Black Blood

by S. D. Grimm

  Quinn touched the solid beams that constructed the cabin. “A Whisperer lived here.”

  Jayden dropped to her knees and hugged Westwind. “I love it.”

  Ethan breathed deep and looked over the property. “It’s plenty big enough for a couple more cabins, don’t you think?”

  Ryan grinned. “I do. As long as my neighbors wouldn’t mind a dragon sleeping by the pond.”

  Jayden smiled. “Of course not.”

  “May I see the house?” Quinn ventured toward it as if she were a pegasus and it was a bolt of lightning.

  “We may all want to go inside.” Jayden looked up at the darkening sky. “The storm is above us.”

  They all entered Anna’s home. Though dusty with a few tipped-over chairs, it looked very similar to the day they’d left nearly a year ago. It felt more like ages. Jayden stood in the doorway and smiled. This would make a good house. And she’d fill it with laughter again.

  Quinn touched the wooden beams, and the house groaned as it shifted. “I think it’s welcoming us.”

  “Well, that settles it,” Jayden said. “You and Connor will have to help the rest of us build our cabins.”

  Quinn’s eyes glittered. “You mean it?”

  She nodded.

  Thunder rumbled, and she turned to the open door to feel the stormy air on her face. She caught sight of Ethan, leaning against the porch railing, and she joined him. Then the rain came. Hard and fast and strong. Drenching rain that covered everything. It made the new trees grow.

  The Forest of Legends needed this now. Thanks to Quinn, they grew faster. Soon the Forest of Legends would be filled with towering trees again. Everything was rebuilding. Starting fresh.

  Ethan moved behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and bowed his head close to hers. “Hey. What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”

  She turned around in his arms and laid her head on his chest. “I am. And I’m not.”

  He held her. “It’s hard to be back?”

  “No. That’s not it.”

  “It’s hard to come back.”

  Jayden looked up at him, but he was staring out at the rain. He was right, more right than he even knew. A pang squeezed her heart as she recalled how wonderful she’d felt when she was in the afterworld. She’d wanted to stay until Serena had reminded her that she’d be leaving Ethan behind. She couldn’t leave him. She’d heard him speaking to her at that moment: Don’t go where I can’t go with you. Please. And those words had made her want to return to him.

  The pang in her heart mended. This second chance to be with him was worth it. She’d make the same choice again. In a heartbeat. But how could she explain that to someone who had never been in the Creator’s presence? Who had never . . . “Oh.” Her mouth dropped open. She touched Ethan’s stomach where the old scar was that he’d never told her about—the one Serena had felt in the house of wisdom. “Ethan, you died?”

  He nodded.

  “What brought you back?”

  “Tessa grabbed my hand and brought me back. I didn’t choose it. But the Creator wanted her to bring me back. He said I still had something to do. It’s why I knew I had to protect you and the others.”

  “And you did.”

  He looked at her and smiled. “Anything for you.”

  Those words warmed her heart. Ethan’s declaration of love. The rain churned. It would become a stronger storm if she pushed it.

  “Come here.” He motioned toward the porch steps.

  “You want to go out in the rain?”

  He smiled that boyish grin and nodded. Thunder pealed. She grabbed his hand and let him lead her into the rain.

  “I wanted to show you something.” He nodded toward the side of the house. Thunder rumbled again, like a growl that seemed somehow outside of the storm. “Someone.”

  Jayden peered around the side of the house, curious as to who would be there. Perhaps he’d told Luc or Rebekah where they were going. Maybe—her heart pounded as she stared at the black pegasus standing in the rain. And her name came out in a breath. “Stormcloud.”

  She raced to Jayden, wings extended, and nuzzled into her. “I’m sorry I stayed away.”

  And Jayden felt the bond reconnect. The hole inside of her filled. She stroked Stormcloud’s nose and pressed her face against the pegasus. “I’m just glad you came back.”

  “I—well, would you get Serena?”

  Jayden looked at her friend. “Do you have a message for her?”

  Stormcloud dipped her head in what looked like an enthusiastic nod. But Serena and Ryan had already exited the front door. They met Jayden by her pegasus.

  “You came back!” Serena pet Stormcloud’s nose.

  Stormcloud whickered and flipped her head. A tiny white pegasus stepped around the side of the house, seeming to melt into view as it moved, a little unsteady on his feet. The small nub of a horn grew from the top of his head.

  Serena’s hands flew to her mouth, and she remained rooted where she stood. “Is that . . . ?”

  “I named him Dash, after his father.”

  The little pegasus pressed his nose into Serena’s hand and closed his eyes. She pulled his face close and leaned her forehead against his. “His bond structure is for Healers.”

  “You bonded to him?” Stormcloud asked.

  Serena nodded, not taking her attention from the winged unicorn.

  Tears sprung into Jayden’s eyes, and she hugged Stormcloud’s neck. “He’s beautiful.”

  “He is.” Serena kissed his nose.

  Lightning sparked across Stormcloud’s coat. Dash whinnied and tossed his head. His fur shimmered like sparkling snow. The two of them took flight in the rain, and Serena stood there, waving after the small winged creature.

  Jayden watched them, her heart full.

  Ryan shivered. “How can you stand in the rain?” He tugged Serena, and she walked back with him to the house.

  Jayden turned to Ethan. “You want to go in?”

  “No. I want to stay with you.”

  Lightning lit the sky like fireworks, and she hugged Ethan close, basking in his contentment. “When I was . . . dead, I still loved you. It’s what brought me back.”

  His breath hitched.

  “I saw so many people I loved. Logan. My parents. My birth parents. My brothers. And they all encouraged me to leave with Serena. But I didn’t want to go.”

  “Oh. Jayden, I’m sorry.”

  She grabbed his hand. “No. Stop being sorry. When I felt the pull of love for you, I was ready to come back. I wanted to.” She paused to look into his brown eyes and make sure he felt her words. “Even in death, I loved you.”

  She slid her hand behind his neck and pulled him into her. His lips met hers and the rain splashed harder. Stronger. Drowning out everything else. Lightning cracked, and he lifted her into his arms. She pulled him as close as she could. Wrapped arms and legs around him. Felt every splash of rain roll along her skin. Tasted the electricity in their kiss. Felt it in his strength. The storm pulsed through both of them, she felt it alive and wild. Pure and strong.

  When she opened her eyes, the kiss still on her lips, she smiled. “I’d do anything for you, Ethan. Anything.”

  Epilogue

  Seven years later

  Jayden breathed in the humid evening air and leaned against the back porch’s railing as she looked out over the forest surrounding her house. The sun touched the horizon, sinking lower every second. Gold pierced through the old, charred trees of the Forest of Legends and bathed the new, rich, leafy forest in warmth. It looked so beautiful now with the young trees reaching toward the sky, growing into the gaps left by the burned trees. Light that hadn’t shown there in years now punctured through and made the forest thrive.

  That was what Serena said every time they walked there together. She’d look up at the sky and spin in a circle and muse that the forest was thriving again.

  Five silhouettes stepped out from the massive trees and into the o
ld grove beyond the pond. Westwind and Aurora loped. Ethan, Ryan, and Connor each carried a string of rabbits. Their deep laughter rode on the wind.

  Someone tugged on her apron, and Jayden turned to see her son’s big blue eyes staring up at her. She crouched down to his level and felt his pulse of worry. “What’s wrong, dear one?”

  “Auntie Serena says you’ll kiss it, even if she already healed it.”

  Jayden smiled. “What happened?”

  “I scraped my elbow climbing down from the tree.”

  Jayden kissed the spot, though no scrape remained.

  Serena, her own little girl on her hip, appeared in the doorway holding Quinn’s daughter’s hand. Smiling, she joined Jayden on the porch. “I sent them to the river to wash up for supper. Your oldest seemed to think climbing trees the better idea.” She winked at Jayden’s boy. “Quinn is helping the other two finish washing—they needed more than just their hands cleaned.” Her laugh swirled in the wind like a chime. Then she caught sight of the men returning and kissed her daughter. “Wave to Daddy.”

  Jayden’s son whirled around. “Is my daddy coming, too?” His face brightened. “Daddy!” He rushed to greet them.

  Quinn’s daughter followed, tripping only once on the uneven grass. The goats and chickens frolicked after her, Enya flying above them. Blaze and Zephyr lifted their heads, seeming to want to join them, but lay back down, basking in the rays of sun instead. Stormcloud and her son, Dash, continued grazing. Jayden folded her arms and leaned against the railing, her eyes glued to Ethan as he patted their son’s head.

  “Well, the children seem excited,” Serena said. “Perhaps we should send our husbands out to catch dinner more often.”

  Jayden laughed. “I wonder who won the bet.”

  “I’m guessing Aurora.”

  “I just hope the rabbits are already skinned.”

  Another soft laugh sounded behind Jayden, and she turned to see Rebekah slowly stepping onto the porch, careful not to wake Jayden’s sleeping daughter in her arms.

  Jayden held out her hands. “Would you like me to take her?”

  “Nonsense.” Rebekah smiled and rubbed the baby’s back. “She’s comfortable here.”

  Jayden smiled. “Then I suppose I should make sure the cookfire is still hot.”

  “Oh, Ryan will take care of that,” Serena said as Ryan stepped up onto the porch. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “Did you win?” she asked.

  His lopsided smile filled his face. “I think the wolves cheated.”

  Cliffdiver landed in the field and Jayden’s children rushed off the porch. “Uncle Percy and Aunt Estelle are here!”

  Jayden pressed her hand against her chest and looked at Ethan then Ryan. “Uncle Percy? Aunt Estelle? Which one of you—” she stopped as they both grinned.

  Then she joined the running children as they raced out to greet her aunt and uncle. Uncle Percy—or as Ryan’s kids called him, Uncle One Eye—was already passing out carved wooden animals. And Aunt Estelle was telling each of them loudly how much they’d grown since last time.

  As the children seemed enraptured, a glowing, white unicorn stepped into the clearing. Wren jumped off its back as children rushed to great her. Jayden marveled at how Ryan’s littlest sister had grown.

  Just as she thought her heart couldn’t get happier, another shadowcrossed over them, and Jayden looked up. A red dragon descended, and Jayden recognized Kara’s Ember.

  The dragon landed, and all the kids shouted, “They’re here! They’re here!”

  Jayden’s heart swelled as Luc slid off the dragon and helped his pregnant wife to the ground. Connor rushed over to greet them and Jayden followed, enveloping her brother and Madison in a huge hug. “You came.”

  “Wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Luc pulled her close again.

  Kara even let Jayden hug her. “Thank you for inviting me, Softheart.”

  Jayden smiled. “As I’ve said before, you’re always welcome here. We’re your family.”

  Kara rolled her eyes, but the sense of joy pulsing through her coursed into Jayden’s heart.

  Rounds of hugs and laughter filled the meadow as everyone greeted one another, and gradually they all made their way inside, where children’s voices—exuberant from the day’s coming excitement—echoed in the house.

  Rebekah touched Jayden’s shoulder. “I’m going to calm those little ones. You take your time.” She held her hand out, motioning for Jayden’s boy to follow.

  Jayden blinked as she watched Rebekah go inside. Did she know what day it was? Did they all? Was that why nearly her whole family had insisted on joining her for supper tonight? Why Ethan had orchestrated this whole party?

  Ethan stopped in front of her and touched her arm, drawing her attention back to him.

  The sun sank ever lower.

  Westwind paused next to Jayden and looked up at her. Her son scratched behind his ears, and the wolf smiled.

  Jayden’s fingers brushed his coat. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you liked that, Westwind.”

  He chuckled. “Your son looks like his father.”

  She looked up at Ethan’s soft smile. “He does.”

  “He’s got his mother’s eyes though.”

  Jayden nodded. “It makes him look so much like his grandfather.”

  “He’s got the same bond structure, too.”

  Jayden snapped her gaze to Westwind. “You’ve bonded to my son?”

  He smiled. “I have.”

  She dropped to her knees. “I can’t think of a better friend.” She looked at her son. “Logan, you’ve bonded?”

  He nodded, a huge grin on his face. “Westwind says his mate caught the most rabbits.”

  She laughed and hugged him close. Then she let go and watched the wolves follow her son inside. She stood and faced Ethan. “Did you know about the bond?”

  He shook his head.

  She wrapped her arms around him and laced her fingers together.

  He hugged her back. “Hey, what’s wrong? What do you need?”

  She shook her head and leaned against his chest. But tears stung her eyes. They weren’t sad tears. Well, some of them were. Eight years ago marked the day the queen had stolen her family from her. Burned her home and tried to rob her of the one thing that had kept her going through all the heartache: love. But most of these tears coated her eyes because happiness filled her to the brim. She’d lost so much, but she’d also gained so much. Learned so much.

  She’d been given a chance to have more family. More life. More love.

  She could think of nothing stronger than love.

  Like the Forest of Legends regrew, so new growth, new life, and new love flourished, even in her bruised and broken heart. She’d persevered because of family she’d lost and family she’d gained. And the love they gave her in return strengthened her. Made her thrive. Made her believe it was possible to return home—she’d just needed to build a new one. One that would embrace her past, one that accepted her for who she was, and one she could grow old with. She would be at home when all of that came together to keep her whole. Keep her thriving.

  Ethan kissed the top of her head. “Jayden? What do you need?” he repeated. He held her closer. Strong and gentle at the same time.

  She breathed in and cuddled as close to him as she could. “Just this.” She closed her eyes and pressed her ear against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. The sound that told her she was home.

  S.D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction. That’s to be expected from someone who looks up to heroes like Captain America and Wonder Woman, has been sorted into Gryffindor, and isn’t much taller than a hobbit. Her patronus is a Red Voltron Lion, her spirit animal is Toothless, and her lightsaber is blue. She has been known to write anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large dog. She has also been caught brandishing a wooden spoon in the kitchen while simultaneously cooking dinner and “head-writ
ing” a fight scene.

  She believes that with a little faith, a lot of love, and an untamed imagination, every adventure is possible. That’s why she writes. Her debut novel was Scarlet Moon, the first book in the Children of the Blood Moon series. Learn more about her books at www.sdgrimm.com.

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