Enchanting Wilder

by Cassie Graham

  My body quaked as his eyes drifted back to me. It was then I saw his eyes. They were the color of turquoise, even more beautiful than the sapphires Maker wore. I’d never witnessed such a thing—nor do I think I’d ever forget it. “I don’t know, but I do not fear you, either.” We were on two opposite ends of the spectrum. Feeling that way was certainly out of the norm.

  “But you’re…you’re a demon. I know I’m to annihilate you now, at least, that’s what I’ve always been taught, yet I cannot bring myself to do it.” He shook his head and tugged at the ends of his hair with his hands, his gold ring on his left hand glistening in the sunlight. “Why?”

  Kai groaned beside me and slapped his hand over his face. “It’s because you find her beautiful.” He looked to me with wide eyes, whispering, “Is he really that dense?”

  The look of shock on my face couldn’t possibly translate.

  Kai was never one to keep his mouth shut.

  “Kai, quiet yourself.”

  “No, no,” the angel said with a laugh. “He is right. You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. It’s just—I do not see all demon inside of you. Yes, it’s there, but there’s something else. Are you…” he stopped, “are you an angel?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know.” Heat rushed to my cheeks because I had no idea who my father was.

  The angel smiled radiantly. “You are. I can feel it now. The light. It pulls to me. You must let me see you again. I have to leave now. Where can we meet?”

  I smiled and looked to Kai who just shrugged a shoulder and looked away, bored.

  “Salem, Massachusetts,” I had said quickly, blushing as I watched a smile tug on the angel’s lips. “Gallows Hill.” It was my favorite place in the entire world.

  “Tonight. Before daylight breaks. I will find you.”

  I nodded and accepted his hand as he helped me to my feet. “I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Aget,” he had said with a smile he sent straight to my soul. “My name is Aget. And yours?”

  I bit my lip. “McKenna.”

  He smiled and bowed his head, vanishing into thin air.

  “What are you thinking about over there, Mighty?” Declan asks, smirking my way.

  I lick my lips and sit straight in my new chair in Beneath. “Just our first meeting. Do you remember? You caught Kai and I spying on you.”

  Declan laughs, grabbing my hand from his seat. “I do remember. If I recall correctly, you were head-over-heels.” He waggles his eyebrows and kisses the air. “You wanted to throw me onto that dirty ground and do naughty things.”

  I laugh, shaking my head. “You were so much more eloquent back then.”

  “Hey!” he jokes. “Don’t hate on this.”

  “This?” I smirk with a raised eyebrow. “I’m kidding. It’s just so crazy how this whole thing has come full circle.”

  Declan returned to Beneath just two days ago. After the showdown with Maker, the angels and The Leaders, Declan thought it best to go and have words with the people in Heaven. Though the other angels weren’t pleased he had, yet again, fallen in love with a hybrid demon-slash-angel, God saw to it that Declan kept his ranking, title and be allowed to help me rule.

  Declan looks down at his lap, chewing on the inside of his lip. “Can I tell you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “All those years without you. Not knowing where you were, just that you were gone…it was the most horrible time in my life.” Declan’s eyes find mine, sadness seeping out of him. “When I found you for the first time, I learned what really mattered to me in this life. It was like the world was full of everyone playing their music incredibly loud. Just boom, boom, boom. Over and over. The sounds mixed and combined into one huge mess of noise I could hardly bear. There was no way to turn the volume down, and then out of all that bewilderment and confusion, I heard your song. For the first time, I could hear the words, make out every syllable. God, your song was beautiful. Maker took that away, sending you into Limbo. I went for so long without you, and that booming, annoying music returned.”

  My skin tingles at his admission, my heart opening even more for this amazing man.

  “Now your song is the only one I hear again, and I’m so grateful for your symphony.”

  I stand from my seat and sit down on his lap, wrapping my arms around his shoulders, clasping my hands loosely behind his head. “I love you, Declan Aget Wilder. It’s no longer my song. It’s our song. I hear it, too. So clearly.”

  Declan groans a heady sound, it emanating from deep within his throat. “I love you so damn much. Thank you for finding me.” He smiles. “And to think, that demon we saw in my dream all those months ago wasn’t anyone to be worried about.”

  My eyebrows furrow. “I forgot to tell you about that.”

  “Oh?”

  “While you were away, Sally decided to come clean.”

  “Yeah? What did she say?”

  “You’re never going to believe this.” I shake my head and smile. “She sent me to you in that dream because she knew it would push us together. She knew you were an angel all along.” Declan’s mouth hangs open and I nod. “I know. She made up that entire rouse to get us closer. The threat of The Leaders taking away your memories was concocted by her. She knew you’d see the real me. Not my cloak. It was all her doing. The red-eyed demon wasn’t real.”

  Declan rears back. “It was her way of pushing us along? My fate was never to die by demon?” He shakes his head, clearly just as astonished as I was when she told me. “She’s sneaky and really committed.” He laughs. “I need to buy that woman a bottle of wine.”

  I snort. “We need to buy her an entire winery.”

  Snickering, Declan brings his mouth to mine, gently caressing my tongue with his. I grab onto the back of his shirt, bringing myself closer to him when someone clears their throat.

  I pull away from him, biting the inside of my lip. Wiping my mouth, flushed cheeks and all, I turn to the intruder. “Yes?”

  The demon guard, Gerald, looks up to the ceiling, not wanting to see me making out with Declan. It’s nice to see him not so stoic anymore.

  The moment I set foot back into Beneath and took my place as ruler, I decided to experiment with humanity and the demon’s reactions to it. Gerald was one of my first subjects. He’s taking it quite well. I mean, he’s not even close to having a sliver of something redeemable yet, but we’re on our way.

  As a whole, a demon’s loyalty only runs so deep. When Maker died, they were desperate for another leader. Because so many of them were witness to Gabriel and his admission about who I was, it was fairly easy for them to accept me. For the most part, they listen and take orders. If they don’t, they know what happens. And trust me, demented soul or not, none of them want to be shoved into Limbo.

  All those years ago, meeting Declan, I was only a mere hybrid, but when the Sawyers taught me all about witchcraft, they gave me a tool more powerful than I could have ever imagined. Another demon couldn’t rule a demon and an angel has no real rule in Beneath. It takes a special being to see over souls.

  A hybrid. A witch-demon-angel.

  I was the key all along, and because I’m a third of the most powerful beings known to Heaven and earth, witch, demon and angel, I have the authority to law. Maker never had the ability to rule forever because her character didn’t jive with what God intended when He allowed her to live.

  In a way, all of the trouble we went through was to get me here. My true place. Otherwise, Maker would have eventually died and all literal hell would have broken loose.

  “There’s been an outbreak of vampires in southern Montana. It needs your attention right away,” Gerald informs me, breaking me from my train of thought.

  I look to Declan, pouting a little. My new duties always seem to get in the way, not that I’m complaining. In my short time here, I’ve been able to reduce the number of demons escaping Beneath, and I’ve found a way to track new monsters. For the m
ost part, my new job is sort of kick ass.

  He laughs and kisses the end of my nose. “Go get to work. I’ll keep watch here until you get back.”

  “Okay.” I kiss him one last time, my mouth lingering. “I won’t be too long. Can you please find Kai for me? He’s supposed to work more with Gerald later.” If there was ever a professor of Beneath, it would be Kai. I couldn’t trust anyone else at attempting to bring these tattered souls back to the light.

  Declan nods, pushing me off his lap. “Of course, Mighty. I love you.”

  I wink. “I love you, too. Oh!” I snap my fingers. “Don’t forget to give Wood a call. He doesn’t know you’re back yet.”

  Declan salutes. “I will. Have you talked to Candy?”

  I give an apologizing gaze to Gerald who rolls his eyes. “I did. She’s coming to have dinner with us tonight. I had a couple of demons remodel the entire living quarters down here. It looks a lot better.”

  Declan laughs, his shoulders bouncing. “You really had demons doing construction? Man, this place has changed.”

  I shrug a shoulder. “If they don’t want to die, they need to be of use and prove themselves. We’re far from where I want this place to be, but it’s a start.”

  “A woman on a mission. I like it.”

  I laugh. “Okay, quit distracting me! I have to go.” I blow him a kiss and turn away.

  “Hey,” he stops me, taking hold of my hand, spinning me around to look at him. “We’re going to be okay, huh? There’s still a lot of questions unanswered, but you and I…we’re okay…” He sounds vulnerable and brave all at the same time. Like he knows we are, but wants to hear me say it anyway. It makes me adore him that much more.

  I bob my head with one hundred percent certainty. “More than okay. I’m never letting you go again.”

  Grabbing my my hips, Declan pulls me to him. “You’ll be back soon?”

  I nod, bringing my arms around his shoulders. “A hour. Tops.”

  “Okay. How about I go check in on my parents and Wood and meet you back here?”

  Removing myself from his body, I chew on the inside of my cheek. “I’ll race you.”

  His eyebrow quirks. “Oh yeah?”

  Proud of myself, I cross my arms.

  “On the count of four?” he says with his playful smirk, his dimple showing itself.

  “On the count of four…”

  “One,” he says.

  “Two…” I stand at the ready.

  “Three, four!”

  Find out what Candy, Wood, McKenna and Declan are up to in book two of The Wild series, coming out in winter 2016! Make sure to stay up-to-date on all the latest news at Author Cassie Graham’s Facebook page.

  Strix – Good witches, intended to warn mortals of their impending deaths

  Maras – Type of woman hybrid, demon-slash-witch, Made by Maker

  Pursuers – Supernatural hunters

  Grander – The mortal a Strix warned of imminent death

  The Leaders – Coven of the oldest witches that govern all other witches

  Sephra Linking – The emotional link between two witch sisters

  Lashith – A religion much like Judaism (made up by the author)

  Book of Whispers – Strix’ book of spells

  Dissipate – The ability to evaporate from one place and land in another with just your thoughts

  Cloak – The shape or animal in which a Strix takes in dreams

  Spirit Guide – The guide that assists and assigns mortals to every coven

  Body Transfers – Monsters that have the ability to morph and pose as other people and creatures

  Beneath – Underworld for all supernatural beings

  Thayans – Type of man hybrid demon, demon-slash-witch, made by Maker

  Prepared Spells – A hex bag witches use to make spells more potent

  Manifestation – Type of magic used by demons expressed by the darkness in witches and/or hybrids

  Deusian – Ancient language made up by Lucifer

  Dominion Angel – Oversees lower level angels

  Good Angel – Angel in charge of keeping peace

  Ava (Maker) – McKenna and Kai’s birth mother

  Anxo – McKenna’s birth father (not Kai’s)

  Aget – Declan’s holy name

  Sarah and Noah Wilder – McKenna and Kai’s grandparents, Wood’s biological parents

  Wood – McKenna and Kai’s uncle (generations apart)

  Cole and Abigail Sawyer – Candy’s biological parents

  Sweet baby Jesus, are you guys ready? I could write an entire book about how thankful I am…I’ll, of course, try to keep it under control, but here we go!

  My amazing husband – Good God, I don’t know what I would do without your love and support. Your faith astounds me on a daily basis. It’s not just your words of encouragement, but the way you keep our family together when I feel completely overwhelmed with writing. You have the patience of a saint. I can’t thank you enough for all you do to help make my dreams come true. Every single word I write down is for you. Every book I write is an ode to you. You are my fairytale. Each and every day. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for finding me. Thank you for everything. I love you forever and always.

  My sweet daughter – Girl, we’ve had this conversation before. *waggles my mommy finger at you* You’re not old enough to be reading my books! Unless you’re of proper age – which is not for a very long time – close this book and go do chores…or go watch cartoons. I don’t know… I love you so incredibly much. I tell you every day that you’re my favorite person in the world, and every day that’s true. It’s truer than true. It’s the truthiest truth there ever was. I just made up a word…There’s no one in this world like you. Your light shines so bright, and I’m so lucky to be able to watch you grow into this wonderful, bright, happy little girl. I don’t know what I did to get so lucky to have you as my own, but I am. I’m so so lucky. I hope I make you proud. I love you so much. Infinity times infinity.

  April Hundza Gutierrez – Thank you so much for going on this journey with me again. The first time was a little bumpy, both of us didn’t really know what we were doing, but we’ve learned so much about each other in this process. You’re truly amazing at what you do and I’m so lucky to have such a talented friend on my side, constantly fighting for my achievements. I love you so much. I’ve always said we were separated at birth somehow because you’ve always felt more like a sister than a friend. You’re my right-hand girl. I’d be lost without you and your guidance and your love. You make me better because of the wonderful person you are. Here’s to a hundred more books and a hundred more years of unbreakable friendship. I love you.

  Sandra Bradbury – I can’t say this enough…I love you. You keep me sane on a daily basis. I truly don’t know what I would do without you. Our friendship has blossomed so much this past year. We’ve grown together and raised our kids together. Our daughters are best friends. We’ve celebrated and cried. We’ve vented and bitched. You’ve been my constant this year. Never wavering. We’re lucky. We get to live out our teenage dreams together. No matter the distance between us that is yet to come, our friendship will always stay intact because of our indestructible bond. You are my sister. Thank you for your support and always being there to pick me up when I needed it.

  Erin Spencer – Firstly, I don’t know what I would do without your badassness. You and Southern Belle Book Blog/Promotions have done more for me than I could have ever imagined. You’ve helped me grow in ways I couldn’t have done on my own. I can’t thank you enough for that. You are the best promo team around and I’ll shout it from the rooftops every day. The fact that you so lovingly accepted me years ago is still beyond me. You are everything that is good in this world. I’m so thankful for your friendship and your uncanny ability to lighten up my life when I’m feeling at my lowest. We’re so much more than just friends, we’re best friends…we’re family. You bring out the good in me. But you also allow me
to be bitchy when I need to be. Ha! You’re the Sam lover to my Dean lover. My late night Supernatural watcher. You’re my partner in crime and I’m so thankful for you. I love you,

  Candy Booklover – This book was really for you and me, wasn’t it? I got this crazy idea and you did everything in your power to make it as good as it can be. You brought this story to life with your love for these characters. It wouldn’t be the story it is today if it wasn’t for you. I thank you for always being my person. The Joey to my Blossom. The Candy to my McKenna. You’ve got one of the biggest hearts, and without you in my life, I’d be missing out on something great. Thank you for reading Anyone But Him and reaching out to me. It changed my life. I love you. WHOA!

  Kandi Steiner – My Book Big. I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and I wish so many great things for you. And I can’t thank you enough for making my RIDICULOUSLY BEAUTIFUL cover and helping beta this book. You’re the best Big there ever was. I love you.

  Danielle Lagasse – My amazing friend. I love you so much. This year wouldn’t have been nearly as good without you. You came into my life just when I needed you and I’m so damn thankful. You’ve had a tough year and I just want you to know that everything you do matters. And everyone in your life is so lucky to be a part of it. You’re such a sweet soul and I see your goodness every day. Believe in my words because they are the truest thing I can offer. I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished. This book was for you. Thank you for being so excited and being a part of my tribe.

  Megan Addison – Girl, how have we not been friends our entire lives?! You are my Soul Sister. My SS. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You were a reader, a beta, and then you became my friend. One of the very best. I don’t know another reader who loved these characters as much as you did. Your loyalty to them and to me is astonishing. Your notes and encouragement is what kept me going when I was feeling low. Thank you for taking a chance on me. I couldn’t have done this without you. I love you! Here’s to always keep fighting, our gif conversations, and our Supernatural talks. I can’t wait to cuddle you in New York.