by Jodi Redford
“I—I have no damn idea. But it’s the place from my dream. Only I guess it’s not really just a dream anymore.” She shuddered.
Desperate to get her back on track, he shook her shoulders. “You’ve dreamt about that thing? What the fuck is it?”
“I th-think it’s a levi—the word that’s kept popping in my head for the past week. As soon as I saw that disgusting…” She broke off for a moment, blinking. “Leviathan.”
A hush fell over the guild members, and Logan swerved his focus to Domino. “What? What is it?”
“They’re the seven-headed gatekeepers to hell. The most powerful of all soul collectors.” Domino’s fingers trembled as she pressed them to her lips. She shook her head, the color slowly returning to her high cheekbones. “Impossible. It’s believed they’ve been extinct for at least a century.”
“Trust me, that fuckin’ thing is alive and kickin’.” But not for long. “How is it killed?”
“I don’t think it can be.”
“Hope,” Willa whispered.
He and Domino glanced at the young witch. Willa’s eyes glazed over, as if she’d traveled to some far-off place. “It can be slain by hope. But first we must relight hers.”
Domino frowned. “Willa, what’s wrong with you?”
Shoving the pain-in-the-ass guild leader aside, Logan clasped Willa’s arm. “Whose hope? Clarissa’s?”
She nodded. “The lake extinguished her hope. Her only chance of surviving, and killing the Levi, is if we relight it.”
Domino made an impatient noise. “Willa, what—?”
Slashing his gaze in Domino’s direction, he bared his teeth. “Say one more word, and I swear to Christ I’m jamming a sock in your mouth.”
The guild leader’s eyes blazed, but at least she took his threat to heart. His attention shifted back to Willa. “How do we relight her hope?”
“We call her to us.” She bit her lip and looked around the room before staring up at him. “We call her home.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Sweet Clarissa.”
Envy’s covetous touch roamed her face, brushing over her eyelashes. “You are truly ready to become my bride now. Reborn and baptized.” The sin delicately wiped the last traces of oily ooze from her hair with the cloth it’d wrapped around her as soon as she’d been dragged from the lake. She shivered, a terrible emptiness carved deep within her belly.
“You feel it now, don’t you? The darkness that brings you closer to me. To master. We are one now. Forever.”
The creature’s cold, clammy kiss iced over her lips before the sin helped her into the black lace wedding dress that’d magically appeared beside her. “Come. It’s time to celebrate our union and make it official. The others are waiting.”
As if she were no more functional than a zombie, she followed Envy’s command. There was nothing left of her now. No struggle. No fight. Only a vast, unfillable void.
They stepped into the twilight. The darkness was denser than ever, a perfect twin to the empty abyss within her soul. As promised, the others were gathered at the lake’s edge. She and Envy joined them, and Clarissa stood motionless while the six sins danced around her and Envy. Even the bitchy Greed and the lazy Sloth seemed to be enjoying the festive atmosphere.
“For seven years I’ve patiently waited to make you mine.” Envy’s talons caressed her chin. “Did you know that I came to your coven house the day of that tiger and witch’s wedding? I watched you, sweet Clarissa, my eagerness almost overwhelming as I imagined reciting our own vows. And now here we are. It’s a dream come true.”
It occurred to her that she should feel disturbed that the sin had been anywhere near the coven house. Instead, she felt…nothing.
“I have forgiven you for doing all of those wicked things with that filthy wolf. It’s quite generous of me, no?”
Wolf?
Oh yes, Logan. She waited for the pain of his absence to fill her. But…nothing.
Lust suddenly whirled her into its arms, jerking her around like a rag doll as the sin waltzed her upon the sand. An angry hiss erupted from Envy and it leapt at Lust, knocking the creature onto its ass. The two sins began fighting, clawing at each other, while jeering laughter broke from their siblings.
Amidst the commotion, she heard the faint echo of her name. At first she paid it no mind, but then it grew louder. Enough so it drew the attention of the five sins who were not squabbling. Their features froze for a fraction of a second before twisting with ugly menace. A legion of hisses filled the air, almost drowning out the constant chanting of her name, which had grown to a deafening crescendo.
The two sins wrestling on the sand ceased beating on each other. Its expression awash with panic, Envy hurtled to its feet. The creature spun in circles, making terrible hissing and growling noises into the darkness. When that didn’t defeat the rising chorus of her name, Envy crushed her to its chest, clamping its hands over her ears. But even with everything muffled, a strange thing occurred.
The emptiness within her belly began to recede.
She felt a flicker of something. A spark. The edges of her conscience tried to grasp the meaning of it, why the tiny flame offering its meager warmth called to her.
A furious cacophony of noise clanged inside her head, competing with the voices singing her name. The sins were screeching, their shrill, discordant yowls deafening.
Horrific images sprang into her mind. Battlefields soaked in blood, the dead and wounded stacked in massive piles while bombs exploded everywhere. She heard Wrath’s rattling laugh and the fragile spark within her sputtered.
Clarissa. The sweet invocation of her name curled around the wick of the weakening flame, stoking it to life. The death-strewn battlefield disintegrated, along with Wrath.
Squeals of rage blasted from the remaining sins. Their crazed flurry like a whirlwind, they swooped on top of her, hurling her into the lake. Their claws dug into her hair, trying to dunk her beneath the waves. The light faltered.
A barrage of disturbing images flashed before her—machines of mass destruction and greed stripping the earth, erecting altars filled with rotting waste.
Clarissa. The beckoning of her coven sisters cracked through the dark.
The machines stalled, crumbling into rusted flakes. Hideous wailing came from Greed and Gluttony as the sins dissolved. Envy’s talons sank into her flesh, mad desperation contorting its features as the creature plunged her beneath the oily water. Her lungs filled with the incessant, drowning darkness.
She started to fade.
Rissa. Logan’s voice pierced the emptiness, floating toward her like a life preserver. The light of his love filled her chest, making her buoyant. She surged upward, breaking the water’s surface with a gasp.
“No,” Envy roared, hatred blazing in its eyes. “You’re mine.” The lake seethed and roiled. Funnels of fire torpedoed from its depths as Seven’s formidable bulk ascended from the surf and towered behind Envy. The beast’s many jaws yawned open, venomous hatred dripping from its fangs.
Envy yanked her head back, its claws aiming for her throat.
Rissa, I love you. The power of Logan’s declaration thundered through her, and the light exploded in a fierce illumination.
Envy screamed. A brilliant white glow leached the darkness from its irises and slowly spread throughout the sin. Its remaining siblings writhed beside it, their own bodies radiating the same blinding refulgence. The creatures distorted, bending out of proportion before snapping together as one and rocketing into Seven.
The mighty beast bellowed, its tentacles whipping through the air. It lunged at her, bursting into a white glare of flame. For one dazzling moment, the sky became a canvas of luminosity.
Seven’s thrashing carcass toppled into the water, sending up a massive wave that ruptured the darkness. A gurgle discharged from the lake, and the ooze began swirling, siphoning toward the epicenter of its belly. Thousands upon thousands of souls launched from the receding waves, sho
oting skyward.
She felt herself flying suddenly, soaring toward those luminous, twinkling lights. The coven house stood amongst the tapestry of stars. Her fingers closed around the doorknob, but it wouldn’t budge. Heavy pounding shook the other side, and she could hear Logan calling to her.
Clarissa. The voice wasn’t his. She floated sideways and noticed a vibrant, golden tree. It reminded her of the one she’d first glimpsed upon waking in this place. Only this oak shimmered with endless life. A woman emerged from the trunk, her face more ancient than the bark. Gaia—mother goddess of all.
“Your family awaits, Clarissa. Both within that house and here.” Gaia gestured to the illuminated tree behind her. “It’s time for you to make your choice.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The sound of joyous crying and chatter jerked Logan back to his body. He rolled closer to Clarissa on the bed, his palm curving around her cheek. She was still unconscious.
Why hadn’t her soul returned? He’d felt her on the other side of the door, trying to—
No spirits will be able to pass through the barrier, including hers.
Mama Heloise’s pronouncement ripped through the confused tangle of his thoughts. Sweet Jesus. The bed. They had to get her body out of here.
Frantic, he scooped her into his arms, plowing toward the exit. One of the guild members knocked into him, and he growled as Clarissa’s limp limbs jostled within his grip. “Fucking move.”
Finally everyone seemed to get their heads out of their asses and cleared a path. He gently settled his mate on the carpet and hugged her tight. “Baby, come back to us. We need you.”
A hush fell over the room, the silence almost unnerving. Each tick of the bedside clock felt like an eternity. Felt like a torment.
She lay motionless, her body defenseless and vulnerable. Misery howling inside him, he clutched her hand, pressing it to his thudding heart. His throat vising, he buried his cheek in her hair.
Another lifetime passed before he felt it. The almost imperceptible flex of her fingers.
He froze.
Her hand moved again, seconds before a shudder rippled through her body. He jerked his head back, the air jamming in his lungs as her dusky lashes fluttered. She opened her eyes, her unfocused gaze landing on him. Blinking, she lifted her hand to his jaw. “You called me back.”
Tuning out the excited clamor surrounding them, he bent his head and kissed his mate. Moisture filled his eyes, but he didn’t move to hide his emotions. “Welcome home, baby.”
The rest of the day was like a surreal dream to Clarissa. Compared to that nightmare world she’d left behind, the love and friendship encompassing her from every direction felt like a comforting cocoon. Never in her wildest imaginings would she have expected to be the recipient of all these people’s thoughts and prayers. Their light still resided within her chest, humbly reminding her of everything she’d almost lost.
Her tummy rumbled suddenly, calling attention to the fact that she was once again in possession of a stomach that required sustenance. Logan’s palm smoothed over her arm. He’d looked for any excuse to touch her for the past two hours. Not that she was complaining. She’d looked for any opportunity to touch him too. “I’ll get Gloria to fix you somethin’. Be right back.”
Her fingertips brushed his cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He rested his forehead against hers before he stood and left the parlor. As soon as he was gone, Tanner and Constance came and sat next to her. While her coven sister clasped her hand, Clarissa offered Tanner a tremulous smile. “I’m glad you and your mom are with us.”
The boy swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Me too. And I’m glad you’re okay.”
Footsteps scrunched on the carpet, and Clarissa looked up as Willa approached. She still didn’t understand what the young witch had been doing in Seven’s horrific realm or how she’d gotten there. But the weariness and exhaustion in Willa’s eyes stalled her from making any mention of it. No doubt the guild had been grilling the girl endlessly for the past several hours. She wasn’t about to add to Willa’s frustration. Instead, she stood and wrapped her arms around her. The hug felt right. Natural. She would never again be afraid of letting anyone close. Not after everything she’d almost lost. “Thank you. For everything.”
“I-I’m just sorry I couldn’t help Logan save you before those bastards extinguished your light.” She sniffled. “I hope that ugly son of a bitch burns in Hell.”
Her mind flashed back to Seven’s thrashing form. “I don’t think there’s any question of that.”
Fiona, Marabella, Jade and Peach joined them, adding to the already crowded conditions around the sofa. She was almost glad that Jemma and Griffin were still off on their honeymoon, clueless of the drama that’d unfolded the past few days. Much as she loved having all her coven sisters within arm’s reach, she was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by all the attention.
And truthfully, as selfish as it sounded, the one she most wanted at the moment was currently in the kitchen, trying to round her up a snack when what she really longed for was the comfort of his arms.
As if he’d received a direct transmission of her thoughts, Logan suddenly appeared in the doorway. Their gazes crashed and the world around them faded to the background. She watched him stride forward, his sole focus on her. He swept her up and pivoted toward the doorway. Fortunately no one detained him as he strode for the stairway, otherwise the unlucky offender would have likely received a chunk taken out of their hide.
They reached her bedroom, and he kicked the door shut before locking it. A second later, she was sinking into the fresh bedding, her fingers sifting through Logan’s hair as his tongue glided along hers. The kiss was drenched in heat and passion. Love and tenderness.
He cradled her close, his hands touching every inch he could reach. Soon clothing became a hindrance, and they removed that last barrier to each other’s bodies, their fingers, lips and tongues relearning the precious plains and valleys of the other. Logan’s mouth slid between her legs and suckled softly on her clit, his loving worship driving her to a shattering climax. He left her just long enough to fetch a condom from his wallet.
Remembering his oath not to get her pregnant until she wore his ring, she nibbled along his jaw while he smoothed the latex over his rigid shaft. “We need to get married. Soon. So we can start filling that nursery.”
His motions stilled and he looked at her, the joy on his face almost more blinding than the glow residing in her heart. His lips parted, but rather than responding to her announcement, he kissed her again. Their tongues tangling, he eased over her, his cock rubbing along her labia. She undulated her hips and he took the hint, nudging into her slit. He bore down, filling her in one luscious stroke. She countered his thrusts, the rhythm of their love as ancient as time itself. Their fingers twined, an unbreakable bond.
Almost.
There was one last step to seal their union. One that she longed for with all her soul. But for the first time in many, many years, her longing wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Or to run from.
She turned her head, exposing the vulnerable arch of her neck. A shudder racked Logan, and she could sense his wolf straining at its leash. She whispered the words that would free him. Free her. “You are my mate. Always.”
Groaning, he buried his face against her. He placed a tender kiss on her pulse, and a moment later his canines pricked her flesh. She instinctively tensed, not knowing what to expect. Would there be pain?
His teeth punctured deeper. But there was no agony, only the most exhilarating, intense pleasure she’d ever known. It swept over her, radiating inward and outward until she was submerged in pure sensation. She swam in the currents of his energy, their essences merging into shimmering threads of lavender and gold. There was no beginning and no end to their unity. No weakness in their link. She opened her eyes to the shining light of her and Logan’s love.
One word sang in her soul.
Epilogue
Twenty-nine was too damn young to be suffering a midlife crisis.
And a mental breakdown.
Shaking her head, Willa Jameson parked her Taurus outside Tybee’s Sugar Shack. The only thing that’d talk her down from the ledge she was straddling right now was an Oreo Cookie shake. She stepped inside the building, the smell of vanilla and chocolate like a tranquilizer dart to the jugular. Her sigh of contentment floated free. Now if only this illusion of tranquility and normalcy would last.
Jenson was manning the counter today. He gave her a friendly wave. “Hey, Willa. The usual?”
She wasn’t the least bit surprised by the question. God knows, she came here often enough everyone knew her and the fact that Oreo Cookie shakes were her personal crack. “Yep. Extra heavy on the cookie today, please.”
Jenson’s eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t say anything. A few minutes later, her liquid therapy in hand, she left the Shack and returned to her car. She took a sip of her shake and groaned in appreciation before turning the key in the ignition. The radio popped on, and she listened to the DJ rambling about the top story that’d been featured on every news channel for the past two days—the mysterious and completely spontaneous recovery of the coma victims who’d been under close monitoring at St. Joseph’s. Everyone was calling it a miracle.
If they only knew the real story. Not that the truth was any less miraculous. And a whole lot weirder.
Plunking her shake in the cup holder, Willa lowered the volume on the radio and pulled onto the street. But rather than turn inland and head to her duplex apartment as she’d intended, she found herself driving in the direction of the north beach as if she didn’t possess control over her hands—which were gripping the steering wheel as if the thing might suddenly rip off and go flying out the window.
Oh hell. Now what?
Her foot accelerated on the gas, speeding her past the clusters of rental cottages hugging the shoreline of the Atlantic. The Tybee Island Light Station popped into view and she decelerated. Just as she was about to exhale in relief that her psychosis had apparently decided to give her a break, she careened into the lighthouse’s parking lot and braked to a stop. No one was around since it was after normal operating hours. Good thing, because with that Dukes of Hazard stunt, she probably would have wiped out an entire line of cars.