The Seven: Four tales of passion, danger and love

by Ciana Stone

  "And then?" Nevaeh asked.

  "And then you will contact Elysia and convince her that you've done as she asked.

  "And she'll come here." Nevaeh looked at Ellie, who sat beside her husband Cam, holding their child. "They'll come here to their home."

  She looked at Augustus. "You have to make sure that Ellie and all her family are protected."

  "We will. But understand that Ellie is part of the reason Elysia is coming here. Without Ellie, Elysia will never open the doorway."

  "So Ellie's in danger. There has to be another way. She has a family, a child – you can't let—"

  "I will be fine, Nev." Ellie's voice drew her attention. "I will. You just have to trust."

  "Trust who?"

  "Everyone here. We're all on the same team and we're all looking out for one another."

  "And you think that will be enough?"

  Ellie smiled. "Yes. I do. We're going to win before the war starts."

  Chapter Thirteen

  I don't know quite what to feel. My dad is healed. Well make that "un-magicked."It breaks my heart that he felt he had to do that to protect me. How horrible for him to live trapped in his mind all that time. He said part of his mind worked, but it was like the functional part was trapped behind a big wall.

  That seems horrifying to me. And it makes me feel unworthy in a way that he would sacrifice so much for me. I'm ashamed about the way I grumbled and complained about being broke and not being able to have a life because all my time was spent working to try and pay the bill at the care facility. And all the while he was in a self-imposed purgatory, just to make sure I was safe.

  It all hit me last night after Gabriel brought me here to his house in the Keys. I guess it had all been building up, but sitting on the porch, listening to the surf and the faint buzz of insects, it just slammed into me like a train.

  If crying could dehydrate a person I'd be a withered carcass. Poor Gabriel, he held me for hours, never complaining. I can't believe I've been so lucky. I have a father willing to sacrifice his life for me, and I've found someone I love who puts me ahead of himself.

  I wish I could just enjoy those feelings, but there are other things to deal with and to be honest they scare the living hell out of me. Maybe I'm just too new to this Preterhuman thing. I don't feel Preterhuman. I don't even know what that's supposed to feel like. Maybe Augustus is right and we all measure normal by ourselves.

  It's almost dawn and I'm scared about what this day will bring. No matter what has happened up until now, I never had a sense of dread. Now I do. It's like knowing there's a hurricane headed straight for you.

  Will we all survive this storm?

  "You're awake."

  Nevaeh turned her head to look at Gabriel. "Yes."

  "Are you okay?"

  "I don't know."

  "What can I do?"

  "Make love to me on the beach and greet the day in my arms?"

  "That I can do."

  Gabriel had her in his arm before he got off the bed. Completely unconcerned about his state of undress, he carried her from the house, stopping only long enough to direct her to grab a beach blanket from a chair on the porch.

  He carried her to the beach. After a long kiss and letting her slide down his body to stand in the sand, he spread the blanket, and then took her into his arms. "I will protect you, Nev. I promise."

  "I know and I love you for that, but I don't want the people I love to be in danger."

  "There's not really a choice. We have to stop the Dark now, before it overcomes the Light. Before it gets a stronger foothold here."

  "I know."

  "You have to believe, Nev."

  "In what?"

  "In the power of Good and Light. In our friends and family. In me. In us."

  "I want to and I will try but right now I just want to forget all of that. I just want you."

  He smiled at her. "I sense something different about your desire."

  Nev looked down, a bit disconcerted that he sensed her mood. Until now, their lovemaking had been passionate, but quite tender. She loved it and loved him for being about to show her that making love could be so gentle and yet so overwhelming.

  Yet there was a part of her, the part that held sway at this moment, that didn't want tender. "I want –" She looked up at him. "I need you to make love me."

  He looked into her eyes and she saw something flare in his she had not seen before. He pulled her against him, working one leg between hers and pressing against her sex.

  Gabriel had not even kissed her and already her body was responding. She felt damp warmth between her legs that had nothing to do with sweat, and her heart was beating double-time.

  He pressed into her, his erection trapped against her belly, hot and hard. "Tell me again."

  'Please. Take me."

  His face tightened in what appeared to be anger and for a moment she thought he was going to hurt her. Then he lowered his face to hers and claimed her lips in a kiss of savage passion.

  The reasonable part of her mind screamed for her to stop this, to go back to the way it was before. But the hunger was too strong and she returned the kiss with equal need.

  When he pulled back, she looked into his eyes and saw the fire inside him. She gasped slightly as his hands moved to her breasts but didn’t break the contact of their eyes.

  Gabriel moved back from her. His eyes traveled down her body and she tensed, afraid that her desire for this would cause his to wane. When his eyes met hers again, she inhaled sharply at the intensity on his face.

  Tentatively she reached out and ran her hand across the tense muscles of his chest, then down his body to his erection. She leaned in, kissed his chest, and then lowered her body so that her mouth traced down the center of his abdomen. As her tongue flicked at the tip of his erection, a sharp intake of breath made her look up.

  He wound one hand in her long hair and pulled her to her feet for a searing kiss. She groaned in her throat as his hand moved between her legs, stroking and probing. As if enflamed by the sound, he kissed her more roughly and pushed his fingers inside her. A bright flare of hunger had her moving against his questing fingers.

  His lips left hers and he looked into her eyes. With his hand still tangled in her hair, he pulled her head back sharply. She arched back to relieve the pressure and his mouth descended on her breast. She cried out as he bit lightly on one nipple, but it was a cry of pleasure.

  Forcing her to the blanket, he released her hair and spread her legs, kneeling between them. She thought he would enter her but instead he lowered his head, forcing her legs wider. “I want all of you,” he said in a rough voice.

  She writhed against him as he lapped at her folds. A swelling sensation began inside her and she arched against his mouth. Just as she thought she would explode, he rose and positioned himself between her legs so that he was sitting back on his heels. She cried out as he pulled her forward, impaling her on his erection. She tried to pull him forward on top of her, but he held her in place, wrapping her legs around his waist.

  She felt like a bow, drawn taut and quivering with need. Gabriel took her right hand and guided it to the damp patch of hair at the junction of her thighs. She felt among the damp curls to where the tiny knot waited and moved her fingers on it.

  He watched, moving inside her in measured strokes. When her body began to quiver with impending release, he drove deep inside her, hard and fast. Nevaeh screamed in pleasure and pushed herself up so that she was straddling him. With rapid strokes she rode him, her breasts rubbing against his chest as her hands clutched his strong shoulders.

  Gabriel groaned and shuddered as her inner muscles contracted rapidly with her orgasm. She had pushed his control to the brink. He could no more stop what was about to happen than he could prevent the sun from rising.

  He opened his mind. Completely. In addition, mentally reached for her.

  Nevaeh lost her breath. Literally. His mind didn't touch; it grasped, wrapped arou
nd, permeated, and fused with hers. Universes exploded into being and stars went nova. Her heart beat in time with his, her breath synced to his. Every cell in her body attached to him.

  She could feel him as acutely as she felt herself. It was an overwhelming sense of completeness. She held on to him, wanting the moment to last forever. At last it subsided and she leaned into him, feeling the pounding of his heart against her chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a long time then drew back and looked into her eyes.

  "I didn't mean –"

  "I know. But I'm glad. You know I am."

  "Yes, I do."

  "I'm yours Gabriel."

  "And I am yours. Forever, Nev."

  "Not long enough big guy, not nearly long enough. Oh, look, here it is."

  They both turned their attention to the horizon, watching the first rays of light spread over the water, turning it into a sparkling dance of light.

  "The first day of the rest of our life."

  Nevaeh smiled up at him. She just hoped it wasn't the last.

  *****

  Everyone was waiting when Nevaeh and Gabriel arrived at Ellie's. It was almost six in the evening. Nevaeh went inside to find Ellie. She was in the kitchen with Layla. There was no sign of the baby.

  "Where's Carson?"

  "Lily and Clint have him." Ellie turned from the counter with a cup of coffee in her hand. "Cam and I thought it wise for him not to be here."

  Nevaeh nodded. "Ellie, I … I'm really sorry if anything I've done has—"

  "Just stop right there. You haven't done anything but get caught in the same mess as the rest of us. And I guess if you want to assign blame you can blame me and Eldric for opening the portal to begin with."

  "But you didn't know—"

  "Exactly what I said." Layla interrupted. "Look, none of us are to blame. It's whoever has aligned themselves with the Dark side – and that still makes me feel like I'm in a fantasy novel to say – but anyway, the point is, it's not our fault. We just have to do whatever we can to make sure they don't cause any more trouble."

  "Amen." Ellie gestured toward the coffee pot. "Nev?"

  "No. Thanks. My stomach's in enough of a knot."

  Augustus entered the kitchen with Cam. "Ah Nevaeh, you're here. Excellent. Our people are in place. Severin stands ready to join minds with you whenever you are ready."

  "I guess I am. Where's Gabriel?"

  "Outside with your father and grandparents."

  "Oh, okay. Well, do you want me to do that now or do you want me to call Elysia?"

  "Since I have no faith whatsoever in Elysia, I do not want you to call her until dusk."

  "Why?"

  "Because I don't want her to show up before our people are all in place."

  "Oh, well that makes sense. So where is Severin?"

  "In the family room."

  She nodded and looked at Ellie and Layla then back at Augustus. "So, you want me…"

  "Yes please."

  She started for the family room but stopped when no one else followed. "Aren't you all coming?"

  "No. This is something for you and Severin alone."

  Nevaeh didn't know why that made her feel so anxious. Maybe because Severin seemed so unapproachable and grim. It wasn't that he was horrifying or hard to look at. Quite the opposite. He was really handsome. He just seemed cold.

  Nevertheless, she found him waiting in the family room, standing in front of the window, gazing out.

  "I guess it's time."

  He turned to look at her. When a smile appeared on his face, she felt a huge sense of relief. Why he was absolutely gorgeous when he smiled.

  "There's no need to be afraid."

  "Except that you'll know all my deep dark secrets."

  "As you will mine."

  She hadn't considered that. "Well, I'll make you a deal. You're secrets will be safe with me if you'll offer the same."

  "Done."

  "Okay, so what do I do?"

  He walked over to her. "I am going to touch your face. I want you to do the same. And then it's a matter of simply looking into my eyes and lowering your barriers."

  "Sounds easy enough."

  "Let's hope it is. Are you ready?"

  "I think so."

  "Then let's begin."

  Yeah what could go wrong? You're just doing some kind of mind meld with a Daemon. Piece of cake.

  *****

  "She's coming."

  Eldric's announcement had everyone getting to his or her feet. They all walked outside and waited, watching car lights move down the driveway toward them.

  The car stopped, the lights went out, and a few moments later, the rear door opened. Elysia got out.

  Nevaeh looked at Eldric and Ellie. Ellie had a tight grip on Cam's hand but her attention was on her brother. Tears streamed down Eldric's face. He stepped forward.

  "Sister."

  "Brother." Elysia walked up to him and embraced him. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

  "Or meet our sister." He released her and turned to extend his hand to Ellie.

  She didn't take his hand, but kept a grip on Cam's and stepped closer. "I'm Ellie."

  "You look like our father."

  "And you look like our mother."

  Elysia looked around at everyone. "I know you all think I'm here to bring you harm but that's not true."

  "Then why are you here?" Augustus stepped forward.

  "To prevent war."

  "There will be no war if the portal remains closed."

  "But there will. Can't you already see the signs? When Ellie and Eldric opened the portal, he wasn't the only one to make the crossing. Obviously. I'm here and so are a lot of others. Others who've aligned themselves with your mother. And none of them want this peace with humans."

  "So you say."

  "So I can prove."

  "I doubt that."

  "Look, I know you don't trust me and after what happened in the Hamptons I don't blame you, but I'm telling you the truth." She looked at Eldric. "You know. Father protected you, placed you with the Light where you were protected. Me? He left me to the Dark Fae, to mother's clan. I had no choice but to swear fealty and pretend to go along with them. To do otherwise would have been suicide."

  "What do you mean you were left to the Dark Fae?" Ellie moved away from Cam. "I thought both you and Eldric were left with family so you'd be safe."

  Eldric put his hand on Ellie's shoulder. "We were. Elysia chose to leave, to go to mother's people."

  "No!" Elysia moved closer to Ellie, but Ellie retreated. "That's not true. The Dark Fae threatened war. It was either me go to them or war among the Fae. I didn't have a choice."

  Elysia looked at Augustus. "I know you don't have reason to trust me, but I can prove it. I can prove that Asha is working with the Dark and plans to annihilate humanity. I have the proof. I just have to get to it and to do that we have to open the portal."

  "Why would we risk that?" Augustus looked around at everyone. "No one here wants war. No one here wants to risk the Dark gaining ground here. Why would we be foolish enough to open the portal?"

  "Because if you do, you'll get proof of what Asha is doing so that you can preserve peace here." She turned her attention to Ellie and Eldric. "Please. We're family. All I want is a chance to prove to you that I'm trying to help."

  Ellie looked at Eldric and then at Augustus. Augustus held up one hand. "We need time to confer. I will ask that you wait here."

  Elysia nodded and everyone else followed Augustus inside. Gabriel stood watch, peering from the window at Elysia who leaned against her car, and waiting.

  Augustus' attention went first to Layla. "Is she lying?"

  "If she is, I can't tell it. I don't sense any deception, but she's Fae, Augustus. My ability may not work on her."

  "And might I remind you that we are prepared?" Eldric looked around at everyone. "If she is lying then we stop them before they can enter. If the information our father left w
as correct, we have people stationed at every portal. If we can capture just one conspirator to prove that Asha is undermining the peace, then we can have her removed from the council. And peace has always been our goal, hasn't it?"

  "Peace without having to suffer war." Gabriel's voice drew everyone's attention. "No offense intended to you Layla, Ellie, and Eldric, but I don't advise putting much trust in what Elysia says. If her intent upon coming here was to work for peace, then why align herself with Asha and be participant in a bloodbath. Why drug and abduct Nevaeh and use subterfuge to arrange a détente with Augustus? Why open the portal if the goal is to avoid the possibility of more of the Dark entering this realm?"

  Nevaeh felt pride swell inside her. Gabriel made out as if he was a novice to strategy and someone not given to deep thought but his words were of a man who saw much and was possessed of a clear head.

  "I agree." She looked around at everyone. "I'll go along with whatever you decide, but I think Gabriel makes sense. And speaking just for myself, I have no reason at all to trust her."

  Everyone's eyes went to Eldric. "I concur. Trust is not warranted. However, our people are in place and I have confidence in our ability to control the situation. I do think it important that she reveal her true intent, therefore I propose that we proceed."

  Augustus nodded. "I agree. We proceed. We need proof and if this is the way to obtain it, we must risk it."

  "Then give the word." Gabriel turned from the window.

  "Consider it given."

  Everyone returned outside, with Augustus in the lead. "If you are speaking the truth then tonight will end in peace. If you lie, the night will end in blood. Beginning with yours."

  Elysia nodded and he gestured for her to join him. "Then come."

  Nevaeh fell into the rear, reaching for Gabriel's hand as he stepped in beside her. "At the first sign of danger, stop time, Nev. Don't delay just do it."

  She nodded and followed in silence. She knew Severin and the others were ready. She could feel Severin in her mind and knew he was aware of everything that had transpired. Somehow, that gave her a measure of comfort. Sadly, not enough. She still wondered if they were all marching to their demise.