VEILED Complete Boxed Set
Page 60
4
Six months passed.
The only thing that had really changed about any of them was that Nikki now wore an engagement ring on her finger, given to her just before she and Saul had left Ascension Island. How and where they would get married was still up for debate but as far as Nikki was concerned, she didn’t need a ceremony. The ring was enough—a symbol that this man that had been alive for nearly a thousand years had chosen her to be the love of his very long life. A ceremony meant nothing. The act of asking her to marry him had been more than enough.
Nikki was looking at the ring, playfully running her thumb along its sides, as she and Saul walked into the clearing. Saul saw her doing it and smiled.
“Still can’t get used to it?” he asked.
“I really can’t,” she said. “It’s a good thing, though. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”
“Does being back here help you at all?”
She shrugged and looked around at the trees. She knew that the town she had grown up in was somewhere on the other side of the forest, but the thought roused no interest in her. There was no emotional recognition at all. These trees and this clearing could have been anywhere in the world for all she cared.
They walked into the clearing hand in hand. Now that she was fully accustomed to Polyxia’s power within her body, Nikki often felt that sense of interlocking whenever she and Saul touched. It was further confirmation that they were meant to be together. Nikki didn’t believe in anything as clichéd a destiny, but she thought that what she and Saul had was pretty close.
“Well, aren’t you guys just the cutest thing?” came a voice ahead of them.
Saul recognized his sister’s voice at once and smiled. They had touched base only a few times in the last six months—just quick mental glimpses of one another—but seeing her did him a world of good.
Jill exchanged hugs with Saul and Nikki, her eyes wet with tears. “Why the hell am I deciding to mourn for Dad now?” Jill asked.
“It’s the land,” Saul said. “This was, after all, where he was killed.”
“And you found it fitting to have this meeting here of all places?” Jill asked.
“It seemed like the right place,” Saul said. “And besides that, Nikki thinks she has an idea. She has something she wants to try.”
“What is it?” Jill asked.
“I don’t want to say,” Nikki replied. “If I do it and it doesn’t work out, I don’t want you guys to be too disappointed.”
They heard a rustling in the woods behind them as she spoke. They all turned in the direction of the noise and saw four people coming over a slight rise that led into the clearing where Lukas Benton had been killed.
Again, a smile came to Saul's face. He could not remember any time in his life when he had been so happy… so content.
Nikki stepped forward to greet the four new arrivals. She hugged Kara first, then Paul, Ray, and Penny. When she hugged Penny, she beamed widely at the slight yet noticeable bulge a her stomach.
“How are you holding up?” Nikki asked, placing her hand on Penny’s protruding belly.
“Good,” Penny said. “The doctors were concerned at first because of my age. But they say I’m in amazing health.”
“One of the many benefits of being a member of the Marked,” Ray said, kissing Penny on the cheek. “None of us have aged a bit since leaving Red Creek.”
“We seem to be healing, in fact,” Paul said. “I had arthritis in my left knee that hasn’t so much as flared up a single time since we left Red Creek after beating the Guard.”
The clearing was filled with idle chatter for five minutes as everyone caught up. Hugs were exchanged and stories of the past six months were shared as the branches of the trees were tossed lightly in the breeze overhead.
When the small talk wound down, Saul led them all to the center of the clearing. He walked to the single tree that stood in its center, an old oak with forked branches. He rested his hands on it and thought deeply about his father.
“Is everyone ready?” he asked.
“If you’re sure this is what you want,” Jill said.
“It is.”
“And you want us involved, too?” Kara asked.
“Yes. I think it was meant to be this way. Did you find any other members of the Marked?”
“We’re up to thirty so far, with a few stops left to make.”
“Then yes… I believe you are to be involved in this.”
They all sat in a circle and linked hands. When Saul held Nikki’s, he felt the ring on her finger and his heart swelled with hope.
“Nikki,” he said. “Begin whenever you are ready.”
Nikki nodded, closing her eyes and taking a series of deep breaths. The forest fell into silence, a quiet that stretched out for several moments.
Then, very lightly, Nikki said, “Everyone please close your eyes and think of something that signifies life for you.”
They all did, Penny smiling and looking down to her swollen stomach.
The silence stretched out for another few minutes. The forest was absolutely still, the breeze even stopping as if it sensed something monumental was about to occur.
Several minutes later, a soft voice broke the silence. It was not the voice of anyone in the circle. They all heard it faintly—all except Saul, who heard it crystal clear. The voice spoke directly next to his ear.
It said: “I’m proud of you, son. Now let’s get this thing going, what do you say?”
Saul let out a gratified laugh that was strained with tears of joy.
“Okay everyone,” he said, a huge smile on his face. “I call this initiative meeting of the new Guard to order. Anyone that does not wish to be a member, please step away from this circle."
No one moved. No one spoke. No one did a thing.
And with that, the new Guard was formed, led by Saul Benton and Nikki Galimore — the man and woman who had defeated gods to save the world.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the journey!
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Until next time.
Victoria Knight
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the third part in the Veiled series, Gathering Shadows. Stay informed about my latest book releases, sign up for email updates, and win cool prizes here: www.ByVictoriaKnight.com/kindle
When you sign up, you'll be automatically entered to win a signed copy of Monsters Within, so don't miss out! For a chance to win, head here: www.ByVictoriaKnight.com/kindle
And don't forget to say hi on FaceBook! Find me at www.FaceBook.com/ByVictoriaKnight
Until next time.
Victoria Knight