humming with emotion. He turns to look at me and smiles, cracking his usual stoic exterior.
“What?”
“Just grateful to have you here. And so proud of your courage. You grow more like your mother every day, and I thank the Divine for that. The Light in you is strong.”
“It is,” Lars nods, respectfully chiming in. “My deepest sympathies for your loss, Dark One. Natalia was a great and mighty warrior, and her legacy lives on in your daughter. I am honored to serve her.”
Alex responds with a bowed head and offers the blonde man his hand, a sign of great respect. Lars takes it gratefully, clasping his other hand over it. “Your daughter is an extraordinary young woman. Our people will forever be indebted to her—to you—and Natalia’s spirit will be redeemed. Her death was not in vain, but in love.”
Alexander pulls me close with his other arm, bringing me into the heartfelt moment. It’s the first time he has openly embraced me, and I feel so grateful for him. For all of them.
I look around the room, taking in the scene before my watery, dual-colored eyes. We’ve done it. We’ve breathed life into the prophecy. This is what mortals and immortals around the globe have been waiting centuries for.
“So it’s settled.” Niko’s cold voice cuts into the warmth in the atmosphere and he climbs to his feet. His flat gaze meets mine for just a split second before turning away, taking my breath with him. “We leave for Skiathos tomorrow.”
THIS IS IT.
The moment we’ve all been preparing for. What people have suffered for, bled for. Died for.
This is the end.
After today, there will be no question of what I stand for, and whom I stand against. We’re making it known loud and clear, splattering it on the wall in the blood of our enemies. This isn’t just a rescue mission—far from that. We’re standing against Stavros. Standing for humanity. For freedom.
That night, when Denny Nox took us to the Lost and Found, I gazed out over the crowd of Otherworldlings that were laughing and dancing together. Creating the very peace that so many have sacrificed their lives for. And I realized something. I’m not here to put the Dark back in their place, or punish them for their iniquities. I’m not even sure I’m here to bring both the Light and the Dark together. But what I do know, is that they deserve a choice. There shouldn’t be limitations on who they can love. They shouldn’t be expected to take on certain roles in society because of what their last name happens to be. The Light, the Dark, vampires, werewolves and supernaturals alike deserve freedom. And that is what I will fight for.
I won’t live my life in fear for one second longer. And I won’t allow my people—the Light, the Dark, humans and every being with even just a touch of magic in their veins—continue to live in the shadows.
This is the end.
The end of Stavros’s reign. The end of evil.
And even if it means the end for me, I know that I cannot be afraid. I will not be afraid. Faith is my sword and my shield. With them, nothing can defeat me.
I LOOK OUT the window of the jet, busying my mind with everything I’ve learned. Yesterday, Alexander worked with me for hours, helping me to tap into the power surging through my veins. Feeling a renewed sense of purpose and channeling what I had learned from Niko, I caught on quickly, and pressed everything I had into the lesson. He was impressed, as was Lars and Morgan who watched intently. And while I was proud of my progress, a sorrow tugged at my heart because Niko wasn’t there to share my victory. After our meeting, he had remained locked in his room, doing God knows what. Probably counting down the days until he could rid me from his life.
And could I blame him?
Yes, reversing Dorian’s spell would bring his brother back, but what would that mean for us? How can I show him that he wasn’t just a replacement?
“We’ll be there soon,” Alex says, coming to sit beside me and, thankfully, interrupting my thoughts. A rush of adrenaline spikes in my heart, sending tingles to my extremities. “Once we land in Crete, things will be in motion fairly quickly.”
Knowing that actually landing anywhere near the Dark kingdom was a suicide mission, we’ve chosen to stop on a different island. From there, we can manifest onto Skiathos, and since it isn’t a very long distance, Alex will carry Morgan. He’s taken a liking to her, caring for her like she is my sister. And she is. Morgan is my family, and from this point on, nothing but death will keep her out of my life.
I glance across the plane to find that I’m not the only one that admires Ms. Pierre. She and Lars are sitting side by side on the plush, navy blue couch, smiling at each other. He opens his hand to her, and a tiny sun appears, floating just centimeters from his palm. He closes it, extinguishing the light. When he reopens it, he presents her with a single red rose bloom. Lars offers it to her, and she happily accepts, looking up at the beautiful giant with wonder in her eyes.
“You worry about her,” Alex says quietly.
“I do.”
He nods. “Understandable. But I believe she will be in good hands. The Light Enchanter has taken an interest in her. I believe he is honorable and willing to protect her with his life.”
“I do too. But what if…what if this is too much for her? She isn’t like us. I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
Alex grasps my knotted hands, covering them with his own. “Fear not, daughter. The Divine has been planning this moment for centuries. Morgan may not be as breakable as you think.” He gives me a wink, and I get a flash of that carefree man in the Polaroid picture, his large hands cradling my mother’s stomach. Cradling me. Emotion takes over and I free myself from his grasp, only to wrap my arms around him. He stiffens at first, taken off guard by my candor. But then I feel him holding me, squeezing me. A shudder rolls through his chest and I hear him gasp, his head pressed against the top of mine.
“I love you, my brave, sweet girl,” he whispers, his voice thick. “I always have. Knowing you were out there was the only thing that kept me alive all those years in hiding. Just the idea of meeting you was enough to keep me going.”
We embrace for what feels like hours, trying to make up for all the time lost, when Niko emerges from the cockpit. He shoots an icy glare at Alexander and me then turns to Morgan and Lars. Sorrow rests at the edge of his coldness.
“Prepare for landing,” he mutters before settling in the seat farthest from the rest of us, and strapping in. Alex looks at me expectantly, probably waiting for me to go to him. I resume gazing out the window, watching the clouds zip by as we descend into destiny.
Since we knew it wouldn’t be easy to infiltrate the castle, and obviously didn’t expect to stroll right through the doors, we prepare ourselves to hike from the southern side of the palace where the mountain’s rocks are the most jagged, warding off any intruders. Of course, the land is spelled for miles, so Lars must hold Morgan’s hand, a hardship that he was only too happy to bear. The two maintain constant contact as they battle the rough terrain, which brings me a little peace. While I may hold the gift of regeneration, Morgan does not. And having Lars by her side gives me comfort that she won’t fall and hurt herself, something that is a real possibility among the razor-sharp boulders.
“Won’t be much longer,” Alex announces from the front of the group two hours into our journey. We’re losing daylight and our physical energy is dwindling.
“Good,” I hear Niko mumble from the rear.
When we approach the secret cliff dwelling, we shed our gear so we’re able to slip through a fissure in the mountain that’s only a little
more than a foot wide. Luckily, it’s only that narrow at the section closest to the castle wall.
“What’s this?” I ask, pointing to a symbol etched into the black, metallic stone.
“The symbol of the fallen children,” Lars answers behind me, his voice full of pride. “We have been here.”
I run my fingers over the grooved edges of carved rock, imagining the terrified souls that must have passed through these very walls in a quest for freedom. And the fact that Cyrus led my father to this tunnel makes me believe that he, too, is one of the fallen. It would make sense, considering the vampire’s unwavering support of his cousins and Stavros’s undeniable hatred for his nephew.
We reach a patch of smoothed rock that’s merely the size of a large doggy door. Alexander pushes with all his might until it begins to groan under the pressure of his immense strength. Once he’s able to get it to budge, it makes a screeching sound as it automatically slides to the side, revealing a hole that even I will have trouble getting through. I look back at Lars and he tips his head.
“Don’t worry about me. I have my ways,” he winks.
Alex passes through first, holding a flashlight, more for Morgan’s sake than anything else. The rest of us can see perfectly through the tiny, pitch-black space. I’m right behind him, shimmying on hands and knees. Bits of gravel dig into my palms, and I can’t even fathom what kind of rodents live down here. I push it out of my mind, refusing to freak out. We’ve got bigger fish to fry, and rats and spiders are the least of our problems.
We crawl for about fifty yards before we come to a large vent that Alex slips off easily, as if it is purposely left unscrewed. He turns to us, pressing a finger to his lips. From this point on, no one speaks. Anything that needs to be communicated will be passed telepathically.
There are signs of activity inside the duct—patterned knee prints disturbing inches of dust and debris. We shuffle through as silently as possible, cringing every time the galvanized metal screeches. By the time we reach a second vent, I’m not even breathing.