by SJ West
“What kind of deal?” Anna asks warily.
“We made an exchange,” I tell them, still standing just outside the door to their room. I feel like I need to keep my distance or I’ll end up tainting their joy somehow. That’s the way being Helena’s soul mate makes me feel: tainted. I don’t want to spoil their perfect moment with my imperfection.
“She wants you to stay with her,” Anna says, having deduced the terms of Helena’s bargain with me all on her own. “For how long?”
“I’m not sure,” I reply. “I didn’t think it mattered, considering the circumstances.”
“No, I suppose it doesn’t,” Anna agrees with a deep sense of regret.
“This isn’t good-bye,” I assure her. “I won’t let her keep me as her prisoner, and when I see you again, I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell me any of your plans as far as countering her moves against you go. If I’m in Hell, she’ll be privy to all my thoughts, and I don’t want to inadvertently let her know what your plans are.”
Neither Malcolm nor Anna say anything. I watch as Lucas scrambles off the bed and runs around it toward me. I bend down and hold my arms out to him as he throws his arms around my neck.
“Don’t go, Cade,” he begs. “Don’t leave me. You’re my best friend.”
“I’m sorry, Lucas,” I say, holding back my emotions, because I know if I let them show, it won’t do either of us any good. “I have to do this. It was the only way to make sure Liana could meet her big brother.” I gently make Lucas pull away from me. “It’s your responsibility to take care of her and Liam now. Do you understand that?”
I almost lose control of my emotions when Lucas begins to cry. He tries his best to put on a brave face, but he’s only six years old, and the emotions of the young are strong and raw. He nods his head, letting me know he heard my words.
I bring Lucas back into my arms for another hug. I know it won’t be the last one because I love him too much to stay away, but I’m certain it will be a while before I can visit him again.
“You take care of yourself,” I tell him. I hug him tightly one more time before I stand up. “Now go say hello to your sister.”
As Lucas walks away from me, I look at Malcolm and Anna once again before I phase to Helena to keep my part of our bargain. The worry I saw in their eyes tells me they’re both concerned about my safety. I can’t say I blame them. I’m not sure how safe I’ll be with Helena either.
I guess we’ll see …
Chapter 22
(Anna’s Point of View)
As Malcolm and I helplessly watch Cade phase back to Hell, I feel an emptiness form inside my heart. I’m so thankful to him for his sacrifice, but I feel an enormous sense of guilt that he had to make a deal like that with Helena in order to rescue my daughter from her clutches.
Malcolm looks at me with a worry in his eyes that has nothing to do with Cade going to Helena.
“What?” I ask him, seeking an explanation.
He shakes his head slightly and glances in Lucas’ direction. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to say what’s on his mind while our son is listening.
“We should probably give them both a quick bath,” Malcolm tells me as he stands to fetch the bowl of water my papa left on his nightstand. Since Liana is still asleep, I let Lucas hold her while I unwrap Liam from the towel my papa swaddled around him. With the warm, wet cloth Malcolm hands me, I begin to wipe the front of Liam’s little body down, removing the signs of his birth. When I flip him over to wash his backside, I can’t help but marvel at how smooth and soft his sweet baby skin is to the touch.
Once he’s clean, Malcolm swaddles him in part of a fleece blanket he just ripped into quarters with his hands.
“Okay, sleeping or not, you need a good wipe down too, little Ms. Liana,” I say, holding my arms out to Lucas. He scoots over and places her in my arms.
I unwrap her from the pink blanket Helena used. I notice that her umbilical cord is gone and that she has a perfectly healed belly button. I assume Helena probably did something to heal it so quickly. I remember her healing me after she snatched the seals away.
As I begin to wipe her with a clean wet cloth, her little eyes open to look directly at me. I suddenly find it very hard to breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Malcolm asks, noticing my reaction.
“Her eyes,” I say, staring at my daughter’s face. “They’re blue.”
“Most babies are born with blue eyes,” he says, unconcerned. “They don’t normally develop their natural color until they’re about six months old.”
I slowly start to shake my head at him. “This isn’t a normal blue, Malcolm. They’re the same blue mine used to be.”
Malcolm looks down at Liana and frowns, noticing the difference.
“Still,” he says, “she’ll probably outgrow the color in time.”
I hope so, I think to myself, not wanting to alarm Lucas any more than I already have.
Once Liana’s clean on her front side, I gently turn her over onto her stomach so I can wash her back.
I hear myself gasp and feel my blood run cold inside my veins when I see what’s located at the base of her spine.
“Malcolm!” I involuntarily scream.
As I stare at the puckered skin on the lower portion of her back, all I can hear is my own ragged breathing. Faintly, I hear Malcolm ask, “How did she get a seal?”
I shake my head, rendered speechless as I stare at the shape of one of Helena’s seals on Liana’s back.
“What do you think it means, Anna?” Vala asks, looking up from Liana’s back to me.
“I have no idea,” I confess. My chest feels heavy with impending doom.
Why does my daughter possess a seal? Did Liana take it from Helena, or did Helena give it to my daughter? If the latter is the case, what would make Helena give up some of her power so freely?
I don’t have the answers to those questions yet, but I intend to find out what’s really going on.
The only problem is, there’s only one person who has the answers: Helena.
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you so much for reading Reckoning, the second book in The Dominion Series. If you have enjoyed this book please take a moment to leave a review. To leave a review please visit: Reckoning
* * *
Thank you in advance for leaving a review for the book.
Sincerely,
S.J. West.
THE DOMINION SERIES
ENDURING,
DOMINION SERIES BOOK 3
While Anna and Malcolm welcome the latest additions to their family, complications arise that threaten to end their newfound happiness. Not only does Anna have to contend with the possibility of losing the Cirrus throne to Catherine Amador, but she also has to worry over Helena’s next act of vengeance against her and those she loves. As danger seems to lurk around every corner, Anna’s first priority is the welfare of her family, friends, and citizens.
* * *
Although Helena’s need to make Anna pay for Lucifer’s rejection of her is as strong as ever, her feelings for Cade become an obstacle in her path towards vengeance. Helena’s desire to explore their relationship leads to consequences neither of them could have predicted. It quickly becomes apparent that she can’t have everything. She’ll have to either end her vendetta against Anna, or abandon any hope of a life with Cade. The choice is hers to make, but which will she choose?
Exclusively on Amazon, Free on KU!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Once upon a time, a little girl was born on a cold winter morning in the heart of Seoul, Korea. She was brought to America by her parents and raised in the Deep South where the words ma'am and y'all became an integrated part of her lexicon. She wrote her first novel at the age of eight and continued writing on and off during her teenage years. In college she studied biology and chemistry and finally combined the two by earning a master's degree in biochemistry.
* * *
&nbs
p; After that she moved to Yankee land where she lived for four years working in a laboratory at Cornell University. Homesickness and snow aversion forced her back South where she lives in the land, which spawned Jim Henson, Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey, John Grisham and B.B. King.
* * *
After finding her Prince Charming, she gave birth to a wondrous baby girl and they all lived happily ever after.
As always, you can learn about the progress on my books, get news about new releases, new projects and participate on amazing giveaways by signing up for my newsletter:
S.J. West Newsletter
* * *
or by following me
www.sjwest.com
[email protected]